Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Bunch Open TE releases the three bunch receivers vertically to clear out underneath defenders and drag linebackers downfield while the HB slips out to the flat behind a screen wall from the offensive line. The lone backside receiver runs a deep drag across the field to hold the opposite side of the defense and prevent help from rotating over. This is a screen play designed to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitzes, with the primary read being the HB in the flat once the linemen release into their blocking angles.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive linemen and linebackers keying too far upfield or crashing hard off the edge, since that vacates the flat and opens the screen lane. Man coverage that presses the bunch receivers is a green light for this play because it removes underneath defenders from the screen area. Beware of zone drops with a linebacker sitting flat or spying the backfield, that defender can jump the screen for a big loss. Check safety depth pre-snap, a single high safety often signals man coverage or blitz which favors the screen, while two deep safeties can mean a zone drop underneath that squats on the HB. Post-snap, track any user-controlled defender lurking near the line of scrimmage or dropping late into the flat, that is the biggest threat to blow up this concept before the blockers set up.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and short when you expect the defense to bring pressure or crash the edge, since blitzing defenders take themselves out of the screen lane. Check the defensive alignment pre-snap for stacked box fronts or nano blitz packages that show blitzer alignments crashing off the edge, those are prime triggers for this call. Do not force the HB throw into a spy or a defender sitting in the shallow zone, use the deep drag as a checkdown if the screen is not there. Pair this with Fake Screen Verticals from the same set to keep defenses honest, since both plays start with similar action but one hits deep once defenders bite on the screen fake. Use hot routes to convert one of the vertical bunch releases into a quick out if you see man coverage pressed on the bunch, giving you a rhythm throw if the screen is jumped.
