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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Slants out of Shotgun Normal Flex Wing lines up three receivers to one side with a wing tight end and running back protecting or checking out of the backfield. The two inside receivers break on quick slants across the middle while the outside receiver runs a deep drift route along the sideline, and the wing tight end releases on a delayed slant behind the initial two, creating a triple slant stack with a clear out route on top. This is a man beater built on natural picks and rub concepts, with the primary read progressing from the shortest slant underneath to the second slant and finally to the wing tight end's delayed crosser if the shallow options are covered.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since this concept struggles against a hard two deep zone that can squeeze the slant windows. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, since shallow linebackers sitting in the passing lanes can jump the first or second slant if they read the quarterback's eyes. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal shell to attack, since the natural picks from the stacked slants will spring at least one receiver open. Look for a user controlled defender lurking underneath in a Tampa 2 or pattern match zone, since that defender can rob the shallow slant and force you to progress to the delayed tight end route. Cover 3 with a hard corner press can disrupt the timing of the outside drift route, so key on corner alignment before the snap to decide whether the outside route is even viable.
Usage Tips
Attack the pre-snap look by checking if the corners are playing tight man or off zone, since the slants create natural rubs against man coverage that are tough to fight through.
Hot route the outside receiver's drift into a deep comeback if you diagnose a single high shell, giving you a vertical shot when the defense sells out on the underneath slants.
Use this on early downs or third and short since the quick timing routes get the ball out fast and protect against interior pressure.
Pair this with HB Power or HB Dive in the same set to keep defenses honest against the run before hitting them with the same formation and quick slant timing.
Watch the flow of your first read and progress immediately to the second slant or the delayed wing tight end route if underneath defenders jump the initial throw.
