Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Slants out of the Pro Split Backs 21 personnel sends both outside receivers on slant routes crossing underneath toward the middle of the field, while the inside receiver runs a quick out to the flat and the lone TE releases on a deep crossing route from the opposite side. This is a man beater concept designed to attack the natural rub created by the two slants crossing paths, and the deep crosser gives you a home run shot if the defense sells out to stop the underneath routes. Primary read progression starts with the near slant against man leverage, then works to the flat route if a linebacker sits underneath, and finally to the deep crosser working across the field as a home run outlet against zone or busted coverage.
Defensive Reads
Watch the slant routes first, if the defense is in man coverage the crossing action will create rubs that free up the near slant almost immediately Key the flat defender, if a linebacker or nickel corner sits in the shallow area the quarterback will likely check down to that route or move to the deep crosser Check safety depth pre-snap, single high shells leave the deep crosser vulnerable to a lurking safety who can undercut the route late Look for user controlled defenders flowing toward the slant side, aggressive user blitzes on the near side open up the deep crosser working away from pressure This play struggles against a hard inside blitz because the slant routes need time to develop, so disguised blitzes off the edge or through the A gap can disrupt the timing
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or third and short since the slants create instant separation against man coverage right off the snap
Check the corners pre-snap for tight man alignment, slants punish press man and off man alike because the crossing action creates natural picks
Hot route the flat runner to a quick out or speed out if you see a linebacker sitting in the shallow zone to take away the slant
Combine this with Backs Cross or Curl Flat from the same set so the defense cannot key on the slant action every snap
Against zone shells, prioritize the deep crosser since it stretches the field horizontally and finds soft spots between zone drops
