In football, a slot is the area between and slightly behind the two wide receivers. The slot is a crucial position for any offense because it allows the quarterback to make quick reads off of the defense and run routes that complement those of the outside receivers. The slot also provides a big target for running plays and can act as a decoy to help the running back get open in space. Some of the best slot receivers in the league have had great careers, such as Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, both of whom have over 8,000 career receptions.
The emergence of the slot receiver as a vital position in professional football can be traced to the work of Raiders head coach Al Davis. Davis wanted his players to be fast, precise with their routes, and have good chemistry with the quarterback. The result was a talented group of wide receivers that helped the team win a few Super Bowls in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Aside from being a critical receiving threat, the slot receiver is also an important blocker for the ball carrier on running plays. They are in a position that makes them vulnerable to big hits from different angles, but they can be very effective at blocking for sweeps and slants. Because they have to be able to run precise routes, the slot receiver must have excellent footwork and speed to avoid being taken advantage of by opposing defenders.
Another type of slot is an airport slot, which gives an airline the right to take off or land at a specific time. These slots are used in high-traffic airports to prevent repeated delays due to too many aircraft trying to operate at the same time. They are usually allocated to airlines based on their historical traffic, but can be traded and even bought for large sums of money.
The word “slot” is also used in a more technical sense, referring to a narrow notch or opening, such as a keyway, the slit for a coin in a vending machine, or an assignment or position in a group or sequence. The phrase is often used informally to mean a position or place that has been designated for someone, as in “I’m going to the dentist’s at 3:00,” or “She slotted herself into the empty chair.” Webster’s New World College Dictionary. Copyright