Playbooks
At a Glance
In 2 playbooks
Overview
Weak Slot Open is Pistol's 20 personnel answer to defenses that want to load the box against two backs. Instead of stacking both backs behind the quarterback, this set puts the second back out wide or in the slot to the weak side, opening up the formation while keeping the pistol depth that makes both Inside Zone Split and HB Stretch hit downhill. You get a single back seven yards behind the line, a slot receiver detached to the weak side, and a tight end attached strong, which forces the defense to declare whether it treats the slot as a receiver (nickel personnel, safety rotation) or as a back (base defense, box defender walked out).
The alignment matters because the SLWR tag means you are typically working a slot receiver or a receiving back in space against a linebacker or a slow nickel. That is the entire leverage of the set. Concepts like Mtn Y Stick, Mtn Flood, and Z Under put that weak slot on option and drag routes where his release beats man coverage instantly, while Y Cross and Deep Curls use him as the clearout so the strong side crosser works into a vacated middle. Shallow Cross and Slants give you the quick answer to pressure without needing max protection.
The Gadget tag is where this set separates from standard Pistol sets. Jet Touch Pass, Jet Pass Fk Zone, and Zone Fake Jet all use jet motion from the weak slot to displace the second level before the snap, and Zone Alert Smoke, Counter Alert Smoke, and Zone Alert Bubble are RPO looks that let you read the flat defender and either hand the ball off or throw the alert. Add Lead Read Option, HB Dive, HB Draw, PA Boot Slide, and PA Short Post and you have a set that runs, throws quick, and gets outside the tackle box off the same look.
Strengths
- The RPO alert plays (Zone Alert Smoke, Counter Alert Smoke, Zone Alert Bubble) let you read the weak side flat defender post snap, so soft corners get smoked for free yards and aggressive nickels get run on.
- Jet motion off Jet Touch Pass and Zone Fake Jet triggers linebacker flow in Madden, which opens huge cutback lanes on the accompanying zone and counter runs from the pistol depth.
- Mtn Y Stick and Mtn Z Under are premium man beaters because the weak slot has a two way go against a linebacker or nickel, and Y Cross plus Shallow Cross give you high low crossers that shred Cover 3 and Cover 1 rat.
- Mtn Flood and Corner Strike attack Cover 2 and quarters honey holes with three level flood spacing, and hot routing the back to a swing gives you the low outlet if the flat defender sinks.
- The pistol backfield keeps HB Stretch, Inside Zone Split, and Lead Read Option all viable from the same look, so opponents cannot key run direction off backfield alignment the way they can from offset shotgun sets.
Weaknesses
- With one back in protection, A gap and overload nano blitzes get home fast, especially against pistol depth where the quarterback drop takes longer to set. You will need to block the back or slide protect.
- Detaching the second back to the slot means you lose a lead blocker, so HB Dive and HB Draw are low value against loaded boxes and man free looks with a spy.
- A user controlled linebacker or nickel sitting on the weak slot kills the entire RPO alert package, since Smoke and Bubble reads become no throws and the run side is outnumbered.
- Cover 2 invert and Tampa 2 with a user in the deep middle takes away Y Cross, PA Short Post, and Deep Curls, which are your only true vertical stretch plays here.
- The Gadget jet plays are easy to spot after a few uses. Once the opponent recognizes the motion, they user the flat and jump the touch pass for a pick or a big loss.
Usage Tips
Read the weak side flat defender before the snap on the alert plays. If the corner is off with outside leverage and no safety rotating down, take Zone Alert Smoke every time. If he presses, hand it off.
Use this set on second and medium and third and short where the defense has to respect both HB Stretch and Mtn Y Stick, then audible between the run and the option route based on box count.
Motion the weak slot back inside before the snap to identify coverage. If a defender travels, you have man and Mtn Z Under or Shallow Cross wins. If nobody follows, it is zone and you go to Mtn Flood or Corner Strike.
Block the back on PA Short Post and Y Cross to survive weak side pressure, and hot route the tight end to a flat or drag as your pressure release valve.
Mix Lead Read Option and Zone Fake Jet in the same series to punish opponents who start crashing the edge on your jet motion, and save Jet Touch Pass for a critical down after you have established the fake.
