Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
HB Cross Screen out of Shotgun Bunch Trio Open sends the bunch receivers vertical to clear space, with the two closest bunch WRs breaking hard upfield while the third stems outside, dragging coverage away from the backfield. The lone receiver to the weak side runs an arcing route upfield to occupy the corner, while the offensive line shows pass pro before releasing to wall off defenders in front of the halfback. This is a screen play designed to bait aggressive pass rush and man coverage, with the primary read being an automatic throw to the HB once he settles behind the line, using the O-line escorts as lead blockers into open grass.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive linemen who stop their rush and squat, this is the biggest tell that the defense has diagnosed the screen and is sitting on it. Zone coverage shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers reading run and pass simultaneously tend to close space on the HB quickly, since underneath defenders stay home instead of chasing the release routes. Man coverage that follows the bunch receivers vertically leaves natural running lanes for the HB, making Cover 1 and Cover 0 the most vulnerable shells against this concept. If you see a linebacker or slot corner sitting inside at the snap without committing to a rush or drop, that is a lurk defender designed to jump this exact screen, bail out to the checkdown or scramble immediately. Fast flow linebackers who overrun the play side gap can be gashed by the HB cutting it back behind the escort blockers, so track linebacker leverage as the ball is snapped.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses that show blitz pre-snap since the screen naturally punishes overpursuit and disciplined pass rush lanes.
Check the leverage of the defensive ends and Mike linebacker before the snap, if they are crashing hard off the edge this play hits even faster.
Use this after running Inside Zone or PA Fake Screen Verts a few times to condition the defense into keying on the run fake or verticals, then hit this for an easy explosive gain.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick hitch or shallow drag if you see a corner sitting flat footed at the snap, giving you a checkdown option if the screen gets read.
Avoid calling this on obvious passing downs against defenses that have shown spy or scrape exchange technique, since disciplined linebackers can sit on the screen and blow it up for a loss.
