Nose Slant Strong
The nose slants to the strong-side A-gap to disrupt the center's block.
Concept: The nose steps play-side into the A-gap while a backer fills the backside A-gap 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 hard play-side into the strong A-gap, disrupt the center's block and penetrate.
5-technique, hold the C-gap and squeeze off the tackle.
5-technique, hold the backside C-gap and squeeze cutbacks.
Fill the vacated weak A-gap behind the slanting nose, be the plug backer.
Read guard and flow to daylight, keep backside leverage on cutbacks.
Deep-middle center field over the top.
Cover strong receiver and force the ball back inside.
How to teach it
- 1Nose steps play-side with the near foot first, attacking the center's play-side shoulder, not going straight upfield.
- 2The backside backer must fill the A-gap the nose vacates or the trap/cutback hits clean.
- 3Slant is a one-gap attack, so the nose gets skinny and penetrates rather than staying square.
Common mistakes to fix
- !Nose slanting too flat and running past the play; fix by penetrating the near gap and squeezing.
- !Backside backer not filling the vacated A-gap; fix by keying the nose's slant and replacing him fast.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.