Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Slot Under is a five-man route concept out of Singleback Ace Slot with 12 personnel that stresses the field with two vertical shots and a wheel route out of the backfield. The two outside receivers run go routes straight up the numbers to occupy the deep safeties and cornerbacks, while the inside slot receiver runs a slant that turns into an under route crossing behind the line, working the middle void. The back releases out of the backfield to the flat and turns it upfield into a wheel route, giving you a built-in man beater against linebackers who try to trail out of the backfield. This is a clear man beater with zone beater elements against Cover 3, since the two vertical routes clear out the deep third and the under route sits in the vacated middle zone.
Defensive Reads
Key the free safety pre-snap, if he is rotating late to a single high shell, expect the quarterback to attack the vertical go routes immediately after the snap. Watch the flat defender or slot cornerback assignment on the running back, if a linebacker is manned up on the wheel route you have a clear mismatch to exploit with a lob throw. Post-snap, look for a user-controlled defender dropping into a lurk position in the shallow middle zone, since that defender can jump the under route if the quarterback stares it down. Against zone drops, if the middle linebacker sinks quickly, the under route will not have room to settle, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball and take a vertical shot instead. If the defense shows Cover 2 with two deep safeties, the go routes lose value and the offense will likely check down to the under route or the wheel for a controlled gain.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing single high or two high safeties, since the go routes on both verticals are designed to punish single high shells like Cover 3 and Cover 1.
If you see man coverage on the running back, trust the wheel route against linebackers who cannot stay in phase down the sideline.
Hot route the under route into a deeper dig if the linebackers are sitting shallow and clogging the crossing lane.
Use this play on second and long or third and medium situations where the defense expects a shorter passing concept, since the verticals can hit for explosive gains if the safeties bite on the under route.
Pair this call with Slants or Curl Flat from the same set to keep the defense guessing between quick game and the deeper wheel and go shot play.
