Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Slants out of Shotgun 5WR Trips isolates two slants from the trips side against a lone slant from the backside receiver, with the trips slot running a quick spot route underneath to occupy the shallow zone. The trips outside receiver bends his slant into a deep crosser once the underneath traffic clears, giving a two level read from the backside to the frontside. This is a man beater at its core, since the quick in cuts and pick style spacing create natural rub opportunities against man corners, and the primary read progression starts backside slant, works to the trips underneath spot, then climbs to the deep crosser if the middle of the field opens up.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and cornerback leverage, if corners are pressed in man with no deep safety help over the slant angles this play is live all over the field. Post-snap, watch the trips side linebacker or slot defender, if he sinks into the shallow zone instead of chasing the spot route he can jump the underside slant and force a checkdown. Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone shells with disciplined underneath defenders can clog the slant lanes and take away the quick game, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in the middle read zone, that lurk threat is designed to jump the deep crosser once it crosses the field. Man coverage with no double team help on the trips slants is the biggest vulnerability, so if you see man match concepts without a robber safety, expect this play to hurt you quickly.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or third and short since the quick slants get the ball out fast and beat aggressive man coverage before pressure arrives.
Check the backside cornerback pre-snap, if he is playing outside leverage in man coverage the backside slant is your first look and should win immediately.
Hot route the trips slot into a quick spot or option route against zone shells like Cover 3 to sit in the hole created by the underneath slants.
Pair this with Middle Slant or Stick from the same set so the defense cannot key on the same shallow crosser look every snap.
Use play action or motion pre-snap to bait linebackers into flowing away from the slant lanes, this opens up the deep crosser read on the trips side.
