Average Slot Receiver Size In College

• Average Slot Receiver Size In College Football Games
• Average Slot Receiver Size In College Football
• Average Slot Receiver Size In College Station
• Average Slot Receiver Size In College Dorm

Slotback, sometimes referred to as an A-back or 'slot receiver', is a position in gridiron football. The 'slot' is the area between the last offensive lineman on either side of the center and the wide receiver on that side. A player who lines up between those two players and behind the line of scrimmage fills that 'slot'. The slotback position is a fixture of Canadian football and indoor football, but is also used in American football. T slot bunnik. The slotback requires a versatile player, who must combine the receiving skills of a wide receiver, the ball-carrying skills of a running back, and the blocking skills of a tight end.^[1]

A similarly named position is the slot receiver, who is the third wide receiver in a 3-receiver set, the one who lines up between the outermost receiver and the end of the offensive line.

Slotbacks are often as many as five yards behind the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped and, in the Canadian and indoor game, may also make a running start toward the line of scrimmage prior to the snap. In most forms of American football, this would be an illegal motion, although a few professional leagues such as the World Football League and XFL allowed forward motion.

The Steelers chose receiver Diontae Johnson with their first pick of the third-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Some say he only has the attributes to play inside—or the slot. But if he's a good. Most slot receivers are under 6' and weigh anywhere from 180-190 lbs.

Role[edit]

Slotbacks are primarily used as hybrid running backs/receivers, but are often used to provide pass protection on blitzes and blocking as required on running plays. They are preferred over the wide receiver or tight end for receiving short passes or hand-offs due to their positioning being closer to the quarterback. When formations containing slotbacks are used in American football the team often has to go without a tight end, a fullback or a running back due to there being only 11 men on the offense and 7 being on the line of scrimmage, one reason they are rarer in the American game. However, as NFL teams have increasingly 'defaulted to three- and four-receiver sets' in recent years, the slot receiver has become a fixture of American football formations [1]. In terms of a depth chart, a slotback is typically considered the third wide receiver and may be expected to be a 'possession receiver' that can reliably catch a pass when covered by a safety, since they are most commonly used when converting medium-distance third-down conversions.

Slotbacks are used effectively in flexbone formations, in which they are used as extra receivers.Slotbacks are usually smaller and faster than the other positions used. they are also used for short passes and short runs to get extra yards or a first down or a third down drive.

It is important to note that players are not drafted to become slotbacks in the NFL. This position is filled as needed by a wide receiver or running back with the necessary skill-set to effectively play the position. Slotbacks must be able to block, catch, and evade tacklers at a high level to be productive. In 2019, the Navy Midshipmen football team had a highly productive season where their slotbacks gained over 1,500 all-purpose yards.^[2]

Examples[edit]

As the NFL has shifted to a pass heavy league over the last few years there has been an explosion of slot backs. Some prime examples are the recently retired Darren Sproles, and the still active players Christian McCaffrey, and Larry Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald extended his football career by moving from an outside receiving position to going into the slot where he is able to use his veteran savvy and quick change of direction in tandem with his willingness to block to still be considered among the best in the league at what he does.^[3]

McCaffrey entered the NFL in 2017 and has never failed to put up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage (as of 2020) in fact, in 2019 he totaled a thousand yards running and a thousand yards receiving, with a lot of those receiving yards coming from the slot back position^[4] McCaffrey is a peculiar example, because most slot backs are not expected to get the most touches in an offense, but he was the Carolina Panthers' leading rusher over the last two seasons while also putting up great stats as a receiver as well.

The Steelers chose receiver Diontae Johnson with their first pick of the third-round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Some say he only has the attributes to play inside—or the slot. But if he's a good. Most slot receivers are under 6' and weigh anywhere from 180-190 lbs.

Role[edit]

Slotbacks are primarily used as hybrid running backs/receivers, but are often used to provide pass protection on blitzes and blocking as required on running plays. They are preferred over the wide receiver or tight end for receiving short passes or hand-offs due to their positioning being closer to the quarterback. When formations containing slotbacks are used in American football the team often has to go without a tight end, a fullback or a running back due to there being only 11 men on the offense and 7 being on the line of scrimmage, one reason they are rarer in the American game. However, as NFL teams have increasingly 'defaulted to three- and four-receiver sets' in recent years, the slot receiver has become a fixture of American football formations [1]. In terms of a depth chart, a slotback is typically considered the third wide receiver and may be expected to be a 'possession receiver' that can reliably catch a pass when covered by a safety, since they are most commonly used when converting medium-distance third-down conversions.

Slotbacks are used effectively in flexbone formations, in which they are used as extra receivers.Slotbacks are usually smaller and faster than the other positions used. they are also used for short passes and short runs to get extra yards or a first down or a third down drive.

