Playbooks

Slants

Pistol·Open Flex·11

Slant Pass Play

Play diagram for Slants from Pistol Open Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetOpen Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Franchise Offense ChainmoverOffense Franchise Offense FourminutedrillOffense Pistol OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Slants out of Pistol Open Flex is a quick pass concept built to attack man and zone coverage underneath before the pass rush can develop. The two receivers to the left run mirrored slants that cross the middle of the field, while the receiver at the bottom of the diagram runs a slant that breaks into a shallow crossing route heading to the opposite sideline, and the receiver on the right runs a deep in that sits behind the slants as a layered option. Primary read progression starts with the near-side slant for a quick rhythm throw, then works to the crossing route underneath, and finally to the deep in if the shorter routes are covered.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, a single high safety shell or two deep shells tells you whether the crossing route or the deep in will have room to work. Watch linebacker spacing at the snap, if you see linebackers sitting flat footed in shallow zones they are likely sinking to jump the slants, so bail out to the deep in route. User controlled defenders lurking in the shallow middle zone are the biggest threat to this concept, since they can undercut both slants and the crossing route in one motion. Cover 2 with aggressive corners jumping the slant lanes will shut this down quickly, look for the corner leverage and squat technique pre-snap to anticipate a jump. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge favor Slants since the routes clear fast, but a delayed blitz or spy up the middle can disrupt the quarterback before the crossing route develops.

Usage Tips

Get the ball out on time to the first slant that clears the box, this play is designed to be a rhythm throw rather than a hold and read concept.

Use pre-snap motion or a hot route to convert one of the outside slants into a fade or speed out if you diagnose press man coverage on the perimeter corner.

This play thrives against Cover 3 and Cover 1 because the horizontal stretch from the crossing route drags underneath defenders out of position, so key on linebacker depth before the snap.

Pair Slants with PA X Slant or Verticals in the same set to keep defenses honest, since the run action and vertical shots off similar formation looks will freeze linebackers who start jumping the slant routes.

On third and short or third and medium, lean on the near slant as a built in conversion route since it clears the line to gain quickly and limits exposure to the pass rush.