Slant Concept in the Quick Passing Game.

EVERY FOOTBALL TEAM has a basic philosophy it can "hang its hat on." At Columbia, whenever our offense gets bogged down and begins to struggle, we can always turn to our quick passing game to get back on track.

Its key ingredients are base zone-side protection, a quick 3-step drop by our QB, and precise timing routes by our receivers. Specifically, however, it's the slant route that provides the basic frame for our entire 3-step package.

Regardless of the secondary coverages, some combination of the slant route will enable us to attack the defense.

We're not going to say it's easy to execute. For precise timing and execution, the slant requires more practice time than any other individual route.

As with all of our routes, the slant employs five teaching areas, as follows:

Pre-snap I.D.:

By identifying the secondary coverage prior to the snap, the receiver (and QB) learns which point in the route the slant may come open. So, based on the technique of the widest defender, the receiver knows where to make his break.

When the defense is aligned in a three-deep zone coverage with a corner cushion, our receiver will maximize the depth of his upfield push to five steps (Diag. 1).

If the defense has covered-down to a 2-deep, hard-corner look, our receiver will not be able to push five steps and maintain the timing of the route. In this case, he will reach his break-point at 3 steps (Diag. 2).

Release:

Having identified the secondary cover with a pre-snap read, our receivers will explode off the LOS on the snap. The stance of our outside receivers will be closed, meaning the inside leg is up on the LOS, with the hands up at the top of the numbers.

Since the slant is a "direct-release" route, the first step will be straight upfield. We want the receivers to explode off the LOS, always giving the impression of a deep route. We're constantly pushing the receivers to "sell the Go."

This aggressive release will create separation from the defender.

Break Point:

The receiver will drive three or five steps on his aggressive upfield push, depending on the coverage. We refer to this point (where the receiver stems from his vertical push) as the "break point."

As our receiver releases off the LOS, he is keying the defender's leverage. (We can also determine this in the pre-snap I.D. of the secondary coverage.)

The defender's leverage will determine how the receiver will stick him, that is, initiate the sudden change of direction that will put the defender out of position.

Whenever the covering defender aligns head-up/inside the slant receiver, we will utilize our "single-step" technique at the break point (Diag. 3).

This "single-step" is the last step of our vertical push and will be slightly to the outside. Coupled with a good head fake to the outside, this misdirection step will force the defender to lean to the outside.

At that point, the receiver will create horizontal separation between himself and the defender as he breaks to the inside.

Whenever the defender aligns with outside leverage on the receiver, no "single-step" is needed (Diag. 4). The receiver can break immediately to the "slant area" (Diag. 5), as horizontal and vertical separation has been created by alignment.

The Catch:

After sticking the defender and converting the route to the slant area, the receiver must fix his eyes on the QB. If the ball is delivered to him, he must make every effort to catch it with his hands.

If the QB can lead the receiver with an accurate throw, allowing him to catch the ball away from his body on the run, the receiver will have a better shot at gaining yardage.

Whenever the QB is forced to thread the needle, we want the receiver to make a body catch and take whatever yardage he can.

Vertical Cut/Midfield Hock:

After the catch, the receiver must immediately tuck the ball away and get vertical. The slant route will place him at LB level upon the catch. We refer to this area as "no man's land."

We want the receiver to avoid taking a big hit from any LB by cutting directly upfield (Diag. 5).

If the QB hits some other route, the slant receiver must continue on his path and look for a midfield cutoff block on a pursuing LB or safety (Diag. 6).

These areas are worked daily in practice. Since the slant route is the basis of all our quick-game routes, proper execution is crucial.

Patterns with the Slant Route:

We have three patterns in our quick-passing game that combine the slant route with another route to attack the secondary coverage. All pass patterns involving the slant route call for the QB to key the secondary player with flat responsibility. This is the QB's key pre-snap read.

Slant/Arrow:

The slant/arrow combination is particularly effective against the three-deep coverage. This combination places a vertical stretch on the flat player (Diag. 7). The reaction of this player will determine where the QB goes with the football.

This combination of routes is also good vs man coverage. When you are running the slant/arrow combo against man coverage, one of two things will usually happen:

1. The strong safety/OLB will overplay the arrow route, vacating the slant area for an easy completion to the slant receiver (Diag. 8). Whenever our receivers run their routes with good technique, we always expect the slant vs single coverage.

2. The slant route serves as a natural "pick" for the arrow receiver. This should place the arrow receiver in open space, with an easy throw for the QB (Diag. 9).

Slant/Swing:

Another good route combination vs coverage is the slant/swing combo, a pattern that places a horizontal stretch on the flat player (Diag. 10).

As the slant receiver executes his route, the swing receiver will release flat on the LOS and gain width. We coach this receiver to get to the top of the field numbers, no deeper than three yards down field.

Against three-deep zone coverage, the flat player will take away one of these routes. But the depth of the corner will prevent him from effectively defending this pattern in the quick game (Diag. 11).

Once you have established success vs three-deep coverage, the defense will generally press your outside receivers. By bringing the cornerback into play in the quick game, the defense will be taking away those routes vs the flat area.

This defensive press may come in the form of man or zone coverage. With man coverage, the defense may play:

* Man-Free: Defending the four wides with single coverage and playing the free-safety in the middle of the field.

* 0-Coverage: Taking the free-safety out of the middle of the field and covering the four wides with single coverage while keeping three LBs in the box.

The defense may also press by using two-deep zone coverage with hard corners to take away routes in the flat.

Now that the defense has rolled-up" its corners and taken away the flat, we want to attack the soft spots given up by the defense. For instance, the cover-down to two-deep coverage with hard corners allows the defense to take away the flat, but it opens up other cushions in the secondary.

Slant/ Wheel:

To attack these deep corner areas, we will utilize a slant wheel pattern combination. The wheel route has produced many big plays because it starts out like an arrow or swing route, with the inside receiver gaining width off the LOS.

As the corner reads this and sits in flat coverage to take away the route, the receiver converts the route up the sideline. The QB is coached to put the ball on the boundary 18-20 yards down the field.

In two-deep zone coverage, the half-field safety must be the secondary defender to take away the wheel route. By doing this, the defense loses support in the slant area. When running the slant/wheel combo, the QB will key off the reaction of the halfsafety (Diag 12).

Conclusion

The slant concept continues to be an essential part of the quick passing game for us. It is my belief that the better we execute the slant route, the better our quick passing will be.

It is a versatile route that can be combined with selective routes into patterns that can effectively attack any defensive coverage.