Slotback
Encyclopedia
Slotback is a position in Gridiron football
(primarily Canadian football
but also in American football
). The slotback is similar to the wide receiver
but also has many of the same traits as a running back
, lines up closer to the offensive line and often farther back. They are often as many as five yards behind the line of scrimmage
when the ball is snapped
and (in the Canadian game) may also make a running start toward the line of scrimmage prior to the snap. (In American football, this would be illegal motion.)
The 'slot' is the area between the last offensive lineman on either side of the line of scrimmage and the wide receiver on that side. A player who lines up between those two players and behind the line of scrimmage is a slotback.
any player on the defensive team who breaks through the line of scrimmage, thus as a precaution to prevent the sacking
of the quarterback
. They are preferred over the wide receiver or tight end
for receiving short passes or handoffs 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.
Slotbacks are used effectively in flexbone formation
s, in which they are used as extra receivers.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
(primarily Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
but also in American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
). The slotback is similar to the wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
but also has many of the same traits as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, lines up closer to the offensive line and often farther back. They are often as many as five yards behind the line of scrimmage
Line of scrimmage
In American and Canadian football a line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun...
when the ball is snapped
Snap (football)
A snap starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage.-Action:...
and (in the Canadian game) may also make a running start toward the line of scrimmage prior to the snap. (In American football, this would be illegal motion.)
The 'slot' is the area between the last offensive lineman on either side of the line of scrimmage and the wide receiver on that side. A player who lines up between those two players and behind the line of scrimmage is a slotback.
Duties of the slotback
There are a number of different jobs a slotback may take up on the field. Primarily, they are used as hybrid running backs/receivers. However they are often used to blockBlocking (American football)
In American football, blocking is a legal move occurring when one player obstructs another player's path with his body. The purpose of blocking is to prevent defensive players tackling the ball carrier, or to protect the quarterback while attempting to pass or hand-off the ball...
any player on the defensive team who breaks through the line of scrimmage, thus as a precaution to prevent the sacking
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
of the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. They are preferred over the wide receiver or tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for receiving short passes or handoffs due to their positioning being closer to the quarterback. When formations containing slotbacks are used in American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
the team often has to go without a tight end, a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
or a running back due to there being only 11 men on the offense
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
and 7 being on the line of scrimmage, one reason they are rarer in the American game.
Slotbacks are used effectively in flexbone formation
Flexbone formation
The flexbone formation is an offensive formation in American football that uses a quarterback, five offensive linemen, three running backs, and varying numbers of tight ends and wide receivers. The flexbone formation is a predominant running formation derived from the wishbone formation and it...
s, in which they are used as extra receivers.