---
title: "Slant Route: How to Run It and When to Throw It"
description: "The slant is a quick inside-breaking route at about 4 yards. How it is run, the coverages it beats and how quarterbacks time the throw."
url: https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/routes/slant/
---

route

# Slant Route

A slant takes a few hard steps upfield, then breaks inside at roughly 35 to 45 degrees, at 4 yards in Crucible's diagram. It is the fastest way to get the ball into the middle of the field.

![Slant route diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/routes/slant.webp)

## How the Slant Is Run

The receiver sells a go, plants at about 4 yards and cuts inside, into the window in front of the linebackers. Throw on rhythm off a three-step or quick-game drop, before the defender can recover.

## What It Beats

- Off coverage and soft corners, who give up the inside break.
- Man coverage, where inside leverage wins immediately.
- Blitzes, as a hot route into the space the rusher left.

## What to Watch For

The danger is a linebacker or robber dropping into the slant window (a Hook/Curl defender or the "rat"). Crucible's Slant concept adds a diagonal to the flat so you can throw whichever one that defender doesn't take.

## Common Questions

### What is a slant route in football?

A slant takes a few hard steps upfield, then breaks inside at roughly 35 to 45 degrees, at 4 yards in Crucible's diagram.

## Concepts Built With the Slant

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![Slant diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/slant.thumb.webp)

Slant Diagonal / Slant
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![Tosser diagram](https://www.crucibletech.com/playbook/img/football_11v11/concepts/tosser.thumb.webp)

Tosser Lookie / Slant

## Related passing concepts

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Slant Diagonal / Slant

Rep Slant in Crucible
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