Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot Fade out of Shotgun Trey Open HB Str is a trips-side pass concept designed to isolate the slot receiver on a fade route against a cornerback or nickel defender. The outside trips receiver runs a deep vertical to clear out the safety, the inner slot man works a corner route toward the sideline, and the HB releases into the flat while the backside X runs a deep dig across the field. The offensive line slides protection with the HB checking down as an outlet, making this a man beater built around a one-on-one throw to the slot fade with the deep dig as the primary progression read against zone shells.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slot corner or nickel alignment pre-snap since press technique tells you the fade will be contested while soft coverage signals an easy pitch and catch. Key the single high safety rotation after the snap because if he stays over the top of the outside vertical route, the fade throw becomes a jump ball situation you should avoid. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells that carry the outside vertical deep, since those shells often leave the underneath flat and dig routes open as counters to the fade. Track user-controlled defenders lurking in the flat who can undercut the HB route or bait a fade throw into a jump. Recognize blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge, since the deep developing dig route and fade both need time so a hot read to the HB in the flat becomes essential against pressure.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, check for single high safety or press man coverage on the trips side since that alignment signals the slot fade window is open.
If the defense shows off coverage on the slot corner, hot route the slot receiver to a slant or quick out to punish the cushion instead of forcing the fade.
Use this play in the red zone or on the boundary near the sideline where the fade throw has less field to cover and the corner has less recovery time.
Pair this with Four Verticals and Drive Post from the same set to keep defenses honest, then dial up Slot Fade once you bait a safety into cheating toward the middle read of the field.
Look off the backside dig route defender by holding your eyes to the trips side before working back to the deep dig if the fade is covered.
