Playbooks

Middle Slant

Shotgun·Trips·10
SlantPass Play
Play diagram for Middle Slant from Shotgun Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 3 playbooks

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Breakdown

Middle Slant is a five man route concept out of Shotgun Trips with 10 personnel. The backside single receiver runs a deep out breaking to the sideline, the middle trips receiver runs a deep dig crossing the field, the inside trips receiver runs a quick slant into the middle of the field, the outside trips receiver runs a vertical seam, and the running back releases from the backfield on a swing route out to the flat for a checkdown or RPO style outlet. This is a man beater at its core, using the slant and swing combo to attack inside leverage while the deep dig and out stretch zone defenders horizontally, giving it dual purpose against both man and zone shells. The primary progression starts with the slant from the inside trips receiver, works to the swing route as a quick outlet against pressure, and comes back to the deep dig and backside out if the underneath windows are taken away.

Defensive Reads

Watch the slot cornerback or linebacker aligned over the inside trips receiver, if he sits flat footed at the snap the slant will be there immediately Key the middle linebacker's drop, if he sinks hard to cover the dig it opens a passing lane behind him for the slant Identify the deep safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety struggles to help over the dig while two deep safeties can squeeze the vertical seam and dig combo User controlled defenders sitting in the shallow flat or hook zone can jump the swing route, so do not force it if you see a defender lurking there Cover 3 zone drops that flood the middle underneath area with three defenders will clog both the slant and dig, forcing you to work the backside out or the seam instead

Usage Tips

Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if the defense shifts to trips, this will reveal man versus zone leverage on the slant receiver

Attack the slant immediately against single high man coverage since the inside receiver should win quickly off the line against a linebacker or slot corner

If you see a two high shell with soft corners, work the deep dig since the middle of the field should stay open behind the slant read

Use the swing route as your answer against the blitz, it releases fast and gives you a built in checkdown when the pocket collapses

Pair this with RPO Alert Bubble or Bubble Screen from the same set to keep defenses honest on quick game reads before hitting them with the slant and dig combo

Other Plays in Trips