Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

I Form·Slot·21

Screen Pass Hb Screen Pass Play

Play diagram for HB Slip Screen from I Form Slot in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationI Form

SetSlot

Personnel

212 RB · 1 TE · 2 WR

In 1 playbook

West Coast OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of the I Form Slot set is a classic screen pass built to bait the pass rush and get the HB into space with blockers out front. The diagram shows two vertical releases from the slot receivers occupying deep coverage, a TE or slot man releasing upfield before breaking outside as a delayed lead blocker, and the HB slipping out to the flat behind the line before the ball is delivered. This is a zone beater and blitz beater at its core: it punishes overaggressive pass rush lanes and drop zone linebackers who bite on the vertical releases, with the primary read being the HB in the flat off the slip release, progressing to the blocker leading him upfield if the alley is clogged.

Defensive Reads

Watch for linebackers reading the play from the snap, if they sit and read the backfield instead of dropping into zone or rushing hard, they can jump the screen and blow it up for a loss. Man coverage with aggressive corners jumping the slot vertical releases can still get beat if the underneath defenders overpursue the QB drop. Zone shells with linebackers dropping deep to cover the two vertical routes leave the flat wide open for the HB slip release, making this a strong answer against Cover 3 and Cover 4 zone drops. Blitz packages that send extra rushers up the middle are the ideal defense to attack with this play, since the natural delay screen action lets the offensive line release into blockers while rushers overrun the play. User controlled defenders spying the backfield or sitting on screens will diagnose this quickly, so avoid calling it repeatedly against defenders who key on backfield action.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or in obvious blitz counts to slow down user blitzers and defensive line speed rushers who are selling out to get to the QB.

Watch pre-snap for stacked fronts or overload blitz packages, since the natural delay in HB Slip Screen makes it a great answer to five and six man rushes.

Use the two vertical releases from the slot as clear out routes, they are not meant to be your first read but they do pull safeties and corners away from the screen lane.

Pair this play with HB Draw, Inside Cross, and PA Ctr Waggle in your play-calling sequence to keep defenders honest between inside run action, misdirection screens, and play-action shots off the same I Form Slot look.

Throw the screen as soon as the HB clears the line and the lead blocker starts climbing, hesitating too long lets scraping linebackers close the throwing lane.