Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Bunch Y-Trips sends three vertical clear-out routes from the bunch to drag off linebackers and safeties while the offensive line initially shows pass pro before releasing to wall off defenders in front of the tailback. The HB slips out to the flat behind the line as the primary and only real read, with the outside receivers stemming deep to occupy the corners and hold the deep safety. This is a screen play designed to beat aggressive man pressure and blitz-heavy fronts by getting blockers out in space against defenders who have already committed upfield.
Defensive Reads
Key on the middle linebacker and slot defenders at the snap, since a slow read or blitz commitment upfield is exactly what this screen exploits. Watch for a spy or scrape exchange defender who stays home in the box, as this instantly kills the blocking lanes for the HB. Man coverage with press corners on the bunch receivers is ideal for the offense since it removes underneath defenders from the screen area. Zone shells with linebackers sitting in short hook or curl zones are the biggest threat, since they can jump the screen lane before blockers arrive. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers reading run-pass conflict, expect a fast diagnosis and a tackle for loss or minimal gain on this concept.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses showing blitz indicators like walked-up linebackers or a slot corner creeping into the box pre-snap. Use it on early downs or after establishing dropback passes from this same Bunch Y-Trips set so the defense respects the vertical stems from PA Post or Mtn Fly HB Go. Delay the snap slightly with a hard count to bait aggressive edge rushers into jumping upfield before the ball is out. Pair this screen with Mtn Return Mesh Spot Rail or Stick Spacing Switch in your play-calling sequence to keep defenders guessing between quick game and screen concepts from the same look. Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that keep linebackers home, since spy defenders and scrape exchange linebackers can blow this up before blockers get set.
