Line Slant Left
Slants all five linemen one gap to the left at the snap.
Concept: Each lineman attacks the left gap and backers flow to fill the backside.
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
On the snap, slant across the center's face into the left A-gap.
Slant one gap left, crossing your blocker's face into the next left gap.
Slant left into the A-gap to your left, staying with the movement.
Slant left one gap, working inside toward the B-gap.
Slant left into the next outside gap, becoming the new left edge.
Fill the backside (right) A/B gap the slant vacates.
Fill the right backside gap and hold contain against the cutback.
Scrape and flow to the ball, filling behind the leftward slant.
Cover your receiver and watch the backside as the line slants away.
Cover your receiver and support the left-side edge.
Deep middle, keying run to fill any cutback to the right.
How to teach it
- 1All five linemen slant one gap left on the snap, attacking the left gap.
- 2Backers flow to fill the backside (right) gaps the slant opens.
- 3First step is flat and hard to the left gap, not upfield.
Common mistakes to fix
- !Linemen over-running past their gap; fix by teaching them to slant and stay in the new gap.
- !Backside gap left unfilled; fix by assigning Sam/Mike the cutback responsibility.
Build this into your call sheet.
Adopt this system in your coach portal, tag plays by situation, and print call sheets and player wristbands.