Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slants Middle out of Shotgun Spread Dbl Flex sends both outside receivers on quick slants toward the middle of the field while the inside receiver on the strong side runs a shallow drag underneath, and the backside slot receiver on the boundary works a corner-breaking out route toward the sideline. The HB stays in to help protect or check release into the shallow flat, giving the QB a five man protection look against pressure. This is a classic man beater built on natural rub picks created by the two slants crossing traffic, and the primary read progression starts with the near slant, works to the opposite slant, then checks down to the shallow drag if both are covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers sitting in shallow zone drops since they can undercut both slants if they read the QB's eyes quickly. Cover 3 with a hard sinking middle linebacker is the toughest shell for this concept because it clogs the crossing lanes both slants rely on. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is the ideal matchup since the natural rub from the two slants crossing forces defenders to fight through traffic. Watch the slot cornerback on the backside out route pre-snap, if he is playing off you can expect a soft zone shell that favors the shallow drag as a checkdown. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender flashing into the shallow middle since that lurk threat is the biggest counter to this concept and signals you should throw off timing to the far slant instead.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, look for man coverage indicators like tight press alignment on both outside receivers since the rub action from the crossing slants is most effective against man defenders trailing from outside.
If you see two high safeties sitting deep, trust the slants underneath since there should be a natural window in the intermediate middle before the safeties can close.
Hot route the backside out route into a deeper comeback if you are facing off man coverage to give yourself a bigger separation window on third and medium.
Use this play on early downs to set up Quick Slants or RPO Peek Slant later in a series once the defense starts jumping the underneath crossers.
Pair this with Four Verticals or Mtn Fades H-Choice from the same set to keep defenses honest deep after they start sitting on the shorter slant window.
