Quick game: slant-flat and stick

Setup

1. Contact level: air. No tackling and no contact; helmets on. Defenders play the read honestly at full speed but stay off the receivers.
2. A centre and a QB under centre. Three receivers on the right: X wide, H in the slot and Y flexed inside.
3. Three defenders: a corner on X, the Sam as the flat defender over the slot, and the Will in the hook.
4. Cone the landmarks: the slant break at 5 yards, the stick at 6 yards, and the flat 2–3 yards past the line near the sideline.

How it runs

1. Rep 1, slant-flat: X runs a 3-step slant, H runs to the flat and Y runs the seam to hold the Will.
2. The QB takes a 3-step drop and reads the Sam. Sam widens with the flat: throw the slant. Sam sits or drops under the slant: throw the flat.
3. Rep 2, stick: Y pushes to 6 yards and sits facing the QB, H runs to the flat and X runs off the corner.
4. The QB reads the Sam again. Sam widens: throw the stick. Sam sits on the stick: throw the flat.
5. The coach tells the Sam what to do before each rep without the QB hearing. Rotate receivers every rep and QBs every 4 throws.

Coaching points

• QB: eyes on the flat defender from the snap; the ball comes out on the third step, no hitch.
• Throw to the receiver's upfield shoulder on the slant and away from the defender on the flat.
• Slant: three hard steps up the field, plant on the outside foot, then a 45-degree break. Hands ready early.
• Stick: settle in the window between the hook and the flat defender and show the numbers to the QB.
• Catch, tuck and get up the field straight away.

Common mistakes

• QB staring at the receiver instead of the flat defender, so the read is wrong.
• Slant drifting flat across the field into the hook defender.
• Stick drifting deeper than 6 yards and breaking the timing.
• QB holding the ball and adding a hitch; the quick game is gone.