Playbooks

Slants

Shotgun·Doubles HB Wk·11
SlantPass Play
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Franchise College Pro OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Slants out of Shotgun Doubles HB Wk is a quick-hitting man beater that floods the underneath zones with two slant routes breaking to the same side while the backside receiver runs a hitch or drag depending on your hot route adjustments. The HB stays in as a check release blocker before leaking out, giving the quarterback a safety valve if the slants are blanketed. Primary read progression starts with the near slant, works to the far slant on a quick rhythm throw, and comes back to the HB check release if both are covered.

Defensive Reads

Watch the linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow droppers sitting at five yards will jump the slant windows and turn this into a pick six risk against zone heavy playcalls. Check safety alignment before the snap, since a single high safety cheating toward the slant side signals a possible robber or lurk defender waiting to undercut the route. Man coverage with no underneath help is the ideal matchup for this play, so identify press or tight man alignment on the corners as your green light to snap the ball immediately. Cover 2 and Cover 3 shells with active user controlled linebackers spying the middle of the field are the primary defense against this concept, since they can sit on the slant break and bait a quarterback throw. Post snap, key on any defender flashing across the formation on a delayed blitz timing, since Slants relies on a fast release and a well timed blitz can beat the protection before the throw gets off.

Usage Tips

Fire this play quickly off a three step drop to beat blitzes before pressure arrives, since slants are timing routes that punish any delay in the quarterback's release.

Pre-snap, look for man coverage indicators like corners lined up tight on the receivers with no safety help over the top, since slants slice through man leverage with ease.

If you see a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell with linebackers sitting in underneath zones, hot route the backside receiver into a speed out or drag to give yourself a zone beater option instead of forcing both slants into traffic.

Pair this play with Double Cross or Y Cross earlier in a drive so the defense starts respecting deeper crossing patterns, then come back to Slants to hit the quick underneath window when linebackers bite on the play action fakes.

Use this on early downs or third and short since the quick throw window and short target depth make it a low risk, high completion percentage call against blitz heavy defenses.

Other Plays in Doubles HB Wk