Playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn HB Slip Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun Bunch Str Nasty that uses a pre-snap motion to shift the bunch look before the ball is snapped. The diagram shows two vertical clear-out routes from the bunch receivers (one running a deep vertical, the other running a dig/cross underneath before breaking outside) designed to pull second and third level defenders away from the flat, while the backside X runs a shallow drag. The HB slips out of the backfield behind a screen wall of linemen releasing to the perimeter, making this a classic slip screen where the primary read is the HB in the flat once the underneath defenders bite on the clear-out routes.
Defensive Reads
Watch for blitz-heavy fronts and man coverage looks, this play is built to gash defenses that send extra rushers since the screen wall forms instantly once the edge blitzers commit upfield. Key the play side linebacker depth at the snap, if he flows hard toward the vertical clear-out routes the HB screen lane opens immediately behind him. Identify user-controlled defenders spying the backfield, a disciplined spy or lurk defender sitting on the screen can blow this play up before the wall sets. Check safety alignment pre-snap, a single high shell with aggressive linebacker blitzes is the ideal shell to attack, while a two-high shell with disciplined zone drops and defensive line screen recognition can shut this down. Look for defensive tackles or ends that stay home and read screen, since disciplined interior linemen can chase down the HB before the perimeter blockers get set.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone before the snap, if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are almost certainly getting man coverage which sets up the HB screen perfectly against blitzes. Call this on early downs or third and short when defenses are keying on the run, since the screen action punishes overaggressive linebackers and blitz packages. Pair this with Inside Zone or Cheat Inside Zone earlier in a series so linebackers start crashing downhill, then dial up this slip screen to catch them flowing away from the HB. Hot route the backside X drag into a hook or sit route if you see heavy zone drops sitting underneath, this keeps the shallow crosser from running into a defender. Combine with Mtn HB Angle or Mtn HB Seam in the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick HB routes and this delayed slip screen look.