It is important to note that players are not drafted to become slotbacks in the NFL. This position is filled as needed by a wide receiver or running back with the necessary skill-set to effectively play the position. Slotbacks must be able to block, catch, and evade tacklers at a high level to be productive. In 2019, the Navy Midshipmen football team had a highly productive season where their slotbacks gained over 1,500 all-purpose yards.^[2]

Examples[edit]

As the NFL has shifted to a pass heavy league over the last few years there has been an explosion of slot backs. Some prime examples are the recently retired Darren Sproles, and the still active players Christian McCaffrey, and Larry Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald extended his football career by moving from an outside receiving position to going into the slot where he is able to use his veteran savvy and quick change of direction in tandem with his willingness to block to still be considered among the best in the league at what he does.^[3]

McCaffrey entered the NFL in 2017 and has never failed to put up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage (as of 2020) in fact, in 2019 he totaled a thousand yards running and a thousand yards receiving, with a lot of those receiving yards coming from the slot back position^[4] McCaffrey is a peculiar example, because most slot backs are not expected to get the most touches in an offense, but he was the Carolina Panthers' leading rusher over the last two seasons while also putting up great stats as a receiver as well.

Darren Sproles was never a prolific running back, but he was a great slotback. His 2011 season is the epitome of what a slotback should be. He ran the ball 87 times and he added 86 receptions for over 1,300 Yards from scrimmage and 9 touchdowns^[5]

Slotbacks have been very important in the CFL, as marked by the TSN Top 50 CFL Players 4 of the top players in league history were specifically Slotbacks. These players are Allen Pitts, Milt Stegall, Ray Elgaard, and Terry Vaughn. These players were reliable producers every season with a knack for rushing, receiving, and blocking to lead their respective teams to many wins over the years.

On depth charts, slotbacks are labeled as wide receivers.^[6]

See also[edit]

• H-back, a similar position

References[edit]

1. ^Association, American Football Coaches (2000). Offensive football strategies. Human Kinetics. ISBN9780736001397.
2. ^Wagner, Bill. 'Navy slotback corps has been quite productive'. capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
3. ^'Larry Fitzgerald And The Increased Importance Of The Slot Receiver'. www.azcardinals.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
4. ^'Christian McCaffrey Stats'. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
5. ^'Darren Sproles Stats'. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
6. ^Alder, James. 'What's the Slot in Football? Here's an Easy Explanation'. LiveAbout.

Average Slot Receiver Size In College Football Games

Every great quarterback has had one or multiple great receivers to build a career with. It's like having spaghetti and meatballs or peanut butter and jelly—one doesn't really make sense without the other; they just work well as a team. Becoming a wide receiver college prospect means understanding your role in the offense.

Know Your Role

Are you a big play receiver who is constantly running seams and deep posts? Are you a possession receiver always depended on for your sure hands? Due to stature and speed, are you more of a slot receiver who's not afraid of going across the middle and able to play well in space? These questions become more difficult to answer if your high school offense is run oriented. It's possible in this instance you have developed a knack for run blocking like former University of Georgia and Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward.

Average Slot Receiver Size In College Football

The idea of asking yourself these questions comes down to knowing which aspect of yourself you can sell or market to a coach. Obviously if a coach employs an option-based offense, his need for possession receivers is less than one who employs a West Coast offense. The option coach is likely to look for run-blocking receivers who happen to be able to catch while the West Coast coach recruits the complete opposite.

You learn these things by watching games of the teams you are interested in playing for and researching the history of the coach and the program. If this isn't something you are already doing, you should start as soon as possible.

Catch the Ball

College coaches recruit wide receivers that can catch the ball, a given in any system. The popular phrase 'cornerbacks are former wide receivers that cannot catch the ball' exists for a reason. Many high school receivers stand a chance of position conversion because their hands aren't adequate. To prevent this from happening means honing in on your hand-eye coordination. The only way to perfect catching the football is to constantly be working with someone throwing you the ball.

Average Slot Receiver Size In College Station

Basketball players become great by not leaving the gym until they shoot x-amount of free throws; I suggest adopting a similar strategy and not leave the field until you have caught x-amount of footballs in different fashions. These fashions can be face-on, back turned, over the shoulder, in route, etc.

Another aspect of catching the football that college coaches look for in a prospect is whether they catch the football with their hands or against their body—the latter being a huge red flag. Coaches want athletes to have extension away from their bodies, an all-hands catch, quick control, and fast tuck of the ball so it's not to be dislodged by a defender.

Average Slot Receiver Size In College Dorm

Build a Foundation with Footwork

Potential college receivers are evaluated on their current footwork and ability to adapt to new footwork. Your footwork determines the types of routes you run; the routes you run determine the timing between you and the quarterback and ultimately affect whether you'll have the ball thrown your way. It is well-known that a high school wide receiver's footwork won't be equal to that of a current college player, but is it close? This is the area recruits should strive for.
Try filming your feet when you run routes at practice. Are your plants firm? Are your cuts precise, or do you round them? Do you fire off the line of scrimmage, or do you come off slow? Using cones and agility ladders will help in route definition and footwork.

Power and Explosion

With power comes explosion. As a wide receiver recruit, both power and explosion are traits you should hope to possess. Power allows you to outmuscle an opponent for the ball and yardage. Power also allows you to push around an opponent during blocking assignments. Explosion allows you to create separation, whether vertical or horizontal, so that plays can be made. Both are found through hard work in the weight room and on the track during off-season workouts. Squats and power cleans help build muscle for explosion. Running sprints—400s, 200s, 100s, and 40s—help to build speed and explosion. Running sprints with sleds or parachutes helps to increase that built speed and power.

Do you have any questions about playing at the next level? Leave them in the comments section below or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+!