Playbooks
At a Glance
In 13 playbooks
Overview
Split Slot Offset is a 20 personnel Shotgun set that puts two backs in the game while still spreading the field with a slot alignment, which is what separates it from the standard Shotgun spread sets built on 11 or 10 personnel. The fullback aligns offset next to the quarterback rather than in a true backfield stack, so the defense has to respect a lead blocker, a swing threat, and a screen release from the same body. On the perimeter you get a split alignment with a slot receiver detached, which forces the defense to either drop a safety into the box and play light over the slot, or stay in a two high shell and defend the run with six.
The set is loaded with RPO and option concepts: RPO Counter Read, RPO Read Cntr, RPO Zone Bubble, Mtn RPO Peek Stick, Mtn RPO Peek Swing, Mtn RPO Swing QB Draw, Speed Option, Mtn Triple Option Rt, and Triple Option Lt. That gives you a full read game off the same look, which is where Split Slot Offset punishes users who commit a defender pre-snap. Pair that with a deep play action tree (Mtn PA Y Cross, Mtn PA Double Posts, PA Deep Cross, Mtn PA Stutter Go, PA Sneak Corner) and every heavy run look you show sells the shot play behind it.
The matchup advantage comes from the extra back. Defenses in base personnel have to cover the fullback out of the backfield with a linebacker on Mtn FB Cross Screen and Mtn PA HB Swing, and defenses in nickel or dime have to fit the run with undersized bodies on HB Sweep, Inside Zone Lt, HB Off Tackle, and HB Cross Buck. The Gadget tag also unlocks Mtn Double Pass, which is a legitimate coverage killer once you have shown the screen game enough times to pull the corner up.
Strengths
- The RPO package (RPO Counter Read, RPO Read Cntr, RPO Zone Bubble) forces the user to declare an edge defender pre-snap, and you get a free answer either way without needing a hot route.
- Mtn Y Cross and Mtn PA Y Cross are elite zone beaters against Cover 3 and Cover 4 because the crosser works behind the hook defenders while the vertical from the split side clears the deep third.
- The screen game is deep for a 20 personnel set: Mtn FB Cross Screen, HB Cross Screen, and HB Slip Screen all punish heavy blitz users and pull second level defenders out of throwing windows.
- Mtn Spot, Mtn Y Stick, and Slants Middle give you quick man beaters with built in rub action, which is exactly what you want against press coverage out of the slot alignment.
- 20 personnel creates a personnel guessing game: run HB Sweep and Inside Zone Lt against nickel, then throw Flood and Mtn PA Double Posts when they bring in base.
Weaknesses
- Only two true receivers plus the slot means fewer field stretchers, so a user in a two high shell can bracket your best target and take away the deep game entirely.
- Inside pressure and nano blitzes through the A gaps hit fast because the fullback is offset rather than sitting in a protection spot on many of the pass plays, and the RPO concepts have no built in slide protection.
- The option plays (Speed Option, Mtn Triple Option Rt, Triple Option Lt) get shut down by a user controlled edge defender who plays the pitch, and the QB read logic in Madden will hand it off into a loaded box.
- Screens telegraph once you lean on them, and a user reading the offset back can jump Mtn FB Cross Screen for a pick or a tackle for loss.
- The run game is mostly gap and zone from a spread look, so heavy interior fronts with pinched linebackers can eat HB Off Tackle and HB Cross Buck without needing an extra defender.
Usage Tips
Read the box before you snap: if the defense has six or fewer in the box, run Inside Zone Lt or HB Sweep, and if they load seven, get to RPO Zone Bubble or Mtn RPO Peek Swing and take the free throw outside.
Motion the slot receiver to identify man or zone, then check into Mtn Spot or Mtn Y Stick against man and Mtn Y Cross or Flood against zone.
Set up Mtn PA Stutter Go and Mtn PA Y Cross only after you have run the ball on early downs, because the play action rollouts need the linebackers flowing to sell the vertical.
On third and medium, hot route the fullback to a flat or wheel out of Mtn Zone WK to create a linebacker mismatch, and user the throw away from the safety help.
Save Mtn Double Pass for a second half short yardage situation where the opponent has already bitten hard on your screen game, and make sure you have the QB scramble lane accounted for before the second throw.
