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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
60 Slide is a quick pass concept out of Shotgun Trips Slots Close with 10 personnel. The diagram shows the two outside trips receivers running vertical seam routes up the numbers while the inside slot runs a slide route, working flat to the sideline before turning upfield behind the seams. The lone receiver on the backside runs a straight vertical route as a clear-out. This is a man beater built to exploit outside leverage: the slide route is the primary read against man coverage since it creates natural separation off the flat break, while the vertical routes stretch the defense and occupy deep defenders.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a cornerback pressed on the slot receiver pre-snap, which signals man coverage and tells you the slide route is live. If the defense shows two deep safeties with soft corners at the snap, expect zone drops that can undercut the slide route, so be ready to climb the vertical seams instead. Key the flat defender or curl-to-flat linebacker after the snap, since a fast drop into that window is the primary way defenses take away the slide concept. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge open up the slide route even faster because the flat defender is often removed to rush. A user-controlled defender sitting in the shallow zone or lurking near the sideline is the biggest threat to jump the slide route, so timing the throw before he can react is critical.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with a corner tight on the slot receiver, since the slide route wins hardest against man leverage. Use motion or a hot route to check the backside vertical into a hitch if you see a single high safety cheating over the top. This play hits fastest against blitz-heavy fronts because the slide route develops quickly and gives you a built-in answer to pressure. Pair 60 Slide with 60 Go from the same set to keep defenders honest, since the vertical stems look identical at the snap. Best called on early downs or short yardage third downs where the quick slide route can pick up the sticks against aggressive man or blitz calls.
