A slot is a narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. The term also refers to a position in a group or sequence, as in the positions of players on an NFL football team. Generally, slots are reserved for receivers who are more skilled at running routes than other wide-receiver positions, and they often play behind the line of scrimmage. In addition to speed and agility, slot receivers must be able to precisely run routes and catch the ball with both hands.
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The NFL’s second-most important receiving position is the slot. In the early 1970s, a young John Madden was an assistant coach with the Oakland Raiders, and head coach Al Davis pioneered the use of the slot position as a route-running role. The idea was to have a versatile wide receiver who could line up in the middle of the field and run short to medium routes both in and out of the slot.
Although slot receivers need to be able to run all types of routes, they are especially effective when catching passes that are thrown directly to them from the quarterback. This type of pass is typically shorter than a deep or long pass, and requires the slot receiver to be precise with his or her footwork in order to avoid being tackled.
In addition to speed, a good slot receiver must have excellent hand-eye coordination and precise timing. They must also be able to quickly change direction and break through tackles with ease. In addition to these skills, they must be able to run complex routes that involve lots of elusion and evasion. These routes are more challenging for defenders than simple zig-zag patterns, which makes slot receivers an important part of the modern offense. In the past, teams have preferred larger, more physical wide receivers in the slot position. However, the emergence of more agile and quicker slot receivers has changed this trend.