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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn Slot Fades is a trips-based vertical shot play out of Shotgun Trips X Nasty Off Wk. Pre-snap the outside receiver on the trips side motions across the formation on a shallow crossing path to the opposite boundary, while the two remaining trips receivers push straight upfield on fade routes and the inner slot runs a quick out breaking route. The lone receiver on the backside runs a skinny post/seam up the numbers. This is a man beater designed to isolate one on one matchups on the outside fades, with the primary read progression going from the backside skinny post first, then to the outside fade on the trips side, and finally checking down to the motion man on the shallow crosser if both verticals are covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the pre-snap safety alignment first, a single high safety indicates Cover 1 or Cover 3 which is exactly what this play is designed to exploit with the fade routes. Watch the corner across from the motion man, if he trails the shallow crosser across the field you are in man coverage and should immediately expect the quarterback to challenge his outside corner on the fade. Track the linebacker depth at the snap, shallow linebackers who sink into underneath zones can be beaten by the skinny post if the safety bites on the fades. To shut this play down, roll coverage to two high safeties pre-snap so both fades have deep help, this turns the shot play into a low value throw and forces the checkdown to the shallow crosser. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in a deep third or playing the trail technique on the fades, since that lurk threat is the biggest disruption to the primary read progression on this concept.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you know you are facing man coverage and should hunt the fades. Look for single high safety shells, this play thrives against Cover 1 and Cover 3 because it stacks two fade routes against corners without deep help over the top. Hot route the inner slot receiver into a deeper option route if you are seeing a lot of Cover 4 or Cover 2 so he settles in the intermediate window instead of running into a flooded zone. Save this play for a plus down and distance like 2nd and short or as a shot play on 1st down when defenses are more likely to play aggressive man coverage. Pair it in a sequence with Snag Slot Digs or Quick Fork Zig, since the trips alignment and motion look identical, forcing the defense to guess between a shot play and a quick underneath concept.
