Systems/3-4 Defense/Slant Strong
StuntBest for: Run down

Slant Strong

Slants all three down linemen one gap toward the tight-end side at the snap.

Concept: Each lineman crosses the face of his blocker into the next strong-side gap to disrupt down blocks.

ENEBBBBCSSC
Base alignment — schematic, not to scale

Every position's job

Nose/Tackle

Slant to strong A-gap

Defensive Ends

Both slant one gap strong

Mike

Scrape over the top to fill strong

Will

Fill the weak A-gap the slant vacates

Sam

Strong edge force

Corners

Man coverage

Safeties

Two-high with run support

How to teach it

  • 1Slanting together beats down-blocks to the strong side.
  • 2First step is flat and hard in the slant direction.
  • 3Weak-side backer must fill the backside A-gap.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !Linemen slant different directions; fix by making the strong call clear.
  • !Backside A-gap goes unfilled; fix by pairing the slant with the Will fill.

Build this into your call sheet.

Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.