Playbooks

Mtn Jailbreak Screen

Shotgun·5WR Trio·11
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Franchise Offense MotioninoceanOffense

Breakdown

Mtn Jailbreak Screen is a WR screen out of the Shotgun 5WR Trio set designed to get the ball out quickly to a bunched or stacked receiver group while the offensive line and slot blockers release downfield to spring the runner. It functions as a blitz beater and zone beater, punishing aggressive pass rush calls and man press coverage that flows hard upfield after the snap. The primary read is the screen receiver himself, so the QB should catch and immediately release to him rather than progressing through a traditional route tree, trusting the perimeter blockers to wall off the alley.

Defensive Reads

Watch for defensive ends and outside linebackers who upfield rush hard off the edge, this play is designed to exploit exactly that aggression by letting them run past the blocking numbers. Man coverage with press corners is a green light since the receiver stacks blockers in front of him with no zone defender sitting underneath to read the screen. Zone coverage with linebackers reading the quarterback's eyes is the biggest threat, a disciplined Mike linebacker who sits and reads can jump the screen for a big loss or pick six. Check safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are playing deep and cornerbacks are in soft zone alignment, underneath defenders have eyes on the backfield and this play is more risky. Post-snap, key on any user controlled defender spying the running back or slot receiver rather than rushing the passer, that is the clearest sign the defense has diagnosed the screen and you should throw away from it or take the sack if committed.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or after you have shown Mtn Switch Verts or Mtn Spacing from the same formation so the defense respects vertical routes and bites on the play fake of the drop back.

Use it as a direct counter to user blitzers and defensive line speed rushes since the ball is out before the rush arrives.

Check pre-snap for corners playing tight press or safeties crashing down into the box, both indicate the defense is selling out on the run or a quick pass which makes the screen lane wide open.

If the defense shows a two high shell with soft corners, consider switching to Mtn Mesh Y-Post or Four Verticals Sl Out instead since screens lose value against passive zone drops with underneath defenders sitting flat.

Pair this play in a sequence with Jet Sweep and PA Jet Sweep to condition the defense to fly to perimeter motion, then hit them with this delayed screen when linebackers start flowing hard to the jet action.

Avoid calling this on third and long against disciplined defenses that keep linebackers home, since a slow developing screen needs blockers to get set before the rush closes the distance.

Other Plays in 5WR Trio