Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Box Y Off is a designed screen pass built to slow down aggressive pass rushers and blitz-heavy defenses. At the snap the offensive line sets up outside to escort the running back, while three receivers push vertical and out routes downfield to clear the underneath zones and pull defenders away from the screen lane. The HB slips out to the flat behind the leaking blockers as the clear-out routes on the right side occupy corners and linebackers, making this a classic zone and blitz beater with the RB as the clear primary read.
Defensive Reads
Watch for the offensive line setting outside on their initial steps and TE or FB releasing upfield, both are the first tells of a screen concept. Keep a linebacker or safety spying the RB instead of dropping into a zone, since screens are beaten by discipline, not by pure speed. Diagnose man coverage by checking if defenders are following the vertical routes on the right side downfield instead of staying home. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers reading through the backfield, they can trigger fast on the screen and blow it up for a loss. Sim pressure or a delayed blitz with a spy defeats this play completely, since the extra rusher can either bat down the pass or tackle the RB before blockers get set.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs against defenses showing blitz pressure or a heavy box to punish overpursuing linebackers and edge rushers.
Snap the ball quickly after diagnosing the blitz look presnap, since this play lives and dies on timing between the blockers releasing and the RB settling into the flat.
Use the vertical and out combo on the right side as a deep shot changeup if the defense sits on the screen after seeing it once, keeping them honest.
Pair this with Inside Zone or Mid Zone in your play-calling sequence so the defense has to respect the run game and cannot key screen every snap.
Avoid calling this against disciplined spy defenders or teams that user a linebacker to sit on the RB, since that defeats the blocking numbers advantage.
