Why Does Monti Ossenfort Continue to Ignore the Slot?

                                     © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

By Walter Mitchell

If you have been reading my blogs or listening to the Red Rain Podcast, then you have heard me on numerous occasions express my absolute exasperation as to why the Cardinals' GM, despite working for the New England Patriots for 14 years, appears to comprehend little or nothing about what made the Patriots, under Bill Belichick, so elite. 

What made the Patriots' offense so dynamic was how Tom Brady relentlessly attacked the middle of the defense with the following 

1-2-3 quick pass progression:

Read 1. Slot WR (Julian Edelman)

Read 2. TE (Rob Gronkowski)

Read 3: RB (James White)

What TB12 learned:

These quick 3 progressions were virtually impossible to stop versus zones. Why?

Because these progressions require the linebackers to act quickly to defend the slot WR and TE and therefore are totally out of position to guard the RB coming on a circle route. 

Knowing that opposing defenses would be forced to play man coverage, Tom Brady and his slot WR, TE and RB could (a) exploit coverage mismatches and/or (b) run "oppo leverage" routes --- in other words, if the defender is leveraging the receiver to the outside, break inside. In today's NFL this is something that Matthew Stafford has mastered first with Cooper Kupp and now with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. 

Once Bill Belichick realized how his offense could dominate the middle of opposing defenses, he started to draft ILB, SS and slot CB proto types who were adept in playing man-to-man coverage.

The last time the Patriots won the Super Bowl was during the 2018 season when they beat the Sean McVay led Rams 13-3. They limited the Rams running game with RB Todd Gurley to 62 yards and QB Jared Goff to 198 yards passing, 0 TDs and 1 interception (Stephon Gilmore). 

Take a close study of the Patriots' PFF coverage grades for their secondary and linebackers:

CB Stephon Gilmore --- 90.8

CB Jason McCourtey --- 83.3

LB Ja'Whaun Bentley --- 84-5

S Devon McCourtey --- 83.9

S Patrick Chung --- 78.1

NCB J.C. Jackson --- 72.4

LB Kyle Van Noy --- 66.0

NCB Jonathan Jones --- 61.2

LB Elandon Roberts --- 56.2

LB Dont'a Hightower --- they primarily rushed him on passing downs

On the other side of the ball, Tom Brady threw for 262 yards to --- guess who?

1. Slot WR Julian Edelman (MVP) - 10 catches, 141 yards

2. TE Rob Gronkowski - 6 catches for 87 yards

3. RBs R. Burkhead, C. Patterson and J. White --- 5 catches for 34 yards

How and why then in his 4 years with the Cardinals has Monti Ossenfort not placed a high priority on slot WR or slot CB?

Slot WRs drafted: 0

Slot WRs: traded or underused: Rondale Moore (RIP) and Greg Dortch

Slot CBs drafted: 0

Slot CBs signed as UFAs: Sean Murphy-Bunting

Every year you hear me banging the table as loudly as I can for slot CBs. More later on this.

Slot WR Void

The WRs I was mocking for the Cardinals' 2026 draft were all slot WRs, yet it appears that 5th round pick, Reggie Virgil of Texas Tech is not prototypical slot WR.

Yesterday, Mike LaFleur said that he expects Michael Wilson to assume the Puka Nacua role and that Marvin Harrison Jr. to assume the Davante Adams X type of role. Then, he said that UFA signee Kendrick Bourne to play more than usual in the slot this season.

What qualities does an NFL slot WR possess?

An NFL slot receiver (WR) operates between the offensive line and outside receivers, acting as the offense's "Swiss Army knife". They excel at finding soft spots in zone coverage, navigating traffic, and generating yards after catch (YAC).

The most critical qualities for a successful slot WR include:

• Exceptional Quickness & Agility: Rather than pure straight-line speed, slot receivers need short-area quickness to break free in tight spaces and create separation on option routes. 
• High Football IQ & Spatial Awareness: They must read coverages on the fly, adjust their routes to sit in the open windows for their quarterback, and make smart in-play decisions. 
• Physical and Mental Toughness: Working in the middle of the field means absorbing big hits from linebackers and safeties. Slot receivers must be fearless and have high concentration. 
• Crisp Route-Running: The ability to make sharp, precise cuts (slants, crossing routes, and option routes) is vital since they operate in highly condensed areas.
• Sure Hands: They are often the quarterback's "safety valve" on crucial third downs, making reliability in traffic non-negotiable.
• Blocking Capability: Modern slot receivers frequently need to act as an extra blocker on running plays or screen passes against larger defensive players.
• What qualities does an NFL slot cornerback possess?
• Question --- do the Cardinals currently have a WR on its 90-man roster who satisfies the majority of these successful slot WR qualities?

Hopefully I am mistaken but I do not envision Kenrick Bourne, at this point in his career to be keen about playing most of his snaps in the slot. Given his druthers, it would seem he would prefer to play on the outside more often than not. 

The two players who make the most sense to play the slot are Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier. 

Slot CB Void

Last week during OTAs it was revealed by a couple of the players that Sean Murphy-Bunting has been getting most of his reps at slot CB. 

What qualities does an NFL slot CB possess?

An NFL slot cornerback (or nickel back) must possess elite short-area quickness, high football intelligence, and physical toughness to defend the inside. Unlike boundary cornerbacks who use the sideline for leverage, slot defenders operate in the middle of the field with space to both sides and act as primary run defenders.

The essential qualities of the position include:

• Elite Short-Area Agility: The ability to change direction instantly is paramount. Slot defenders must mirror quick, shifty receivers in tight spaces without losing balance, often referred to as possessing "twitch".
• High Football IQ and Processing: Playing inside requires reading route concepts and quarterback intentions very quickly. Because slot corners match up against varied alignments—from shifty receivers to tight ends—they must recognize formations and adjust zone coverages on the fly.
• Physicality and Run Support: Slot corners are positioned closer to the core of the formation. They are frequently required to take on blocks from offensive linemen or tight ends and must be willing, reliable tacklers against outside runs or screen passes.
• Two-Way Go Discipline: Because the receiver has room to break both inside and outside, a slot cornerback must have excellent patience in off-coverage. They rely on technique rather than a boundary sideline to wall off receivers.
• Zone Coverage Proficiency: The slot defender frequently drops into underneath zone coverage to disrupt crossing routes and underneath flat concepts.
• Question --- do the Cardinals currently have a slot CB on its 90-man roster who satisfies the majority of these successful slot WR qualities?

I believe that Dadrion Taylor-Demerson does and that possibly Max Melton and Kitan Crawford could. But no one currently on the roster has a proven track record of success at the slot CB position. 

As for Sean Murphy-Bunting, he's best in zones, but lacks the short area quickness and recovery speed to be effective in man coverage. Same is the case for Garrett Williams, who excels in zones wherever you put him.

Are the Cardinals really going to go another year of playing "caution and cushion") zones versus the likes of Jaxson Smith-Njigba (pictured above), Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Christian McCaffery, Ricky Piersall and Christian Kirk?