Playbooks

WR Screen

Pistol·Trips·11

Screen Pass Wr Screen Pass Play

Play diagram for WR Screen from Pistol Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetTrips

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Pistol OffenseOffense

Breakdown

This WR Screen out of Pistol Trips throws quick to the boundary side, where two receivers are stacked tight to the numbers with the outside receiver blocking down and the inside man releasing to catch the screen behind him. On the trips side, the two inside receivers run a short hitch and out combo to occupy underneath defenders and hold linebackers or slot corners from crashing the screen. The offensive line stays home in max protect while the screen develops on the perimeter, making this a classic blitz beater and zone beater designed to punish aggressive edge pressure. The primary read is the boundary screen receiver first, with the trips side routes as a check down if the screen is covered.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flow of the defensive line, if the user takes a wide upfield rush angle the boundary screen will have a clean lane once the blocker latches on. Key the boundary cornerback depth at the snap, off coverage or deep zone drops give the receiver room to catch and turn upfield before anyone closes. Identify if a linebacker or slot corner is sitting on the screen read, a defender staying flat footed near the line of scrimmage can blow this play up before the blocker gets set. Man coverage on the trips side hitch and out concept is vulnerable to a quick hot route conversion, so watch for a user jumping the underneath routes and leaving the screen unaccounted for. Fast flow linebackers who diagnose screen quickly and fight through the block are the biggest threat, this play struggles against disciplined defenses that stay square and read the backfield.

Usage Tips

Fire this play immediately when you see the defense showing outside blitz or overload pressure off the edge since the blocker will already be in position to seal the alley.

Check the corner over the boundary receiver pre-snap, if he is playing off or bailing into a deep zone the screen has a huge cushion to work with.

Use hot routes to convert the trips side hitch into a quick out if you diagnose man coverage, this gives you an instant answer if the screen gets sniffed out.

Pair this call with HB Slip Screen or Bubble Screen in the same drive to condition the defense to respect perimeter screens, then hit them with PA Boot or PA Ctr Waggle off that tendency.

Best used on early downs or after a run play to slow down linebacker pursuit, avoid calling it into a known zone blitz look since the screen blocker can get overwhelmed by extra rushers.