The Gun Split Slot is the type of play that can consistently beat zone defenses with just a couple quick hot routes before the snap. The goal on this play is to hit the (B) receiver as he heads towards the right sideline on his corner route. The way that we're going to enhance this play will allow you to beat almost any type of zone coverage. However, one thing that will be beneficial to your offense when running this play is using a taller receiver when throwing the corner route. Check out this breakdown in it's entirety below.
Quick Setup
Step 1 - Hot route the (A) receiver to perform a streak (360 - Y + receiver's icon + up on d-pad / PS3 - Triangle + receiver's icon + up on d-pad).
Step 2 - Smart route the (B) receiver's route (360 - Y + receiver's icon + push right analog stick in / PS3 - Triangle + receiver's icon + push right analog stick in).
Step 3 - (optional) Hot route the (Y) running back to stay in and block (360 - Y + running back's icon + RT / PS3 - Triangle + running back's icon + R2)
Step 4 - (optional) Shift your line protection to the right (360 - LB + d-pad right / PS3 - L1 + d-pad right).
Play Breakdown
Our opponent comes out in a Dime cover 3 zone. A cover 4 zone defense will guard this play closer, but most opponents will typically use a cover 3 zone because it's more balanced across the field.
The first thing we do is hot route the (A) receiver to perform a streak up the field to pull the defense deeper.
Next, we smart route the (B) receiver to make his route shorter and more effective against zones.
Lastly, we decide take take the optional steps by keeping our (Y) running back in to block and shifting our line protection to the right. The last two optional steps aren't necessary, but they will allow us to slightly roll to our right if we need to. Also, you may want to consider hot routing the (X) receiver to perform a drag or slant across the field to give you an extra read coming from the backside.
As quarterback Jay Cutler receives the snap the receivers begin to head upfield on their routes.
