Playbooks

Cheat HB Slip Screen

Shotgun·Bunch Wide·11

Screen Pass Hb Screen Motion Pass Play

Play diagram for Cheat HB Slip Screen from Shotgun Bunch Wide in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetBunch Wide

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 2 playbooks

Packers OffenseOffense NFL Live Packers OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Cheat HB Slip Screen is an HB screen out of the Shotgun Bunch Wide 11 personnel look, and the diagram shows the bunch receivers releasing vertically before breaking, with two of them clearing out on deep in and out cuts while the point man works a quick out to occupy underneath defenders. On the backside, the isolated X runs a shallow drag away from the play to pull the defense's flow and widen the alley for the screen. The HB slips out of the backfield behind a wall of blockers as the primary read, making this a classic screen play designed to bait pass rushers and beat man pressure or overaggressive blitz packages.

Defensive Reads

Watch the defensive line for wide upfield rushes, since aggressive edge rushers and stunts create the exact lanes the screen blockers need to release into. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, because a linebacker sitting shallow or blitzing straight ahead will overrun the screen and get walled off easily. Identify man coverage on the bunch receivers before the snap, as press or tight man alignment struggles to redirect once the vertical releases turn into breaking routes underneath. Beware of a spy or a linebacker sitting flat in the screen's throwing lane, since a disciplined defender reading the quarterback's eyes can jump the route and blow up the play before the HB gets a block set. Check for zone coverage with deep drops, because a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell that keeps underneath defenders squatting on shorter routes can diagnose the screen and close the edge before blockers get out in front.

Usage Tips

Motion the bunch receiver before the snap to check if the defense follows in man or stays put in zone, since man coverage sliding with the motion confirms this screen has room to work outside.

Use this call on early downs or in obvious blitz downs like 3rd and long when defensive coordinators dial up pressure, since the screen naturally punishes overpursuing rushers.

Hot route the backside drag receiver into a deeper crossing route if you see the defense selling out on the screen side, giving you a built in answer versus aggressive user blitzes.

Pair this play with Cross Screen or Cheat Flood earlier in a drive so the defense respects the bunch formation's vertical route combos, then come back to Cheat HB Slip Screen once linebackers start sitting deeper in coverage.

Snap the ball quickly after the motion to prevent the defense from diagnosing the screen through pre-snap adjustments, and manually pull your blocking linemen wide to seal off the edge defender before releasing them upfield.