Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Pistol Tight Slots is a designed screen pass built to slow down aggressive pass rushes and disciplined man coverage. At the snap the offensive line and receivers push vertical stems to sell a downfield passing concept, with the three receivers on the left releasing deep to occupy corners and safeties while the offensive line lets the rush get upfield before slipping out to lead block. The HB releases underneath out of the backfield on a shallow angle route to the flat opposite the strong side, setting up as the primary and only real read once the linemen get out in front. This is a run-oriented screen play (not play-action or RPO), and the read progression is simply get the ball to the HB in space and follow your blockers.
Defensive Reads
Diagnose the play immediately if you see the offensive line hold their block for a beat and then release upfield instead of engaging, that is the tell for a screen. Key linebacker depth pre-snap, if linebackers are sitting shallow or spying the backfield they can jump the screen before it develops. Man coverage with aggressive press corners is vulnerable here since those defenders are turned away from the backfield tracking their receivers deep. User a linebacker or slot defender and stay home instead of rushing to blow this play up, since the screen relies entirely on the rush overcommitting upfield. Zone coverage shells with linebackers reading the quarterback's eyes will often sniff out the screen and close the passing lane before the HB gets to the edge.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or after a string of dropback passes to punish defenders who are selling out on the rush.
Watch pre-snap for blitz packages or aggressive man coverage with corners playing tight press, since a delayed rush gives your linemen more time to get out and set up blocks.
Do not hot route the HB, the timing of the slip release is built into the design and rerouting him early kills the blocking angle.
Pair this with HB Dive or HB Draw earlier in a drive so the defense keys run action and steps up, making the delayed screen release even more effective.
Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that sit their linebackers in short zones, since spy-type linebackers can read the screen and blow it up before blockers get set.
