Short Nfl Slot Receivers
In the 2019 NFL season, per Sports Info Solutions, there were 19,933 total quarterback dropbacks. Against those dropbacks, NFL defenses put four defensive backs on the field just 18% of the time (3,579 snaps), while nickel defense (with five defensive backs) ruled the league by far with 59% of all snaps (11,780). Some other shifty, possession-type receivers who just missed the cut: the Rams' Tavon Austin (5-8, 176), De'Anthony Thomas (5-8, 176) of the Chiefs and the Cowboys' Cole Beasley (5-8, 180). In the NFL, white players have become less and less common at the wide receiver position, as they now represent only a marginal fraction of the receivers who actually make a difference in the slot. A slot receiver is a receiver who lines up in the slot position, between the offensive tackle and the widest receiver. This player is often fast and is in position to catch the football or take a hand off. The slot corner will cover the slot receiver. This position is often smaller, quick, and can cover the opposing slot receiver. “The slot receiver’s kind of the quarterback of the receivers,” he said in 2015. “More so because the slot receiver has more responsibilities in terms of reading coverages and different adjustments based on what coverages you’re seeing. It’s a lot more complicated. You have to know a lot more.
A healthy Dante Pettis put on a show during his rookie season. Injuries limited him to only 12 games, but his time on the field was impressive enough to land him at No. 8 on Doug Farrar’s list of the 11 best NFL slot receivers.
Pettis’ ability to work out of the slot and outside is part of why he’s so valuable in an offense that requires a diverse skill set from receivers. He caught 27 balls for 467 yards and five touchdowns overall last season, but his work from the slot stood out to Farrar:
Especially in the slot, Pettis had some impressive moments, and he projects well as a primary receiver in multiple roles. In 2018, he caught 12 passes on 16 targets from the slot for 234 yards and two touchdowns. So, you have to project optimal production when it comes to Pettis, but it’s easy to do.
While he won’t line up a ton in the slot in 2019 with a few other receivers on the roster capable of filling that role, his high-level production in that area of the field point to all the things that make him a good receiver. His ability to quickly separate at the line of scrimmage make him deadly in the confined spaces a slot receiver works in, and he has enough speed to run away from defenders and turn short throws into big plays.
It stands to reason that Pettis notches a 1,000 yards in Year 2 as long as he stays on the field. A pair of knee injuries last year are the biggest red flag for the 23-year-old. On the other hand, he admittedly took awhile to get in the flow of the offense, and his productivity between Weeks 8 and 12 are a sign that he’s only going to get better. He hauled in 20 balls for 359 yards and four touchdowns in that four week stretch.
With the arrow pointing up on the former second-round pick, it’s not an inconceivable notion that Pettis winds up among the NFL’s best receivers overall after 2019, and not just out of the slot.
slot re*ceiv*er
What Is The Definition Of A Slot Receiver In Football?
1. This is an offensive position in football where the player generally lines up slightly back from the line of scrimmage and slightly inside the wide receivers on either side of the field.
The slot receiver is responsible for blocking and receiving shorter passes. The position is sometimes referred to as a slotback and is often used in flexbone formations.
Examples Of How Slot Receiver Is Used In Commentary
1. The defense will want to take notice of Welker, who’s been effective in the red zone when he’s lined up as the slot receiver.
List Of Nfl Slot Receivers
Sports The Term Is Used
1. Football
Also Known As:
List Of Slot Receivers
1. Slotback