Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat Slot Fade is a motion-based pass concept out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close with 11 personnel. Pre-snap motion brings a receiver across the formation, and at the snap the outside receiver runs a fade up the sideline while the motion man releases on a deep crossing route from the opposite side, with an underneath receiver working a quick out to the flat and the TE checking down into a short flat route in front of the line. The primary read progression starts with the deep fade against single coverage, works to the deep cross if the safety bites on the fade, and checks down to the flat or TE if both are covered, making this a solid man beater when the corner is playing tight outside leverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the corner over the fade route at the snap: if he opens his hips and runs with the receiver in man coverage, the fade has a one on one shot down the sideline. Key the safety rotation after the motion: two high safeties that stay split usually signal zone coverage and the deep cross becomes the better read against soft zone drops. User the deep half safety if you are on defense to take away the fade, forcing the quarterback to work the shorter routes underneath. Bring a linebacker blitz off the edge to disrupt the timing of the fade and cross combo, since both routes take time to develop downfield. Sit a zone defender in the shallow flat to jump the quick out route, which is the first checkdown the quarterback will look for under pressure.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone: if the defender follows the motion man across the formation, you are facing man coverage and the fade or deep cross will have a favorable matchup.
Look for single high safety shells before the snap since the fade route thrives when there is no help over the top on that side of the field.
Hot route the flat defender into a quick out if you diagnose a blitz, giving your quarterback a fast release valve against pressure.
Pair this play with RPO Peek Stick or RPO Alert Out earlier in a series so the defense respects the run action, opening up the deep fade and cross once you go back to Cheat Slot Fade.
Best called on second or third down with medium to long yardage when you need an explosive gain and can afford to take a shot down the field.
