Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Slot Out is a five man route concept out of Singleback Y Trips with 11 personnel. The trips side runs a deep corner route from the outside receiver, a shallow drag crossing the field from the slot, and a short out from the flat receiver, while the backside X runs a vertical release into the boundary and the TY runs a quick out at the sticks on the opposite side. The staggered depth of the out, drag, and corner creates a natural zone beater against Cover 3 and Cover 2, and the primary read progresses from the quick out to the drag crossing underneath before working back to the deep corner route.
Defensive Reads
Watch the flat defender at the snap since he determines whether the quick out or the drag is open first. If the corner sinks into a deep zone drop, the underneath out route is live immediately for a quick rhythm throw. Key the middle linebacker depth, if he sits shallow to jump the drag, the QB needs to reset and look for the corner route breaking open behind him. Man coverage with a single high safety leaves the corner route vulnerable to a rub if the trips alignment creates natural traffic, so watch for user controlled defenders trying to jump the crossing routes. Cover 2 with aggressive corners squeezing the flat can take away the out route completely, forcing the QB to work the drag and corner combination instead.
Usage Tips
Use pre snap motion or a hard flip to identify if the defense is showing a two high or one high safety shell before the snap. Against zone coverage prioritize the shallow drag since it settles into the void vacated by underneath linebackers and gives your QB a rhythm throw. Hot route the backside X into a slant if you see man coverage with no help over the top, since the vertical release alone is only a low percentage shot play. This concept works best on second and medium to second and long where the drag and out give the QB a clean high low read without needing to hold the ball. Pair Slot Out with Curls Combo or Pats Zig in the same set to keep defenses guessing between drag based zone beaters and deeper combo routes off similar formation looks.
