Playbooks

Slot Drive KO

Shotgun·Trips·10

Drive Pass Play Cover 4 Beater

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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrips

Personnel

101 RB · 0 TE · 4 WR

In 1 playbook

MUT KO RPO OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Slot Drive KO is a Cover 4 beater out of Shotgun Trips that stresses the deep quarter defenders with a drive concept from the slot receiver working underneath a vertical clear-out from the outside trips receivers. The drive route breaks in-and-under across the field, sitting down in the void created by the two verticals occupying the safeties, while the backside receiver runs a complementary crossing route to hold the linebackers. Primary progression starts with the slot drive route working across the field, then bounces to the backside crosser if a robber or hook defender jumps the drive, and finally the deep verticals if the quarters shell bites down on the shallow crossers.

Defensive Reads

Watch for two deep safeties at depth pre-snap, which signals Cover 4 or Cover 6 and confirms this play is in a good matchup. If the safeties are rotated to one side or you see a single high safety, that usually means Cover 3 or Cover 1 and the drive route will face more traffic from underneath defenders sitting in the throwing lane. Key the middle linebacker and hook defenders after the snap, since a strong Mike linebacker who sinks into the drive route's window can shut this concept down and force the quarterback to the backside crosser. If a user controlled defender jumps the slot at the snap, that is a sign the CPU or opponent is playing man match or has a designated lurk defender, so look immediately to the vertical routes on the outside for a explosive shot play. Blitz packages that send extra pressure off the edge or through a nano blitz will force a quick decision, so recognize five or six man rushes pre-snap and be ready to get the ball out on the drive route in rhythm rather than holding for the deeper options.

Usage Tips

Look for two deep safeties splitting the field pre-snap, since this play is designed specifically to punish Cover 4 and other quarters based shells that ask corners to funnel routes to help. If the corners are playing off and soft, hot route the outside trips receiver into a quick out to hold the cornerback and open up the drive route sooner. This play works best on second and medium to third and short because the drive route settles in quickly and gives you a high percentage completion versus zone drops. Pair this call with Four Verticals and Curl Post Wheel from the same set so the defense has to respect vertical shots off similar formations, then come back to Slot Drive KO once they start sitting on underneath zones. Use motion or a quick pre-snap shift to check if the defense rotates into man coverage, and if you see man match principles, be ready to hit the drive route on the first crossing window before the trailing defender closes.