Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slants out of Shotgun Doubles Offset Wk is a quick-hitting man beater built on stacked slant routes from both sides of the formation. The backside receiver runs a deep slant crossing the field while the three-receiver side stacks two shallow slants underneath a receiver working to the flat, and the running back releases into a check release flat route out of the backfield. The primary read starts with the underneath slant crossing traffic to the play side, working through the stacked slants to the flat route as a checkdown if the middle of the field is clogged.
Defensive Reads
Key the flow of the middle linebacker at the snap since he is the primary threat to jump the shallow slant window if he reads the quarterback's eyes quickly. Watch for a user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow crossing lane, which signals a robbed zone underneath designed to bait the quick throw into a pick six. Press coverage on the outside receivers combined with a single high safety usually signals Cover 1, which is where this concept is most vulnerable to a well-timed jump route from the corner. Sky or cloud coverage rotations with the corner squatting on the flat route can undercut the stacked slant combo, forcing the quarterback to go through his full progression instead of hitting the first read. Watch linebacker depth before the snap, since linebackers sitting shallow in underneath zones telegraph a Tampa 2 or Cover 4 shell that clutters the middle read and makes the backside slant the better answer.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage indicators pre-snap such as corners lined up tight on the receivers with no safety help over the top before snapping this play.
Use the slot slant as your first read against Cover 1 or Cover 3 since it settles into soft spots vacated by underneath zone defenders or beats trail technique in man.
Hot route the backside slant into a fade or drag if you diagnose a hard inside shade from the corner, since the natural slant angle can get jumped by aggressive zone defenders sitting on shorter throws.
Pair this play with RPO Peek Slant or RPO Alert Bubble in your play-calling sequence so defenses cannot sit on the slant window without opening up bubble screen space to the boundary.
Best used on early downs or third and short since the quick game timing does not threaten deep coverage and needs yards after catch to be a true chain mover.
