Playbooks

Quick Slants

Shotgun·Spread Flex·11
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Spread Classic

Breakdown

Quick Slants out of Shotgun Spread Flex 11 personnel is a rhythm passing concept built to attack the middle of the field before pressure develops. The route combo features slants from the outside receivers working to the inside with a shorter option route or flat route underneath to hold linebackers, creating natural rubs against man coverage and soft spots against zone drops. This is a man beater first and foremost, though it also punishes off man and Cover 3 zone shells if defenders sit too deep, and the primary read progression starts with the boundary slant, works to the field slant, then checks down to the underneath option or flat route if both slants are covered.

Defensive Reads

Check safety depth before the snap: two high safeties usually signal Cover 2 or Cover 4, which means the slant window will be tighter and you should lean on the underneath option route as your primary answer. Watch cornerback alignment at the snap: press or tight man corners are vulnerable to the immediate slant since they have to fight through contact, while off man corners can sink and undercut the route if you are late with the throw. Key the flow of the linebackers after the snap, since if they widen or blitz off the edge the middle of the field opens up for the slant to sit down in a soft void. Beware user controlled linebackers or safeties playing a lurk technique in the shallow middle, as they can jump the inside slant route if the quarterback stares it down too long. This concept struggles against a hard inside blitz or a Cover 3 sky shell with an aggressive underneath robber, so have a checkdown or hot route ready to beat pressure if you see blitz indicators pre-snap.

Usage Tips

Get the ball out on time within one to two seconds of the snap since this concept is designed to win before the pass rush closes, so do not hold the ball looking for a home run route. Pre-snap, identify if corners are playing tight man or off man: tight man means the slant should win immediately off the release, while off man means you may need to double clutch to let the route develop through the traffic. Use the flat or option route as a built-in answer versus Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells where the slant window gets squeezed by underneath zone defenders sitting in the throwing lane. This play shines on third and short or in the red zone where the compressed field limits deep safety help and rewards the quick rhythm throw. Pair Quick Slants with a play-action shot play like PA Dig or PA Deep Outs from the same personnel to keep the defense honest once they start jumping the slant route on film.

Other Plays in Spread Flex