Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot Outs is a five man route concept out of Spread Y-Flex that floods both sides of the field with horizontal breaking routes. To the left, the outside receiver runs a deep vertical seam while the slot receiver breaks outside on a shallow out. To the right, the outside receiver runs a deep vertical clear-out while the slot receiver runs a deep crossing dig that settles into an out breaking route toward the sideline, and the innermost receiver runs a quick out to the boundary. This is primarily a zone beater that attacks underneath zone drops with a natural triangle stretch on both sides of the field, though the out routes also give you quick separation against man coverage on the outside. The primary read progression starts with the two shallow out routes underneath (left and right slot), then works to the deep crossing route if the underneath defenders sit and clog the flats.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and cornerback alignment on the outside receivers, since press man or hard outside leverage from corners signals trouble for the out routes and favors a switch to the crossing route. Post-snap, watch for user controlled linebackers or safeties dropping into the shallow flat zones, since a lurking defender sitting on the out route can jump the throw and create a turnover opportunity. This concept struggles against Cover 2 zone with disciplined corners who sink under the out routes, since the flat defenders can undercut the throw before the receiver turns upfield. Look for blitzing linebackers vacating their zone responsibility, since Slot Outs exploits vacated underneath zones better than tight man coverage with a spy or extra rusher. Against Cover 4 or Cover 6 shells, key on the flat defender's depth at the snap, since a defender sitting too deep opens a throwing window underneath for the quick out route on either side.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the defense is showing two high safeties or a single high shell, since this concept thrives against zone coverage that rolls to one side and leaves the other flat vulnerable.
Use the shallow out routes as your first read on third and short or third and medium since they give you a quick, high percentage completion against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone drops.
If the defense shows man coverage pre-snap, hot route the deep vertical clear-out into a slant or quick out to speed up the timing and avoid double moves getting jumped.
Pair this play with Four Verticals or PA Seams in the same set to keep defenders honest on the deep middle, since Slot Outs will bait linebackers and safeties into sitting shallow.
Use this play on early downs against teams that blitz heavy since the quick out breaking routes give you a built in answer versus five and six man pressure looks.
