Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of the Y Off Trips Pistol set is a designed screen pass that uses the trips receiver alignment to pull defenders away from the backfield before releasing the running back. The offensive line shows a slide protection look that sets up to release and get out ahead of the back, while the three receivers to the trips side run a vertical clear out with a corner route, a flat route, and a deep dig style breaker to occupy the underneath defenders and both deep safeties. The lone receiver to the boundary runs an underneath in-cut to hold the corner and any flowing linebacker, and the primary read is the HB out of the backfield, get the ball to him in space and let your blockers work.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, identify if the defense is in a two high shell or single high, since a two high look often means fewer underneath defenders crashing the flat and more room for the back to work. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sink into zone drops or bite hard on the trips route combo, that confirms the screen lane is developing correctly. Post snap, key on any user controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting flat footed near the line, since a smart user player can jump the screen and blow it up for a loss. Against Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells, the deep routes from the trips side should hold both safeties and the underneath zone defenders, clearing the throwing lane to the back. Man coverage with an aggressive blitz is the biggest counter to this play if the defense recognizes it quickly, since extra rushers can beat the screen before blockers set their angles.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or second and medium when the defense is showing aggressive edge pressure or a heavy blitz package. Presnap, check the box count and look for defensive ends crashing hard or linebackers walked up on the line, since fewer bodies to read means a cleaner screen. If the defense shows man coverage with press corners, this is a strong counter because the trips concept pulls defenders vertically and opens the underneath window for the back. Pair this with HB Slam Alert Smoke or Fake Screen Wheel in the same set so the defense has to respect both the run action and the screen look off similar backfield action. Avoid calling this against teams that consistently spy the RB or sit a linebacker in a shallow zone drop, since that defender can blow up the screen before blockers get set.
