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Quick Reference
Not in any team playbook.
Breakdown
Slot Out is a trips based man beater out of Shotgun Y Off Trips Close with 11 personnel. The outside receiver runs a vertical go route up the numbers, the two inside trips receivers work a deep dig combo with the middle man sitting into a dig while the point man clears vertically to hold the safety, and the TE from the closed side releases into a quick out breaking route underneath. The primary read starts with the TE out route as the hot/quick game answer against pressure, then progresses to the deep dig sitting down in the void behind underneath defenders, with the outside go route as a shot play if the cornerback bites on anything short.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender or curl to flat player pre-snap since the TE out route attacks that exact zone window immediately after the snap. Key the middle linebacker depth, if he sits shallow the deep dig will have room to settle in the intermediate zone behind him. Identify user lurk defenders sitting in the trips read area since they can jump the dig route if the quarterback holds the ball too long. Against Cover 3, the deep dig should find the seam between the flat defender and the deep third corner if the play holds long enough to develop. Man coverage with no safety help over the top is where the vertical go route wins outside, so watch for the cornerback press alignment before the snap.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or 2nd and medium when you want a mix of a quick underneath answer and a shot play in the same concept.
Check the TE out route first against blitz looks since it clears fast and gives you a built in hot route versus pressure off the edge.
If the safety shows two high pre-snap, key the deep dig since the middle of the field should stay open for the inside receiver to settle into the void.
Pair this play with Deep Slot Curl or Whip Dig from the same set so linebackers cannot sit on the same crossing window snap after snap.
Against off man coverage, take a shot to the vertical go route on the outside since the corner has to respect the out breaking route underneath first.
