Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Pistol Doubles Flex Hip is a designed screen pass built to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitz-heavy defenses. Three receivers push vertical up the seams and sidelines to clear out underside defenders and hold deep coverage, while the offensive line sets up a slip block to release defenders upfield before the HB settles into the void behind the line. The backside receiver runs a shallow drag away from the play to hold off-side defenders, and the primary read is the HB in the screen window, so get the ball out the instant the blockers get in front of him.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check for walked-up edge rushers or blitz indicators since this play is designed to exploit aggressive man or blitz calls that vacate the underneath area. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sit and read instead of rushing or dropping deep, they can jump the screen lane and blow up the play for a loss. Man coverage with defenders turning their backs to chase the vertical routes is the ideal beat since it removes eyes from the HB in the backfield. Zone shells with a linebacker spying the backfield or a defensive lineman with screen recognition programmed in will sit on this concept, so avoid calling it into read-and-react zone blitz packages. Post-snap, user-controlled defenders who stay home instead of rushing are the biggest threat, if you see a defender hovering near the line without engaging the OL, kill the screen read and consider your checkdown or throwaway.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses that show pressure indicators pre-snap like walked-up linebackers or overloaded fronts since the slip protection is designed to let rushers fly by upfield. Use it on early downs after you have shown inside zone or HB Draw from this same set so the defense keys run action and bites on the screen fake. Throw with anticipation as soon as your linemen release into their blocking angles, do not wait for the HB to fully turn upfield or user defenders will close the window. Avoid calling this into zone blitz packages that drop a linebacker directly into the screen lane, since that defender can sit and read the play the whole way. Pair it with Curls or Slants on the following play to keep the defense honest and prevent them from selling out on screen recognition.
