Playbooks
Sluggo Spacing
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Sluggo Spacing out of Singleback Wing Tight U features a five-man route concept with a stacked sluggo (slant-and-go) from the outside receiver on the play side, a shallow spacing route from the slot underneath, and a deep vertical stem from the backside receiver that breaks into a dig at the second level. The wing tight end runs a quick out to the flat while the running back releases on a check release flare route to the opposite flat, giving the quarterback a five-level stretch across the field. This is a man beater and Cover 3 beater built to attack zone drops and press man leverage, with the primary read starting on the sluggo for the double move explosion play, working down to the deep dig, and checking off to the spacing route and flat routes underneath if the top of the defense holds firm.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender and outside linebacker leverage on the sluggo route, since a jump on the initial slant fake gets beat deep every time. Key the middle linebacker and any user controlled lurk defender sitting in the intermediate zone, since the dig route sits right in that window and a good lurk can undercut it. Check safety depth and rotation post-snap, since a single high safety who bites on run action or short routes leaves the deep sluggo wide open behind him. Identify blitz packages pre-snap by checking box count, since a nano blitz or overload pressure forces a quick check down to the spacing or flat routes before the sluggo has time to develop. Cover 4 or quarters shells with disciplined deep defenders and physical press corners are the best way to shut this concept down, forcing the quarterback into the shorter spacing and flat options.
Usage Tips
Pre-snap, identify whether the corner over your sluggo receiver is playing off or press, since this route is designed to eat up soft coverage and press man alike with the double move.
Look for single high safety shells like Cover 3 or Cover 1, since the sluggo route stems into the deep third and creates natural leverage against a corner biting on the slant fake.
If you see two deep safeties in Cover 2 or Cover 4, hot route the dig route deeper or check down quickly to the spacing route since the deep shots get taken away.
Use this play on second or third and medium situations where defenses expect a quick game concept, then follow it up with Dragon Spacing or Stick Nod Vertical from the same set to keep defenders guessing on similar route distributions.
Pair this call with HB Dive or HB Inside Zone earlier in a series to get linebackers creeping up in run support, which opens up the intermediate dig route against a slower reacting second level.
