The Slot Receiver in the NFL
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The Slot Receiver
The slot receiver is a position that is becoming more common in the NFL today, and he’s one of the most versatile players in the game. He’s usually shorter than outside wide receivers, so he needs to have great hands and speed in order to get open. In addition to being fast, he needs to be able to run a variety of routes and have excellent chemistry with his quarterback.
A slot receiver is a critical part of any offense that employs a running play. This is because they typically line up in a position that gives them plenty of space to run, and their alignment allows them to open up passing lanes for the ball carrier.
Their speed and route-running skills are often more than enough to keep them open, but they need to know how and when to block to make sure they’re not hit. This is important because they’re lined up relatively close to the middle of the field, so they’ll need to be able to seal off outside linebackers and nickel backs.
They also need to be able to block when the quarterback tries to throw to them. This is especially important on running plays designed to the outside part of the field, where they’ll have to line up near outside linebackers and safeties.
In the NFL, slot receivers are a hot commodity because they are able to stretch the defense vertically off of pure speed. Some of the best slot receivers in the league include Tyreek Hill, Cole Beasley and Keenan Allen.
Some people also believe that slot receivers are more difficult to defend than wide receivers in other positions because of their versatility. They can run the ball in any direction, up or down, deep or short, and can also catch the ball behind the line of scrimmage.
The slot receiver can also be a key element of blocking plays that don’t feature a fullback or an extra tight end. They’re able to block the cornerbacks and nickelbacks that will be in their line of scrimmage, making them a good alternative to the outside receivers who are positioned on the opposite side of the field.