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Glite Dictionary
slotback

slotback

1 7.7
A player who stands between the offensive line and a wide receiver and often catches short passes
  • noun
  • /ˈslɑːtbæk/
  • Jargon
: slotback
  • The slotback caught the pass in the end zone for a touchdown.

Examples

  • The coach praised the slotback for his excellent route running and speed.

  • Reynolds and slotback Gee Gee Greene (679 yards) are the key figures in a rushing offense that ranks sixth nationally with an average of 274.3 yards.

    Blog text (4)

  • During the game, the slotback moved quickly to evade defenders.

Surface Forms

slotback singular
slotbacks plural

Morphology

slotback = slot + back (semi-transparent) = slot + back

The components 'slot' and 'back' are identifiable, but the combined term is jargon specific to football and denotes a particular positional role.

Etymology

Slotback comes from two simple words: slot, meaning a 'small space or gap' as in the slot for coins, and back, a player who stands 'behind' the line. So a slotback is the player who lines up in the narrow space between the last lineman and the wide receiver, which explains why they run quick, short plays across the middle.