Playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Salem Slot Option lines up in Shotgun Tight Slots with 11 personnel and shows a four man route concept built off deep shots and an outlet checkdown. The backside receiver runs a deep dig that breaks in hard around 15 yards while the outside receiver on that side clears out on a corner route to the sideline. On the play side, the outside receiver stems vertically before breaking into a deep out, the slot runs an option route that sits down in the shallow zone against zone or works vertically against man, and the running back releases into the flat as a checkdown safety valve. This is a zone beater at its core, using the dig and deep out to stretch the middle and sideline of the field, with the primary read progression starting at the deep dig, moving to the option route sitting in the underneath zone, then working to the flat checkdown if the pocket collapses.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot cornerback or nickel defender at the snap, if he sinks into a shallow zone drop the option route will settle in front of him and create an easy completion window. Identify single high safety alignment before the snap, if the safety cheats to one side the corner route or dig route away from that rotation becomes the priority throw. Read linebacker depth in the middle of the field, shallow linebackers who stay put will collapse the throwing lane on the deep dig and force the quarterback to the option route or flat. Look for user controlled defenders sitting in a lurk position near the slot alignment, this is the primary threat that jumps the option route and baits the quarterback into a turnover. Against Cover 3 sink or Tampa 2, defenders who widen with the corner route open up the deep dig for a big gain over the middle, but if the middle linebacker or deep safety flashes to close that window quickly, check down to the flat.
Usage Tips
Attack this concept versus single high safety looks since the deep dig and corner route occupy the deep middle and deep outside thirds simultaneously.
Key on the slot defender pre-snap: if he sits in an underneath zone shell, hot route the option route to sit down immediately for a quick throwing window against Tampa 2 or Cover 3 sink.
Use motion pre-snap to identify man versus zone coverage, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are looking at man coverage and should progress to the option route running vertically instead of settling.
This play works best on second and medium or third and long since the deep dig and option route need time to develop against off zone coverage.
Pair this play with Mtn Bench Snag N Go or WR Stick N Out in the same set to keep the defense honest on quick game while still threatening the deep middle with the dig route.
