Slot is a term that refers to any of the positions in football that are typically aligned pre-snap between the last man on the line of scrimmage (usually the tight end or offensive tackle) and the outside receiver. Slot receivers are a key part of the offensive playbook, often seeing more playing time than their outside counterparts.
They also have a special role as a blocker on run plays, particularly those that involve running up the field to the edge of the defense. This is because they are positioned close to the middle of the field, so their initial blocking on these plays is significantly more important than the initial blocks of the outside receivers.
Their speed and hands allow them to open up a lot of options for the offense. In addition, they are usually able to run in and out of the slot, which allows them to open up routes that outside wide receivers can’t.
The best slot receivers can also be used as a decoy for running plays in the slot. This is because they will move from one side of the field to the other in a pre-snap motion, allowing the quarterback to have a clear idea of where the defense is going to line up and give the slot receiver room to make a move.
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