Defending The Slot

Defending the slot player is one of the hardest things to do in football. The slot receiver basically has the whole field to work, while the number one receiver is limited by the sideline. The slot receiver is usually a team's quickest player and skillful route runner. Defending him can be really tricky! Here are some of the most popular techniques in defending slot players.

The first technique is an off man slide technique. Off man technique should be 5-7 yards off and 1-2 yards inside or outside leverage. You should have your eyes on the inside hip flexor. The hip flexor will always tell where the receiver is going. Now when the play starts the defender will take quick slide steps ready to pounce on quick slants and speed outs. These slide steps are used by pushing off the leverage foot (inside leverage inside foot press). Usually its two to three slide steps. You can also use a patient pedal with quick push off with the leverage foot then into a patient pedal about 50% speed. Eyes on the inside hip and clear quick game. If the receiver does a wide release when playing outside leverage then we can flip our hips to match the wide receiver. If he is trying to stem the defender while the defender is playing outside leverage, he needs to push off his leverage foot at a slight angle and push his own butt to the sideline. Next get hands on the receiver to slow down his momentum by either off hand jab and grab or hand on the thigh boards. Jab and grab aim for the inside v shoulder pad, punch and pull the shoulder pad to get the receiver off balance and closer to you. Hand of the thigh boards will help slow the receiver down but make sure you are close to the wide receiver and can lean into him. Be in phase, locate the ball and or play through the hands.

Video of Slide Technique bottom of the scene.

The second technique is catch technique. Catch technique is exactly what it sounds like you catch the receiver in his route. Alignment is five to seven yards off, inside or outside eye of the receiver. As always, eyes on the inside hip flexor. Your first step will be almost square and then you want to get your feet hot with crow hops, not foot fire. You have a one yard cliff then don't scoot back any farther. Next you want to match the hips of the receiver, just like taking a charge in basketball. Get physical hands onto the receiver to slow down and to knock him off balance. Here you want to get hands inside while matching the hips and bring him into your body so you can turn with him. Leverage doesn’t matter as much as matching the hips. You need to be patient with this technique. It was for and works best against quick game routes. Receivers will try all sorts of releases but stay patient, don't bite on the first move unless he is full speed and flying.

The third technique is press technique. This can be an inside or outside eye alignment, one yard off the wide receiver. Eyes are on the inside hip flexor and when the ball is snapped you take your hot steps/timing steps or hop steps, to get your feet moving and ready. Usually a timing step is taking a three inch step back, outside foot first and then the inside foot but I’ve seen it done both ways. Hop steps are quick short hops backwards inside then outside like a small three to six inch hop with both feet to get moving backwards and lateral. Next we want to off hand jam if it’s there when the receiver declares his release. (off hand is the hand you didn’t open your hips up to. (Open hips left, then your right hand is the jam hand) If he releases wide, give a quick jab and grab later in the route (five to ten yards) and get into phase. Slow the receiver down by pressing on his thigh boards and lean into the receiver, then locate the ball or place through the hands. Play through the hands by shooting them together in between the receivers arms and then split apart violently making almost a M shape. To one hand break up a pass, aim and swipe for the wrists of the receiver. The wrists are both strong enough for you to hit and weak enough for you to move his hands. You might miss and slip off the hand and the forearms still allow for the use of hands. The wrists move the hand and are solid enough to target them.

For more information check out my youtube video on defending the slot.