Nose Slant
Slants the nose to one A-gap to create movement in the middle.
Concept: Nose fires the called A-gap while a stacked backer fills the opposite A behind him.
Grows with your players
Same play, more layers as they age up — teach it once and build on it every season for a consistent program.
- 10UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
- 12UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
- 14UAdd movement: Add the line stunt/twist to beat the offense's blocking rules. Teach the coverage drops behind the front and read run vs. pass. Combine front, pressure, and coverage — and disguise it pre-snap.
Every position's job
Slant into the called A-gap, firing across the center's face on the snap.
Hold the strong B/C-gap and occupy the blocker during the slant.
Hold the weak B/C-gap.
Fill the opposite A-gap behind the slanting nose.
Read flow and fill the strong gap as the middle moves.
Read flow and fill the weak gap and cutback.
Cover the strong receiver, man or deep third.
Cover the weak receiver, man or deep third.
Single-high deep middle over the top.
How to teach it
- 1The nose slants to one A-gap to create movement in the middle.
- 2A stacked backer (Mike) fills the opposite A-gap the nose leaves behind him.
- 3The nose fires flat across the center's face to the called gap.
Common mistakes to fix
- !Mike not filling the vacated A-gap and leaving the middle open; fix by pairing the slant with a fill.
- !Nose going straight upfield instead of into the gap; fix with a flat slant step.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.