Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Pistol Weak is a designed screen pass built to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitzers. At the snap the offensive line sets up a pass pocket look before releasing to get out in front of the HB, who slips out to the flat with a defender in coverage over him underneath. Both outside receivers push vertical to clear space, with the near receiver breaking inside on a crossing route to pull linebackers and defensive backs away from the screen lane, while the far receiver runs a deep vertical to hold the safety. The primary read is the HB in the flat as your first and only real target, so this is a designed screen rather than a progression read through the route tree.
Defensive Reads
Read linebacker depth at the snap, if they are shallow and flowing hard upfield on the pass rush they will not be in position to defend the screen. Watch for a spy or a linebacker sitting in a shallow zone directly over the backfield, that defender is the primary lurk threat who can jump this screen for a big loss. Check safety alignment before the snap, a single high safety cheating toward the boundary can rotate down late and close on the HB in the flat. Man coverage on the outside receivers combined with a four man rush is the ideal shell for this play since it pulls defenders away from the screen lane. Zone coverage with disciplined linebackers holding their drops or delayed zone blitzes with a designated screen defender will blow this play up before it develops.
Usage Tips
Call this against aggressive four man rushes or overload blitzes where defenders crash upfield and vacate the underlying screen lane.
Watch pre-snap for man coverage on the outside receivers and blitz indicators like linebackers creeping toward the line, both are green lights for this screen.
Use the crossing route as a rhythm changer earlier in a series like Slants or Curls so the defense respects the quick underneath game before you dial up the screen to slow blitzers down.
Avoid calling this into zone coverage looks with linebackers sitting flat footed in short zones, since they can read and jump the screen before blockers get set.
Pair this with PA Comebacks or PA Crossers in your play-calling sequence so defenders start keying run action and misread the screen as a run fake, opening up the flat even more.
