Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Slant Flat out of Shotgun Spread Y-Flex is a quick-hitting concept designed to attack the flat and underneath windows before the pocket collapses. On the backside, the receiver runs a slant across the middle while the near receiver releases outside to the flat, forming a classic slant flat combo on that side. On the frontside, the two receivers work a deep cross with one running an over route toward the opposite sideline and the other cutting underneath on a shallow drag, giving the quarterback a secondary crossing read if the initial slant flat side is covered. This is a man beater and Cover 3 or Cover 4 beater, with the primary progression starting on the slant flat side (flat defender first to bait the corner, then the slant behind him) before working to the shallow drag/over combo if the first read is taken away.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap, since he has to choose between the flat route and sinking under the slant, and either choice opens a throwing window. Check safety depth pre-snap, because a two high shell suggests Cover 4 or Cover 2 match, which this concept is built to beat with the quick slant behind the flat defender. Key the corner's press or off alignment on the slant flat side, since press man invites a quicker slant win while off coverage lets the flat route sit underneath. Beware of a user controlled linebacker sitting in the shallow flat or lurking on the drag route, since that can bait a shorter throw into a jump ball turnover. Man coverage with no safety help over the crossing combo is where this play is most vulnerable defensively, so if you are on defense, roll a safety toward the frontside drag and over combo to erase the second read.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or third and short since the ball comes out fast and the routes are all quick timing throws.
Pre-snap, identify if the corner is playing outside leverage or inside leverage on the slant flat side, since that dictates whether the slant or the flat route wins first.
Against zone shells like Cover 3, hold the flat defender with your eyes then snap to the slant behind him for the throw.
Hot route the backside slant into a hitch or speed out if you see a hard inside blitz look, since the quick game timing can get disrupted by pressure off the edge.
Pair this play with Double Slants or Y Stick in the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game concepts that all hit within the first two seconds.
Use the shallow drag and over combo on the frontside as a built in answer versus man coverage when the defense rolls a safety over top of the slant flat side.
