Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Doubles Y Off Pistol sends all four receivers vertical to clear the underneath area and drag the defense's eyes downfield while the offensive line sells pass protection before releasing to escort the back. The HB slips out to the flat behind the initial rush, picking up blockers as the linebackers and underneath defenders bite on the vertical routes or the drop-back action. This is a screen play designed to counter aggressive pass rushes and man coverage, with the primary read being the HB in the flat as soon as he clears the box, with the four verticals only live as a backup if the defense sits on the screen.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive ends and edge rushers crashing hard upfield, since that is the exact trigger the slip screen is built to punish. Key on linebacker depth at the snap: linebackers sitting shallow or blitzing will get lost in traffic and struggle to reach the flat in time. Man coverage with no underneath help is vulnerable because defenders trail the vertical routes and leave the screen lane wide open. Discipline defenders who sit and read the backfield, along with zone coverages that keep a linebacker or nickel spying the HB, can blow this play up before it develops. If you're on defense, user a linebacker or slot corner to sit in the screen lane instead of dropping deep, since that single defender can single-handedly kill the play.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses that bring pressure or blitz frequently since the vertical releases hold defenders and blockers get a clean path to the flat.
Check the pre-snap alignment for stacked or crashing defensive ends because a fast edge rush actually helps the screen develop quicker.
Use this on early downs or after showing several drop-back pass plays from this set like PA Cross or PA Deep In so the defense is conditioned to rush upfield.
If the defense shows zone with linebackers sitting flat footed, consider hot routing one of the outside verticals into a shorter option instead of forcing the screen.
Pair this call with HB Draw and HB Dive from the same set to keep run blitzers and spy defenders honest, making the screen even more effective on early downs.
