In this article I am essentially going to take two tip ideas and combine them into one with the help of the Shotgun Trips TE Slot Quick Flat play from the Pass Balanced playbook. First, formation shifting the Slot Quick flat to the Shotgun 2 RB 3 WR formation can be a great playcall because it allows you to be able to attack all areas of the field with ease. Furthermore, when the formation shift is made I will show you that it's possible to throw to a receiver running a delayed blue route without the use of the cone. Being able to throw across the field without the use of the cone will make it that much tougher for your opponent to manually guard all of your reads. Read below to find out how to execute the play.
Shotgun Trips TE - Slot Quick Flat (formation shifted)
Console(s)
XBOX / PS2
Playbook(s)
Chicago, Pass Balanced
Quick Setup
Step 1 - Put the Shotgun Trips TE Slot Quick Flat play in your audibles.
Step 2 - Come out in the Shotgun Slot Cross play found in the Shotgun 2 RB 3 WR formation.
Step 3 - Audible to Slot Quick Flat play, then formation shift UP to the Shotgun 2 RB 3 WR formation.
Step 4 - Place your (B receiver on xbox and O receiver on ps2) on a slant to the inside. Next, place your (X receiver on xbox and Square receiver on ps2) on a streak. Now, smart route your (Y receiver on xbox and Triangle receiver on ps2) to extend the delayed blue route to the first down marker. Lastly, motion out your RB to the left and hot route him on a slant to the outside before motioning him back to his original spot. I like to place the vision cone on the RB before the snap to get my opponent's attention as soon as I snap the ball.
Step 5 - Motion your slot receiver to the inside and snap the ball before he gets to the tackle.
Making Your Reads
I look for the running back and slot receiver to get open after the snap. Also, while I am looking at these two receivers I already know that I can throw to the receiver running the delayed blue route on the far right side of the field. The delayed blue route is my #1 read because I can keep my opponent occupied on the far left side of the field by placing my vision cone on the running back. Then, when my receiver running the delayed blue route starts running upfield all I have to do is hold up and press the player's icon to complete the pass.
Play Breakdown
Image 1 - First, I place the Shotgun Trips TE Slot Quick Flat play in my audibles.
Image 2 - You can come out in any Shotgun 2 RB 3 WR formation play. However, in this example I have chosen to come out in the Slot Cross.
Image 3 - The defense has chosen to come out in the 4-3 2 Man Under, placing both defensive ends in purple zones and the strong defensive tackle in a QB spy to help contain Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick.
Image 4 - The first change we make is audibling to the Shotgun Trips TE Slot Quick Flat play.
Image 5 - Next, we take the Slot Quick Flat play and formation shift it to the Shotgun 2 RB 3 WR formation.
Image 6 - You can make the hot route changes to your receivers in any order. In this image, we've motioned running back Warrick Dunn out to the left and hot routed him to perform a slant to the outside. Once we've made this adjustment we motion him back to his original spot in the backfield.
Image 7 - In this picture, we've now made all of the necessary adjustments to the Slot Quick Flat play to ensure success. Wide receiver Roddy White is running a streak route on the far left side of the field, tight end Alge Crumpler is performing a slant to the inside, and we've smart route the delayed blue route to receiver Michael Jenkins. Also, notice that Warrick Dunn has been motioned back and is prepared to run his slant out of the backfield to the left. We are now ready to begin the play.
Image 8 - Right before I snap the ball I send Alge Crumpler in motion to the inside to not only help him get upfield quicker, but also to create space for the delayed blue route just in case my opponent is dropping extra linemen into zone coverage.
Image 9 - Immediately after the snap, wide receiver Michael Jenkins takes a couple steps backwards as he prepares to make a block before beginning his route.
Image 10 - As soon as Jenkins starts running upfield I hold up on the directional pad and press the button for my receiver's icon to deliver a perfect pass. Remember, there is no need to swing my cone of vision over to that side of the field because we can make an accurate pass without it.
Image 11 - Jenkins makes the catch over the cornerback for an easy 7 yard gain.
Image 12 - This time I decide to look over the middle to try to hit Alge Crumpler on the slant.
Image 13 - Vick fires a strike to the wide open Crumpler in the middle of the field.
Image 14 - Crumpler has enough room to make the catch for about a 12 yard gain.
Final Thoughts
This Slot Quick Flat is one of the better plays from the Pass Balanced playbook. You can also formation shift this to the Shotgun Trips Bunch formation to show your opponent a different look, while maintaining the same great effect. This play attacks all parts of the field with ease. Even if your opponent is dropping extra players into coverage you will still have plenty of routes all over the field to find the open target. Also, if your opponent is in a defense that is bringing pressure, you can look to quickly hit either your slot receiver or your running back out of the backfield. Lastly, being able to perfectly throw a pass to the receiver running the delayed blue route with no vision cone can really bring your game to a whole new level. Check this play out in practice mode to see just effective it can be for you. Just let your opponent try to follow your cone the next time you play and see what happens to him.
