Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Bunch TE Wk is a designed screen pass built to slow down aggressive pass rushes and blitz-heavy defenses. The diagram shows the three bunch receivers releasing vertically to clear out the underneath zones, with two receivers pushing straight upfield and the third breaking outside on an angle route to occupy the flat defender, while the HB slips out to the weak side behind a wall of releasing linemen. This is a classic screen play, not a man or zone beater in the traditional route-combo sense, and the primary read is simply getting the ball to the HB in space as soon as the blockers set up the alley.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers sitting flat instead of chasing the vertical releases, since a disciplined LB who reads screen can blow up the play at the mound. Corners playing off coverage on the bunch side often signal zone drops that still leave the flat exposed, so track the flat defender's initial jump. User-controlled defenders sitting on the HB out of the backfield are the biggest threat, so look at where the human is aligned before the snap. Blitz-heavy fronts with edge rushers crashing hard are the easiest to exploit since they take themselves out of the screen lane. If the defense shows a spy or scrapes a linebacker specifically toward the backfield, abort and check to a different concept in the set like Duo or Mesh Mills.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses showing pressure indicators like overload blitzes or defensive line stunts since the screen action punishes upfield rushers.
Check for man coverage with press corners on the bunch receivers pre-snap, as this alignment often signals blitz packages that leave the backfield vulnerable.
Use hot routes sparingly here, since altering the vertical releases can disrupt the timing of the blockers getting out in front of the HB.
Pair this with HB Draw and RPO Read Bubble from the same set to keep defenses guessing between quick perimeter throws and inside run action.
Best deployed on early downs or after showing several drop-back passes from this formation, catching linebackers and edge rushers flowing hard upfield.
