Half-Slide Protection

Half-slide protection has the offensive line slide one direction (typically toward the play strength) while the running back BOBs a man on the opposite side. It splits the line into two halves: a slide side that picks up gap responsibilities and a BOB side where the tackle and back work as a pair.

It's the hybrid that solves the trade-off between BOB and full slide. Slide protection alone leaves a backside gap. BOB alone gets eaten by stunts. Half-slide gives you stunt protection on the playside and a defined matchup on the backside. Most NFL protection packages live in some form of half-slide for that reason.

The back's job is the hardest. He has to read his man's threat post-snap, adjust to delayed blitzes, and become a checkdown if no rusher shows. Coaches grade pass pro as much on the back's recognition as on the line's footwork. A back who BOBs the wrong man is the most expensive missed assignment in the game.