Slot – What Is A Slot Receiver?

In aviation, a slot is an authorization to take-off or land at a specific airport at particular times. This is used when the airport’s operations are constrained – either by runway throughput (such as at Heathrow) or by available parking space (as at a number of Greek island airports). These slots may be negotiated with air traffic control. The term “slot” is also used to describe a position on the flight schedule or in a passenger terminal.

In the NFL, a team isn’t complete without a good slot receiver. The position, which lines up a few yards behind the line of scrimmage and is responsible for running routes inside the numbers, has become increasingly vital in modern offenses as teams utilize multiple receiver sets on a regular basis. But what exactly is a slot receiver, and how does the role differ from that of a wideout?

The first thing you need to understand about slot is that it’s not a physical position, but rather a mental one. It takes a special type of player to excel in this role, as it requires the ability to be on the same page with the quarterback at all times. This means they must be able to read defenses and know which defenders are in which coverage.

Moreover, they must be able to block effectively. Due to their location in the field and the defensive positions they’ll typically line up near, slot receivers are required to do more work blocking than outside receivers. They’ll often need to chip away at nickelbacks and safeties, as well as perform a crack back block on defensive ends on running plays.

Aside from their blocking duties, slot receivers must be fast enough to catch the ball and beat defenders in the open field. They’ll regularly be called into pre-snap motion by the quarterback and must be able to get up to top speed quickly. In addition, they’ll occasionally need to carry the ball like a running back on pitch plays and end-arounds.

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