A slot is a narrow notch, groove or opening, such as a keyway in a piece of machinery, a slit for a coin in a vending machine or the opening of a window. When something slots into another item, it fits easily. For example, he slotted the CD into the player. He also slotted the car seat belt into place easily.
A Slot receiver gets his name from the position’s initial alignment pre-snap — he lines up in the middle of the field between the tight end or offensive tackle and an outside wide receiver. This position is an important cog in the blocking wheel for the offense, and it requires advanced route-running skills to thrive.
They also need to have a high-level understanding of how to block defenders in different situations and defensive coverages. For running plays that are designed to the outside, they’ll need to be able to block (or at least chip) nickelbacks, safeties and sometimes even defensive ends.
Depending on the game’s theme and user interface, they may also need to know how to read the credit meter or “credits” displayed on-screen. This can alert them when change is needed, a hand pay request has been made or there is an issue with the machine.