How Ole Miss Gets the Slant Open
Empty formations and motions
The slant is one of the best routes in football. It’s quick and since the WR is on the move the route always has the ability to break and gain a lot of yards.
In the 2023 game against Texas A&M, Ole Miss ran an empty concept with two slants on the two receiver side that isolated the defender over the inside slant. A&M had a post safety, yet no underneath defenders so Ole Miss was able to pick up quite a few yards each time.
Let’s take a look.
First Slant
Before the play even begins, the Aggies looked confused on how to align to the empty set with a WR playing wing. When the wing was put in motion, one of the inside linebackers went with him and was removed from the box.
The Aggies were in a MOFC coverage and had two defenders locked on in man against the two backside WRs. They also brought the Mike on an ill timed blitz.
Here’s what made the play work beyond that blitz leaving the low middle open: the motion created some communication issues from the Aggies but it didn’t matter because the Rebels really weren’t even running a concept — the outside WR didn’t get out of his stance the entire play. He stood ready to go throughout the play. Wild stuff.
The QB looked to the slant the entire time and delivered a strike. He played with good rhythm. Another key to the play working was the threat of the vertical from the inside slant. He took a straight ahead release with good speed and made a quick cut after three steps. He was tackled at the catch, but they picked up a nice 6 yards on 1st and 10.
Second Slant
The Rebels caught the Aggies, once again, on an ill timed blitz that left the low middle completely open. This time, the Aggies already had the Will outside over the number 2 receiver to the boundary and it was one of the safeties who rolled down to play the man in motion.
However, other than that the look was basically the same: MOFC Man with a blitz. Same space was open, only this time the play got more yards quite simply because the defender over the slant was slower than the receiver running the slant.
Once again, the WR into the boundary did nothing at all. That has to be devastating to watch as a DC. But I guess it’s efficient offensively speaking.
Conclusion
When trying to figure out why this play worked schematically, I can’t help but think Ole Miss knew this was going to happen (especially since they got such similar looks from the Aggies on both plays). Both plays were on first down and both plays had the same exact formation and motion.
These plays are interesting because Ole Miss only ran it twice and both times for success. I haven’t watched their other games, so I don’t know if they carry this play into every game, but it’s a nice way to get the defense moving and open the low middle when you’re in empty. Defenses like to bring pressure against empty and if they don’t have a plan to defend that low middle, this could be a good play.
Check out both plays here:
Until tomorrow,
Emory Wilhite
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