Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

Pistol·Y Off Trips·11

Screen Pass Hb Screen Pass Play

Play diagram for HB Slip Screen from Pistol Y Off Trips in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationPistol

SetY Off Trips

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Air Raid OffenseOffense Pistol OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of the Pistol Y Off Trips set is a classic screen play designed to slow down aggressive pass rushes and blitz-heavy defenses. Off the play diagram, the trips side runs a vertical clear out with a corner route and deep post-corner combo to pull the defense's attention downfield, while the single receiver side runs a quick out to occupy the boundary corner. The HB slips out to the flat behind a wall of linemen releasing to set up screen blocks, making this a pure screen pass with the running back as the clear first and only true read.

Defensive Reads

Watch for defensive tackles and ends getting doubled or engaged high by the offensive line, that flat release is the giveaway this is a screen. Key the middle linebacker and weak side linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard downfield or blitz without discipline, the HB Slip Screen exploits their pursuit lanes. Man coverage on the trips side with no underneath zone defender sitting near the line of scrimmage is where this play hits hardest since nobody is home to jump the screen. Watch for user controlled defenders spying the running back or sitting in a shallow zone drop near the box, that is the primary counter to this concept. Blitz packages that send extra rushers from depth rather than the line can actually deny the screen since those defenders read the play from behind the developing pocket.

Usage Tips

Call this against defenses that show pressure indicators pre-snap like walked up linebackers or overload fronts on one side. Use the trips side vertical routes as a pre-snap alignment check, if the defense rotates hard to trips coverage post-snap, the screen has even more room to develop on the backside. Hot route the single receiver's out route into a quick hitch if you see man coverage to give yourself an extra outlet if the screen is diagnosed. Pair this play in your call sheet with HB Dive and RPO Alert Bubble from the same set to keep defenders honest on run fits before dialing up the screen. Best used on early downs or after a hard inside run to bait linebackers into overpursuing the box.