Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot Outs is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Spread Dbl Flex that isolates both slot receivers on out routes breaking hard to the sideline. On the right side the slot receiver runs a quick out while the outside receiver clears vertically up the seam, and the same combo mirrors on the left with an out route stacked underneath a deep vertical from the outside receiver. The middle of the field features a receiver running an out and up (sluggo look) creating a natural high low read against the flat defender. This is a man beater built to attack the leverage of slot corners and nickel defenders, with the primary read progression starting at the boundary out routes before working to the vertical stems if the flat is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage defenders who bail to the outside leverage point pre-snap are vulnerable to the quick out breaks, especially against Cover 1 or Cover 3 man variants. Watch for slot corners playing inside shade, that alignment invites the out route to be jumped so consider hot routing to a slant or option route against that look. Zone defenses that sink cornerbacks deep into Cover 3 or Cover 4 will take away the vertical threats but leave the flat open for the out routes underneath. User controlled linebackers dropping into the shallow hook zone can undercut the out and up route in the middle, so track that defender before committing to the sluggo read. Blitz heavy fronts that send extra rushers off the edge open up quick throws to the near side out route, get the ball out fast before the pocket collapses.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing man or zone by checking slot corner depth and if nickel defenders are shaded inside or outside the slot receivers.
If you see Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with corners sitting deep, hot route the outside vertical routes into hitches or comebacks to stay underneath the safeties.
Use the out routes as quick game answers versus blitz looks since the throws are short and get the ball out before pressure arrives.
This play pairs well with Slot Out and Inside Cross in the same set, run those first to get the defense biting on quick outs before dialing up Four Verticals or Mtn Fades H-Choice off the same formation to punish overaggressive corners.
Best called on second and short or third and short to medium since the sideline breaking routes create easy conversion windows against man coverage.
