The slot receiver is an essential part of a football team’s offense. He lines up a few yards behind the line of scrimmage and is a threat to do virtually anything when on the field.

Speed, Hands and Route-Running Skills:

Despite the fact that they line up a few yards behind the outside wide receivers, slot receivers are not only very fast but also very good at running precise routes. Their speed allows them to run past the secondary or safety, when going for a long pass, and to get open in the backfield when running with the ball.

They’re fast enough to break through any blitz and pick up the defense’s best tacklers, too. That’s why it’s so important for them to have great hands and be extremely accurate with their routes.

Running Plays:

Slot receivers can be used on a variety of running plays, including pitch plays, reverses and end-arounds. They’ll often be called into pre-snap motion by the quarterback, allowing them to quickly get in front of defenders and run with the ball.

Blocking:

Because they’re a little shorter and stockier than most wide receivers, slot receivers will need to be able to protect the ball carrier from blitzes and defensive linemen. That’s why they’ll be asked to block on a lot of running plays, even when they’re not the ball carrier.

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