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Systems/4-3 Defense/Line Slant Strong
StuntBest for: Run down10U+ · Core

Line Slant Strong

The four-man front slants to the strong side to overload that gap set.

Concept: Each lineman steps to his strong-side gap on the snap, shifting the front one gap over.

Age version
ETTESMWCSSC
RushBlitzDrop to coverage
14U — Add 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.
Play movement — schematic, not to scale

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.

  1. 10UIntroduce: Line up right and own your gap — win with alignment, pad level, and pursuit to the ball.
  2. 12UAttack blocks: Add get-off and block destruction so the front controls the line of scrimmage.
  3. 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

NG

Step to the strong-side gap on the snap.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
DT (strong)

Slant one gap to the strong side on the snap.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
DE (strong)

Slant one gap strong, becoming contain or crash for that side.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
DE (weak)

Slant one gap strong, squeezing the next gap over.

Coach it with
DL Stance and Get-Off DL Shed and Block Destruction DL Gap Control and Two-Gap Read
Mike

Flow strong and fill the gap vacated by the slant.

Coach it with
LB Downhill Fill Scrape & Fill Over the Top Team Inside Run Period
Sam

Fill the strong edge or hold the tight-end side.

Coach it with
LB Downhill Fill Edge Rush & Bend the Corner Scrape & Fill Over the Top
Will

Fill the backside weak gap, guard the cutback.

Coach it with
LB Downhill Fill Scrape & Fill Over the Top Team Inside Run Period
SS

Support the strong run edge.

Coach it with
Edge Rush & Bend the Corner
FS

Deep-middle center field.

CB (strong)

Cover strong receiver, force ball inside.

CB (weak)

Cover weak receiver, contain backside.

Coach it with
Scoop / Cutoff Block

How to teach it

  • 1All four linemen step to their strong-side gap in unison on the snap, shifting the front one gap over.
  • 2Backers flow strong and fill the gaps the slant vacates.
  • 3The weak backer is the cutback insurance since the front is overloaded strong.

Common mistakes to fix

  • !Linemen slanting too flat and getting reached; fix by attacking the near shoulder of the next blocker.
  • !Cutback lane opening weak; fix by the Will reading and replacing the backside gap.
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