Split Slot Offset

Split Slot Offset is a 20 personnel gun set that puts a fullback offset next to the quarterback while the halfback aligns in the backfield, giving you a two back look out of the gun with a slot receiver to one side and a split end isolated backside. That offset back is the key differentiator from standard Shotgun spread sets: he serves as an extra blocker on interior pressure, a screen target on the Mtn FB Cross Screen family, and a lead blocker on Inside Zone Split and HB Off Tackle. Defenses have to respect a legitimate downhill run game from a gun alignment, which is exactly the leverage you need to sell the RPO menu.

The alignment isolates your split end on a single defender with no help over the top on any single high shell, which is where hot routing a fade or slant on Slants Middle and RPO Split Alert Screen prints yards against press man. To the slot side you get natural stack and bunch spacing for Mtn Y Stick, Mtn Spot, and Mtn Stick Wheel, all of which attack the flat defender and the curl to flat zone dropper. The slot receiver with a speed or route running advantage over a nickel or sam linebacker is the primary matchup you are hunting, and motioning the fullback out wide forces the defense to declare man or zone before the snap.

Where this set really separates from the rest of the Shotgun tree is the RPO volume. RPO Counter Read, RPO Read Cntr, RPO Zone Bubble, Mtn RPO Peek Swing, Mtn RPO Read Swing Wk, and Mtn RPO Swing QB Draw all key different second level defenders, so you can run the same run action and change which defender you are stressing based on how the opponent is fitting. Add the shot plays off the same look (Mtn PA Y Cross, Mtn PA Double Posts, PA Deep Cross, Mtn Double Pass) and you have a complete sequencing set that punishes any defense that overcommits to stopping the run or the quick game.