Josh McDaniels and the Slant-Flat Concept in Super Bowl XLIX

Mar 10, 2015

Jeff Kim

Josh McDaniels chose the slant-flat route combination as

the principal concept for his game plan against the
Seahawks defense during Super Bowl XLIX. It combines
two quick underneath throws in a high low read
progression that was popularized by Bill Walsh in the
1970s and 1980s. Historically, defenses in that era
predominantly ran Cover 3 and Cover 1 shells which
meant that they were susceptible to the short passing
game. Due to the simplicity and effectiveness of the slant-
flat play, Bill Walsh was able to build an empire based on
this concept and it was this concept that popularized the
Cover 2 defense in the NFL in order to stop this concept.
The Slant-Flat Play Explained
The first progression is the slant, while the second progression is the flat. After
the snap, the quarterback reads the outside linebacker or the slot defensive
back that has the flat responsibility. If that flat defender vacates to cover the
low flat throw, the QB throws to the slant wide receiver. If the flat defender sits
in the high slant passing lane, then the QB throws to the uncovered low flat
wide receiver.

Its the slant receivers job to win inside and underneath the bailing
cornerback. If the defense is in Cover 1 Man-Free Safety (as indicated by a
defender following a receiver in motion), then the only pre-snap adjustment is
for the slant receiver to create a rub/pick to get the flat receiver open. The
slant-flat is, in theory, one of the best passing concepts to use against Cover 3
as the concept doesnt try to force anything deep against a defense built
around containing the long passing game.

The slant-flats simplicity and ease of execution, with only one key defender to
read, makes it a popular concept for high-school-level quarterbacks, and its
still an effective play call for pocket passers across the NFL. The Seahawks,
with their Cover 3 and Cover 1 defensive shells, were not immune to its
effectiveness as seen in the NFC Divisional round by the Carolina Panthers
as well:

Play 1

Description: Carolina Panthers execute slant-flat against Seahawks Cover 3 defense. Touchdown.

Slant-Flat 1.mp4
Variations of the Slant-Flat Play
Combining a draw play-fake to hold aggressive LBs in the box at the
beginning of the play was one of the many clever details McDaniels used to
hinder the pass rush while providing receivers with more space after the
catch. Yards after the catch (YAC) is highly stressed in McDaniels offense,
which is the reason why hard-nosed players such as Wes Welker, Julian
Edelman, and Danny Amendola are brought to Boston. Here Brady throws to
the flat route or second progression of the high/low OLB read.

Play 2

Description: New England Patriots complete 3 yd flat route against Seahawks Cover 3 defense. 10
yd gain for 1st down.

Slant-Flat 2.mp4

Here Brady throws to the slant wide receiver for the touchdown as the flat
defender covers the flat route.

Play 3

Description: New England Patriots complete 11 yd slant route against Seahawks Cover 3 defense.
Touchdown.

Slant-Flat 3.mp4

In this play, notice how the play-side tackle grabs and yanks down the DEs
jersey, keeping him from potentially jumping up for a pass tip on the low
trajectory. Thats by design and not by accident. Other times the play-side
tackle actually catches the DE by surprise with a cut-block, for the same effect
on this play.
Play 4

Description: New England Patriots complete 1 yd flat route against Seahawks Cover 1 defense. 7 yd
gain.

Slant-Flat 4.mp4

Little details like this are found all over the place in McDaniels offense. Most
other teams dont achieve this level of detail, and teamwork, where offensive
lineman are not only blocking to protect the QB, but are also taught to be
aware of the routes, the timing, and the passing lanes they need to open up to
execute the play. The Patriots truly represent teamwork at its finest.

This time the DT is ready for the play, getting good penetration by the bull-
rush into the passing lane before elevating for the pass deflection. If not for
him, the Patriots would have had another good gain to TE Rob Gronkowski on
the slant route.

Play 5

Description: New England Patriots slant pass blocked in backfield against Seahawks Cover 1
defense. Incompletion.

Slant-Flat 5.mp4

Just to keep the defense guessing, the slant/flat concept has a sister play
which exploits the same weakness of the Cover 3. This play is known as the
curl/flat or slot-hitch/flat combination seen here.
Play 6

Description: New England Patriots complete 5 yd curl route against Seahawks Cover 3 defense. 6 yd
gain.

Slant-Flat 6.mp4

Different formation/routes, but with the same read, same progression, and
same passing lanes as the slant/flat makes the play effective.

