Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mills Slot Out lines up out of Shotgun Tight Offset TE with 11 personnel and attacks the deep middle with a classic Mills concept paired with an out route on the backside. The backside X runs an outside release out route to the flag, the slot receiver runs a deep post that crosses under a corner route from the TE, creating the Mills combo (post/dig under a deep corner) that stresses two-deep and Cover 4 shells, while the inside slot receiver runs a short in-cut underneath as a checkdown option and the HB releases on a shallow out to the flat. This is a man and Cover 4 beater built to hit explosive plays over the middle, with the primary read progression going deep corner route first, then the post/dig crossing underneath it, and finally settling down to the flat or shallow in-cut against tight coverage.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safeties since this play is drawn up specifically to punish Cover 4 and other two deep zone shells that struggle to cover both the corner and the post. Watch the corner alignment on the backside X receiver running the out route, since press corners will disrupt the timing and force a quicker underneath progression. Post-snap, key any user-controlled safety flying over the top to rob the post route, which is the biggest threat to shutting this concept down. If you see linebackers sinking deep into the middle of the field zone drop, expect them to sit in the passing lane of the post/dig and force a checkdown to the shallow in-cut or flat route. Cover 3 with a hard flat defender can squeeze the out route and the underneath in-cut, so identify if the flat zone defender is sinking or staying wide before committing to that side of the field.
Usage Tips
Look for two-high safety shells pre-snap since the deep corner and post combo is designed to split Cover 4 defenders who have to choose between the corner and the seam.
If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 4, key the corner route first because it will pull the deep defenders outside and open the post/dig behind them.
Against man coverage, trust the post route to win on any single high safety look and be ready to fire the ball in rhythm off your third or fourth step.
Use this play on second and medium to second and long situations where you have room to test the intermediate to deep middle without abandoning drive-sustaining down and distance.
Pair this call with Slot Outs or Wheel Spot earlier in a series so the defense respects the flat and out concepts, setting up the Mills shot down the middle later in the game plan.
