Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

I Form·Pro·21
Screen PassHb ScreenPass Play
Play diagram for HB Slip Screen from I Form Pro in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationI Form
SetPro

In 2 playbooks

Fix OffenseOffenseRun N Gun OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of the I Form Pro 21 personnel sends both outside receivers and the TE (the three vertical release routes on the diagram) streaking upfield to occupy the deep defenders and clear out the underneath area, while the HB slips out to the flat behind a wall of blockers after a brief chip fake. This is a pure screen play designed to bait an aggressive pass rush or overzealous blitz, making it a strong answer versus man pressure and blitz-heavy calls where linebackers and edge rushers crash upfield. The primary read is the HB in the flat off the play fake, with the QB looking to get the ball out quickly once the screen blockers set their wall.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify overload blitzes or five-plus man rush looks since aggressive pass rush lanes are exactly what this screen exploits. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they are crashing hard upfield or blitzing off the edge, the screen lane to the HB will be wide open. Post-snap, user a linebacker or slot defender to sit and read the QB's eyes instead of chasing the play fake, since a disciplined spy can jump the throwing lane. Zone coverages with underneath defenders staying home in their drops, particularly Tampa 2 or Cover 3 sink zones, take away the HB in the flat. Watch for a user-controlled defender staying home in the backfield area, since that defender can beat the blockers to the spot before the screen ever develops.

Usage Tips

Call this play when you diagnose a pre-snap blitz look, especially overload pressure to one side, since the rushers will run themselves out of the play.

Let the play fake develop for a full beat before throwing so your blockers can get set, but do not hold it so long that the defense recovers.

Use this after establishing HB Toss, HB Iso, or Inside Zone to condition the defense into keying the run fake, which sells the screen action harder.

Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses with linebackers sitting in their drops, since spy or scrape defenders can blow it up before the wall forms.

Pair this in a sequence with PA FB Screen or PA TE Screen to keep defenders guessing about who the ball is going to on screen concepts.

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