Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn Slot Out is a quick-hitting man beater out of Shotgun Bunch Spread with 11 personnel. Pre-snap motion brings the outer bunch receiver across the formation on a deep vertical shoot down the sideline, while the two remaining bunch receivers work a stacked out and go concept, with the underneath man breaking outside on a quick out and the second receiver clearing up top on a vertical. The lone receiver opposite the bunch runs a shallow drag to the boundary, giving the quarterback a fast outside throw as the primary read with the vertical clear-out and drag as secondary options.
Defensive Reads
Check the alignment of the cornerback over the bunch pre-snap, if he lines up outside and shows man leverage he is vulnerable to the rub created by the stacked receivers. Watch the motion defender closely, if a linebacker or safety mirrors the motion across the formation it confirms man coverage and the slot out should be jumped immediately. Key the flat defender in zone coverage, if he sinks with the vertical route instead of squatting on the out you can user him to close the throwing window. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells by safety depth, since a single high safety with press corners invites the quarterback to attack the out route before the corner can recover. Watch for a nano blitz off the edge, since the quick out route timing can get disrupted if the offensive line fails to pick up an overload blitz from the strong side.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to identify man coverage, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you know it is man and the slot out will have a clean rub off the bunch.
Target the slot out route as your first read versus man coverage since the stacked receivers create natural traffic for the defender trying to fight over the top.
Against zone shells, look to the shallow drag on the backside since underneath zone defenders will widen with the out route and open up the middle of the field.
Pair this play with Mtn Slot Hitch and Mtn Curl Flat Corner in the same set to keep the defense guessing on whether the bunch releases quick or vertical.
Best used on early downs or third and short since the out route develops fast and gives the quarterback a high percentage completion versus blitz looks.
