Playbooks
Breakdown
PA Jailbreak Screen out of Pistol Wing Slot shows a play-action fake to the HB before releasing him out to the flat behind a wall of screen blockers. The diagram shows the offensive line and a TE releasing downfield to sell the play-action fake while a group of blockers set up in front of the HB to escort him on the screen. This is a designed screen pass built to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitz-heavy defenses, with the primary read being the HB in the flat once the blockers get set, and the play-action fake serving to hold linebackers and safeties for an extra beat.
Defensive Reads
Read linebacker depth and aggressiveness pre-snap, since blitz-happy defenses that crash the line get caught out of position against the screen wall. Key on the defensive line for stunts or contain rushers who can slip past blockers and disrupt the HB before the screen sets up. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the HB or sitting in a shallow zone, since that can jump the route and blow up the play. Identify man coverage versus zone shells presnap, man coverage tends to open running lanes for the HB once blockers clear a path. Look for linebackers reading through the backfield instead of biting on the play-action fake, as disciplined zone linebackers can rally to the screen quickly and limit yardage.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or after establishing HB runs from this personnel group to make the play-action fake believable to the defense.
Watch pre-snap for stacked boxes or blitz indicators like linebackers creeping to the line, since aggressive fronts run right into the screen blockers.
Delay your throw slightly after the fake to let the screen blockers get out in front, then release the HB into the flat once the wall is formed.
Pair this with HB Dive or HB Power O earlier in a series so linebackers respect the run fake and bite harder on the play-action.
Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that keep linebackers at home, since spies and zone defenders sitting underneath can blow up the screen before it develops.
