Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Slot Drag out of Weak I Slot Flex is a five man route concept built around a shallow crossing route that gives the quarterback an easy underneath answer against man and zone coverage alike. The backside X runs an out at the sticks, the inline TE and outside receiver on the strong side stack a corner route and go route to clear the deep half, and the FB releases out of the backfield on a flat route to the boundary. The drag from the slot receiver is the primary read, with the QB progressing from the drag to the FB flat if the underneath is jumped, then working to the corner and out routes if the drag is taken away by a linebacker sitting in the throwing lane.
Defensive Reads
Read the slot corner or nickel at the snap. If he opens his hips to run with the drag in man coverage, the throwing window disappears and the QB should look to the FB flat instead. Watch the middle linebacker depth before the snap. A linebacker sitting shallow in a Cover 2 or Cover 3 zone can sit on the drag route and bait an interception if the QB stares it down. Key the deep safeties. Two high shells invite the drag and flat combo underneath, while a single high safety rotating late signals Cover 3 and a lurking underneath defender. User controlled defenders sitting in the drag lane are the biggest threat to this concept. If the user commits to the drag, the corner route and out route on the perimeter become the answer. Blitz packages that bring extra rushers off the edge shorten the QB's clock, so the quick drag read becomes essential since deeper routes will not have time to develop.
Usage Tips
Use this against man coverage looks where the slot corner or nickel is pressed up, since the drag route creates natural separation crossing the field.
Check the middle of the field pre snap. If you see a single high safety, work the drag to FB flat combo quickly before the deep corner route occupies the safety.
Hot route the FB flat to a flat and up or seam if you diagnose Cover 3 sky, since the drag alone will not beat a hard flat defender sinking underneath.
Pair this call with HB Slip Screen or HB Stretch to keep run blitz heavy fronts honest, then dial up Slot Drag once linebackers start crashing downhill.
Best used on second and medium or third and short since the drag and flat combo is designed for a quick, high percentage completion rather than a chunk play down the field.
