Many different offensive formations today rely on spreading the personnel out in the field to create 'mismatches' with the defense.
Football nowadays has a lot to with speed, especially at the upper levels of the game where players are ultra-talented and super fast.
That being said, there are still some offenses that like to go with bigger packages to give defenses a different look.
This is what the Slot T offense does.
Teams can run the Slot T with multiple personnel groupings. It involves having a fullback and halfback in the backfield at all times along with the quarterback -- who can run this out of the shotgun or under center.
The Slot T offense is mainly seen as a run-heavy offense, though pass plays can certainly be run out of it.
Below, we’ll discuss the Slot T offense in more detail, with a few example running plays out of it.
How to Run the Slot T Offense
The Slot T offense is a great formation to run in today’s game.
It can be run as a variation of the popular Spread offense, or it can be run more in line with some run-heavy offenses that youth football teams employ -- such as the Wing T.
The hallmark of the Slot T Offense is a fullback and halfback in the backfield, off-set from each other.
Where these two players line up is how coaches can confuse defenses.
It’s what really makes this offense so special.
Teams that will pass the ball more often may have the quarterback in shotgun, though even in this situation, there will be plenty of run plays.
The other option is to have the quarterback under center, and have the formation work more as a power-running personnel.
The best way to understand how the Slot T offense works is by looking at two different running plays offenses can call out of it.
To show you the different ways you can use this offense, we’ll show one play with the quarterback in shotgun (as a more spread-like offense) and one where he’s under center (as a more power-heavy offense).
Slot T Offense Playbook
Play #1: Spread Jet Sweep
The first play we detail is the Jet Sweep, which is run out of a spread-like formation. For this Slot T play, the quarterback will be in shotgun.
The fullback will line up close to the line of scrimmage, in between the guard and tackle to the right (weak side) of the field.
The halfback will line up close to the quarterback to the strong side.
The other 3 skill position players for this offense will all be wide receivers. This is done to spread out the defensive players, which will end up creating much more running room.
At the snap, all three receivers will run Go patterns to clear out their defenders.
All of the offensive linemen will block down to the weak side of the field to try to create running room toward the strong-side sideline.
The fullback will loop around behind the offensive line, and turn upfield once he gets beyond the strong-side tackle. His job is to pick up the Will linebacker and seal him off from the outside.
The quarterback will take the snap, fake the dive handoff to the halfback and then keep the ball.
He will run to his left, using the fullback as his lead blocker to get as many yards as he can.
Play #2: Fullback Wham
In this Slot T play, the offense will be in a bigger formation.
The quarterback will line up under center, with the fullback a few yards directly behind him.
The halfback will line up a few yards to the right of the fullback.
The Z receiver on this play will serve like a wing back, on a diagonal to the left of the left tackle and in the backfield.
The tight end will line up at the line of scrimmage to the right and the only wide receive (the X) at the LOS but split out some to the left.
Before the snap, the Z will go in motion behind the fullback. He'll do this on most plays out of this formation, but he'll serve as a decoy on this play.
At the snap, all offensive linemen will try to hook their man to the left side of the field, since the run will go to the right.
The halfback will serve as the lead blocker on this play, trying to get ahead of the fullback.
The fullback will take the handoff and will head right behind where the right guard is.
He’ll then decide whether to cut in through the B gap or outside more toward the C gap – depending on what holes the blocking has opened up.
Conclusion
The Slot T offense is mostly popular in lower levels of the game (like youth and high school football), though some colleges will use it as well.
It’s a very versatile offense that includes a halfback and fullback in the backfield on every play, but in different alignments to confuse the defense.
While it’s primarily a run-heavy offense, teams can use it in many different ways to speed up the game and to utilize pass plays out of it.