Another good cut block on the play-side DE. This time SS Kam Chancellor is
assigned to stop the slant-flat. Watch how he expertly sits in the slant area
then explodes towards the flat wide receiver to ensure that the receiver
doesnt get any YAC.

Play 7

Description: New England Patriots complete 2 yd flat route against Seahawks

Cover 3 defense. 3 yd gain.

Slant-Flat 7.mp4

Here we see the defense in Cover 1 Man-Free try to stop this concept. In this
play, we see the outside receiver shorten his route to create a rub traffic jam
upon seeing the manned defender follow the slot receiver motion. This rub
route gets the flat receiver open. On the opposite side of the ball, a RB screen
is executed, with both receivers setting up blocks. Against Cover 1, the RB is
manned by the LB. Its three defenders on three receivers at the top of the
image, and two defenders on two receivers at the bottom. Brady knows pre-
snap to go to the two receiver side with the rub slant-flat.

Play 8
Description: New England Patriots complete 2 yd flat route against Seahawks Cover 1 defense. 8 yd
gain.

Slant-Flat 8.mp4

In the Super Bowl, McDaniels calls the same exact play back-to-back to push
Seattle into making a defensive adjustment. There is a special joy shared by
play callers when a game plan is working well enough to do this. The RB
screen opposite to the slant-flat that is not very effective against Cover 1, nor
a standard Cover 3, but McDaniels game planned that it would be useful
should the Seahawks shift an extra defender to the slant-flat side, while in a
Cover 3. Here, the Seahawks makes the adjustment McDaniels was
expecting the Seahawks to make. They use a Cover 3 variation with SS Kam
Chancellor shifting over outside the hash, deep in the second level to help on
the high slant. In a standard Cover 3, there are four underneath defenders
playing inside-out flow.

But this play, SS Kam Chancellor shadows Julian Edelman in motion to

provide an extra body to help on the slant. He lurks in a SS Cover 3 Buzz
position over the slant passing lane, leaving just 3 underneath defenders. The
middle/hook defender now has more middle responsibility, allowing RB Shane
Vereen to catch a flare with space to run after the catch.

Its a numbers game: three defenders covering two receivers on one side of
the hash, leaving just 2 defenders covering 3 receivers (including RB Shane
Vereen) on the other side of the hash. Brady identifies (pre-snap) the lopsided
coverage adjustment, and executes the game plan for this coverage
adjustment a quick fake look to the slant-flat side to hold the middle
linebacker over the center, then throwing it back to the RB screen to the
opposite side. The RTs cut block misses the DE, so Brady is forced to lob the
throw. Otherwise, the play had potential for more. Even without the big gain,
the threat would keep the Seahawks from attempting this Cover 3 Buzz
variation to stop the slant-flat again.
Play 9

Description: New England Patriots complete flare route behind line of scrimmage against Seahawks
Cover 3 buzz defense. 5 yd gain for first down.

Slant-Flat 9.mp4

The sheer effectiveness of this play dismantled the Seahawks Cover 3 and
Cover 1 defense, so much that they actually abandoned those coverages and
ran Cover 2 and Cover 6 by the second half. This begs the question: Why was
it so effective and why does it seem like its never been done before? Further,
why did the Broncos offense use other passing concepts that were blatantly
ineffective in last years disappointing Super Bowl when this simple slant-flat
play concept was designed specifically for the Cover 3 and Cover 1 defense
that the Seahawks run?

Part of that answer has to do with tendency of the NFL to want to go deep and
attack the downfield game as opposed to sticking with dink-and-dunk play
concepts. Star wide receivers dont get mega contracts when they only catch
two yard passes with three yards after the catch even though its a critical
element to the game of football, while fans get upset about the lack of a
downfield threat due to the appeal of game-changing plays. This pressure
causes coaches to risk bigger plays.

The other part of the answer has to do with the Patriots mentality of teamwork
and game planning. This play along with other underneath passing plays
formed the bread-and-butter to their entire offensive game plan. The Patriots
sparingly mixed in deep passes only when they knew they had the matchup
for it. Most teams and play-callers rarely have that kind of discipline to stick
with the strategy and end up adjusting away from it too quickly. But unlike
many teams in the NFL, the focus of the 4x Super Bowl winning Patriots
offense is not on star players. Its the intangible play calling, game planning,
and teamwork that is apparent in the way the Patriots play the game of
football.