Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Cheat HB Slip Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun Bunch Wide that uses motion to shift the bunch look before the snap and get the RB out into the flat behind a wall of blockers. The diagram shows the two outside receivers from the bunch clearing vertically and to the corner to pull coverage away, while the RB releases from the backfield to the flat where the offensive line sets up a delayed screen wall. The lone backside receiver runs a shallow drag away from the play, giving the offense a built in outlet if the screen is sniffed out. This is a zone beater designed to attack over pursuit and aggressive linebacker blitzes, with the primary read progression being the RB screen first, backside drag as the checkdown.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell with linebackers sitting deep, since those zone drops open up running lanes for the RB before blockers even engage. Key the play side linebacker depth, if he is crashing hard on run action or blitzing off the edge, the screen wall will have a numbers advantage in the flat. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a lurk technique near the line of scrimmage, that is the biggest threat to blow up this screen before it develops. Man coverage with defenders following the bunch motion is a red flag, since man defenders trailing receivers downfield often have a free rusher or extra man ready to jump the screen route. If the defense diagnoses screen quickly with a designated screen defender crashing down immediately, take the shallow drag on the backside as the built in checkdown instead of forcing the RB screen.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion to confirm man versus zone before the snap, if defenders shift with the motion man you know you are dealing with man coverage and the screen becomes riskier against a spy or lurking linebacker.
Call this play on early downs or short yardage passing situations where defenses are more likely to bring pressure, since blitz heavy fronts get gashed by the natural screen blocking.
Hold the ball for a half second after the snap to let the offensive line get out in front, but do not hold too long against defenses that show discipline against screens.
Pair this with Inside Zone or Mtn Inside Zone Split earlier in a drive to get defenders keying the run fit, then dial up Cheat HB Slip Screen to punish linebackers stepping up on run action.
Sequence this play with Cross Screen or Cheat Flood later in a series so the defense cannot key on one screen concept out of Bunch Wide.
