The slot receiver position is one of the most popular in the NFL today. Teams with a slot receiver are able to put their best wide receivers on the field and attack the defense from all angles.
In 1963, Al Davis began coaching the Oakland Raiders and introduced the slot area to the team. He wanted his slot receivers to have good speed and great hands, and he also required them to be precise with their routes and timing.
This strategy was a huge success for the Raiders, leading to them to win a Super Bowl in 1977. This is why many people consider Davis to be the father of the slot receiver position as we know it today.
A slot receiver is a wide receiver who lines up in the slot area of the football field, between the tight end and the wing-wide receiver. They are a big part of the offense and are a very versatile player, capable of catching short passes or running long routes to open up passes underneath.
They can also run like a running back and act as a decoy for other plays. They also sometimes carry the ball for pitch plays, reverses, and end-arounds.
These players line up close to the middle of the field, so they need to be able to block well. They do this by either chipping nickelbacks, outside linebackers, and safeties, or they might need to perform a crack back block on defensive ends.
Their initial blocking after the snap is very important on running plays. This helps protect the running back from blitzes and gives the receiver extra space to move into when they catch the ball.
Because they are usually shorter and smaller than outside wide receivers, they must be able to run very accurate routes that can get them open for big gains. They can run deep or short, and they should have the ability to get out of their own way if they need to.
They also need to be able to run fast so they can outrun the defense and get downfield quickly. They often need to do this on pitches and reverses because they have to be able to get the ball in motion as soon as they receive it.
This makes them a vital player on the field for most teams. Unlike other receivers, they can line up in a wide array of different positions on the field, which makes them extremely versatile.
A lot of slot receivers are also excellent at blocking and securing the ball, so they can be a crucial piece to any team’s offensive line. They can be called on to pick up blitzes from linebackers and secondary players, but they’re also important on outside runs because they can seal off the defensive end in the slot.
Some slot receivers can even catch the ball with their feet still in the ground, so they can make a play on a pass in the air that goes over their head. This is a great skill for players to have, especially when they are just starting out in the NFL and learning their role as a wide receiver.
