Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 14 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat HB Slip Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun Bunch Spread Nasty that uses a two man bunch to the right with a receiver motioning across the formation before the snap. At the snap the offensive line and the bunch receivers release upfield to sell pass rush and get width, while the running back slips out to the flat behind the line for the screen. This is a blitz beater designed to make aggressive defenses pay, and the primary read is the HB in the flat first, with the outside vertical and corner routes from the bunch as secondary options if the screen is covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the defensive line and outside linebackers immediately after the snap, if they are selling out on the pass rush without containing the backfield the screen will hit clean. Watch for a spy or a linebacker sitting in the shallow flat zone, that defender can jump the screen and blow up the play before the HB gets started. Check safety depth pre-snap, two deep safeties usually signal zone coverage and a lurking underneath defender that can undercut the throw. If the defense shows Cover 3 with a flat defender staying disciplined, expect the screen to be covered and lean on the corner and vertical routes from the bunch instead. Man coverage with press corners on the outside receivers is a strong indicator the screen is the correct read since the underneath defenders will be occupied downfield.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and short when you expect man pressure or a corner blitz since the screen punishes defenders crashing upfield.
Watch pre-snap for blitz indicators like walked up linebackers or safeties creeping into the box, those are green lights for the HB Slip Screen.
Use the motion to check if the defense is in man coverage, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you know you are facing man and the screen has a numbers advantage outside.
Hot route the play side blocker to seal the edge defender if you see a defensive end sitting on screens, this keeps the lane clean for the HB.
Pair this play with Mtn HB Corner or Shock HB Wheel from the same set to keep defenses honest, alternating between HB routes and screens forces linebackers to hesitate on run fits and screen reads.
