A slot is a narrow notch, groove, or opening that you place coins in to make a machine work. A slot can be as small as a slit for a coin in a vending machine, or as large as the area between the wheels on a video slot. A slot is also the name of a game that requires you to line up symbols on a pay line in order to win money, or even a jackpot.
A Slot Receiver
A Slot receiver is a wide receiver who lines up a few steps off the offensive line, sometimes referred to as an “outside” receiver. This allows him to be much more versatile than other wide receivers in the NFL.
He’s typically a little shorter than other wide receivers, around 6’0” tall (sometimes smaller) and weighing in at 180-190 lbs. He’s usually a lot quicker than other wide receivers, often times gaining 8-15 yards after a catch before his opponents can get to him and stop him.
Slot Receivers can run just about any route you can think of, which makes them a valuable part of any offense. They also have good chemistry with the quarterback, which helps them to succeed in this position.
They can also be used to carry the ball from time to time, especially on pitches, reverses, and end-arounds. This gives them the opportunity to gain yardage quickly, and they can help to open up a lot of space for the rest of the offense.
The Slot Receiver is a key piece in any modern spread offense. They are typically matched against the opponent’s third or fourth cornerback and depended upon to pick up critical third down yardage. They can be a huge financial asset for a team and are seeing more and more playing time with every passing season.
Having a Slot Receiver in your offense is the best thing you can do for your team. A slot receiver can see more targets than other wide receivers on your team and can have a higher percentage of touchdown receptions.
If you are looking to add a Slot receiver to your roster, it is essential to understand their strengths and weaknesses so that you can properly evaluate whether or not they are the right fit for your offensive system. They are not always a good match up for every quarterback and they can be difficult to cover, so you want to make sure that you choose someone who will be able to be a strong contributor in any situation.
To help you determine if a Slot receiver is the right fit for your team, consider these qualities that they possess:
Their Physicality
A Slot receiver has to be quick and tough to be successful at this position. He needs to be able to take on the weight of a tackler, and he needs to be able to deal with pressure. He should also have speed and a strong, powerful arm to be able to catch the football.