The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a run-first, pass-second offense. This quick slant pattern is just an extension of the running game. It's a high-percentage pass, a specialty of the 49ers when they had both Jerry Rice and John Taylor and one that the Vikings like to run with Cris Carter and Randy Moss.
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Salisbury |
The play is a confidence-builder for Bucs quarterback Shaun King. He will take a three-step drop and look immediately for Keyshawn Johnson, who will fight his way inside with his big body. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Johnson is bigger than the two Jets cornerbacks, Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman.
The way to defend the slant is to play tough inside defense. If the cornerback is playing head-up on or inside of Johnson, he should force Johnson to take an outside release because that would disrupt the timing of the football. If Johnson gets inside anyway, the Jets will try to force him too far inside where it is cluttered. Johnson's goal is to take a wide split to create space and then stiffarm the cornerback and punch by him if necessary. If Keyshawn is forced outside, then he has to take a longer path to get inside.
If King sees Johnson take an outside release on the slant, King should check off and look for his second and third receivers. It's like stealing for the Bucs when the cornerback plays off Johnson, giving him a cushion. Then, the only way to stop the play is to hope for King to make a bad throw.
Quarterbacks love having a receiver with a big body to throw to on the slant route. If King is going to miss on the pass, he needs to miss down low. A high throw could be tipped and intercepted. King will throw the ball into Keyshawn's body. He would like to get the ball out in front, so Keyshawn can catch it and run. But they will take the 8-yard completion.
Editor's note: The experts at Sportvision and ESPN analyst Sean Salisbury will provide an in-depth look at NFL teams' playbooks each Friday on ESPN.com. Sportvision will provide the animated play diagram, and Salisbury will detail how the play works and when you can expect to see it.
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