Playbooks
Fake Screen Verticals
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
Fake Screen Verticals is a play-action style screen fake out of Shotgun Bunch Trio Open that sells the HB Cross Screen action before releasing three vertical routes downfield. The bunch trio releases with two receivers stacking verticals to the open side while the running back fakes a screen look before the outside receiver on the bunch side snaps his route upfield on a vertical as well, with the QB carrying out the screen fake to hold linebackers and underneath defenders before turning to throw. This is primarily a man and Cover 3 beater that also stresses Cover 2 safeties, and the primary read progression starts with the single receiver vertical on the open side, then works into the two verticals coming out of the bunch alignment.
Defensive Reads
Pre snap, identify whether the defense is in a two high or single high safety shell, since this concept is designed to exploit Cover 3 rotation and man coverage with limited safety help over the top. Watch linebacker depth and spacing before the snap, if they are sitting shallow expecting a screen or run action, that confirms the fake will hold them and open passing lanes underneath the verticals. Post snap, key any user controlled defender dropping into a lurk spot near the bunch alignment, since a smart user can sit on the double vertical release and jump the throw. If the defense shows Cover 2 with two deep safeties splitting the field, this play still works but the QB must read which safety commits to which vertical and throw off his leverage. Beware disguised zone blitzes where a linebacker who appears to bite on the screen fake instead drops into a deep zone, since that can take away the intermediate window before the verticals climb.
Usage Tips
Use this play when you have already run HB Cross Screen or another screen concept from this set so the defense bites on the fake and linebackers step up. Look for Cover 3 or man coverage shells pre snap since the four verts style stretch behind a hard sell puts max stress on deep defenders who bite on the screen action. If the defense shows two high safeties pre snap, prioritize the open side single receiver vertical since it isolates on one deep half defender. Save this call for second and long or third and long situations where defenses are more likely to sit in zone drops or bring a blitz that gets frozen by the fake. Sequence this after running actual screens earlier in the game plan so defensive coordinators start keying run or screen action on similar formations, then punish them with this shot play.
