Playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat TE Screen is a screen pass out of Pistol Wing Close 12 personnel that uses pre-snap motion to set up a delayed TE screen underneath while both outside receivers push vertical to clear space. The offensive line and TE release upfield to build a wall in front of the checkdown, and the two outside routes on the diagram run straight up the sideline to occupy corners and safeties and remove underneath defenders from the throwing lane. This is a zone beater designed to attack teams that drop into soft zone or blitz aggressively, with the primary read being the screen to the TE as soon as blockers get in front of it, checking down only if the alley is not clean.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and corner alignment, two high shells with soft zone linebackers are the ideal target for this screen. Watch the defensive line for a hard upfield jailbreak blitz, since extra rushers only help the screen by getting themselves out of the play once they cross the line. Post-snap, key any user controlled defender sitting at the line or spying underneath, a smart user player will sit on the TE screen and blow it up before blockers get set. Man coverage with corners locked in phase and no zone drop away from the formation is the biggest red flag, if you see press man or a Mike linebacker triggering hard downhill immediately, abort to a checkdown or throwaway. Look for a lurking linebacker or slot defender reading the quarterback's eyes, disciplined defenses that stay home instead of biting on the outside vertical routes will erase the passing lane to the TE.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and short when the defense shows two high safeties and soft zone drops that leave the middle of the field light. Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you are looking at man coverage and should consider a hot route audible instead of trusting the screen. Against blitz heavy teams this play is a great answer because extra rushers upfield only speed up the wall in front of the TE and create running room behind them. Pair this with Cheat HB Counter and PA Cheat Deep Post Stop from the same set so the defense has to respect run, screen, and deep shot action off identical Pistol Wing Close alignment. Do not force the screen into a hard edge blitz that has a defender sitting right on the release lane, check it down or take the sack avoidance route if the numbers are not in your favor.
