Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot Outs is a five man route pass concept out of Shotgun Doubles Offset with 11 personnel. Both outside receivers run vertical clear out routes to take the top off the coverage, the two slot receivers run out breaking routes to the boundary at a shallow depth, and the inline blocking back or TE releases on a flat/out route to the flat side of the formation. This concept is designed as a quick horizontal stretch to beat man coverage on the slot outs and zone coverage underneath, with the primary read progression starting at the flat route release, then working to the near slot out, and using the vertical routes as clear outs against off man or two high shells.
Defensive Reads
Key the slot defenders at the snap, since man coverage will run with the out breaking routes and open throwing lanes underneath if they trail too tightly. Watch for a Cover 3 sky or cloud shell, since a flat defender sitting on the route can jump the out and create a user pick six if you telegraph the throw. Identify two high safeties presnap, since a two shell tells you the vertical clears will occupy the safeties and open the intermediate out routes for the quarterback. Look for a linebacker spy or hook zone defender sitting in the middle of the field, since he can rob the crossing window created by the flat route and out combo. If the defense shows blitz with the slot corner or nickel, expect the flat route to be wide open, but respect a disguised zone blitz where a defensive back drops into the flat to take away that answer.
Usage Tips
Presnap identify if the corners are pressed on the outside receivers, since a soft corner alignment tells you the vertical clears will not draw a pass interference or explosive play but will still occupy the deep defenders.
Use the flat route as your hot route answer against overload blitzes since it gets the ball out fast and forces a linebacker or slot defender to make an open field tackle.
Hot route the backside slot out into a speed out or drag if you are getting bracket coverage from a Cover 2 shell, since the stock route can get squeezed by a flat defender and safety over the top.
Pair this play with Double Slants or Slant Flat from the same set to keep the defense honest, since both concepts attack the same horizontal stretch look but flip which receiver breaks first.
Best called on second or third and medium since the out routes need time to develop but the flat conversion is there against a blitz look.
