Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Double Slant out of the Split Backs Slot formation shows three receivers attacking horizontally on quick, angled routes. The two inside receivers run slants that cross the middle of the field at a shallow depth, while the outside slot receiver runs a quick out breaking route toward the sideline, giving the quarterback a full-field, high-low horizontal stretch. This is a man beater designed to attack tight man coverage with natural picks created by the crossing slant routes, and the primary read progression starts with the inside slant to the boundary side before working to the second slant and finally to the flat breaking route if the defense squeezes the middle.
Defensive Reads
Identify press man corners on the inside receivers pre-snap since Double Slant is built to beat that exact leverage with quick separation. Watch for a Mike linebacker sitting in a hook zone since he can undercut the inside slant and create a jump ball turnover opportunity. If the defense rolls to Cover 3 or Cover 4 with squatting flat defenders, the outside breaking route will be capped and the quarterback will be forced into the crossing slants late. Key the safety rotation after the snap, a two high shell that stays split usually means soft zone underneath, which invites a user controlled linebacker to sit on the shallow crossing lane. Disguised blitzes from the slot corner or overhang defender can jump the quick slant route, so user that defender in man coverage situations to bait the quarterback into a fast, predictable throw.
Usage Tips
Get this play out fast with a quick three step drop since every route is designed to hit within two seconds of the snap.
Use it on early downs and short to medium yardage situations like second and short or third and 3 to 5 where the slant window is naturally open.
Pre-snap, look for off man or press man alignment on the inside receivers since the slant combo is built to punish exactly that leverage.
If the defense shows two high safeties with soft corners, hot route the outside receiver into a quick hitch or speed out since the slants will be sitting ducks for zone drops.
Pair this play with Y Stick Lion or Curl Flat later in a series so the defense has to respect both the quick slant window and the underneath zone stick concept, opening up double moves off the same formation.
