During the past decade, slot receivers have become a very important part of many NFL offenses. In fact, they are now targeted on over 40 percent of passing attempts, according to Sports Illustrated.
The term slot comes from the slot area of a wide receiver’s position, which is the area behind and slightly in front of the line of scrimmage. Traditionally, slot receivers were called on to play during three-receiver offensive sets, but they are increasingly being used as a weapon in a variety of running and passing plays.
Today, the number of slots on a football field is often referred to as the nickel and dime package. This allows offenses to attack the weak side of defenses, while still keeping seven players on the line of scrimmage.
A slot receiver is a very fast, physical player who can run over defenders and make a great catch. They also have a strong ability to block, which is something that outside receivers are not always as good at.
They have also a strong sense of route running and timing, making them an excellent receiver to pair with a quarterback on a quick slant or go route. In addition, slot receivers have strong hands and can absorb a lot of contact when catching the ball.
While they have become a more common sight in the NFL, slot receivers are still a relatively new position for most teams. They were first conceived by one of Al Davis’ assistant coaches in 1963, when he developed a system that allowed him to set two wide receivers on the weak side of the defense.
The slot receiver’s position is an important one for many offensive teams, as it allows them to get the ball to their most talented players at a time when they are most likely to have their best route running abilities. This gives them a huge advantage over their opponents.
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