Playbooks
Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.
| Player | Side | Route |
|---|---|---|
| HB1 | Left | Slip Screen |
| SLWR | Right | Out |
| WR1 | Left | In |
| WR2 | Right | Streak |
| TE1 | Right | Flat |
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Box Y Split is a designed screen that gets your running back leaking out to the flat behind a wall of screen blockers while the offensive line initially shows pass pro before releasing downfield. This is a blitz beater and man beater at its core, punishing aggressive pass rushers and man coverage defenders who chase receivers upfield instead of reading the backfield. The primary read is simple: get the ball to the HB in the flat as soon as he sets up behind his blockers, then let the blocking scheme in front of him create the running lane rather than looking to a secondary progression.
Watch for linebackers stacked tight to the line pre-snap, since blitz-heavy fronts and nano blitz packages are the biggest liability against this screen. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers sitting in short zone drops, this play struggles because those defenders can read screen action and jump the throwing lane. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a lurk technique near the line of scrimmage, since a smart user player can blow this play up by staying home instead of rushing. If defensive ends and tackles are crashing hard upfield without contain discipline, that is a green light since your screen blockers will have an easy path to the second level. Be wary of defenses that show blitz then bail into a zone shell, since disguised coverage can bait you into throwing the screen into a defender sitting right on top of the HB.
Call this play on early downs or in obvious blitz-heavy situations since the screen action punishes overpursuit and interior pressure packages.
Before the snap identify if the defense is showing Cover 0 or Cover 1 with man defenders crashing hard off the edge, since that is the ideal look for this screen to hit big.
Delay your throw slightly if you see a defensive lineman drop into a zone shell, since that can indicate a screen read defense that will sit and wait, and in that case consider pump faking or resetting your feet to draw defenders further upfield.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or Same Side Zone in your play-calling sequence so the defense respects the run game and stays flat footed at the snap, setting up the screen to hit even harder.
Use HB Slip Screen after showing Quick Short Post or Curls a few times in the same drive so linebackers start keying pass rush lanes instead of scanning for backfield screens.