Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Orbit TE Mid Screen aligns out of Shotgun Deuce Close with 12 personnel and sends the HB in orbit motion before the snap, which shows on the diagram as the light blue path sweeping from the backfield out to the flat. The three outside receivers (gold routes) all release vertically to clear out the underneath zones and occupy deep defenders, while the middle TE slips behind the line and sets up as the screen outlet with linemen releasing to lead block. This is a TE/HB screen play designed to bait aggressive pass rushers and zone defenders who bite on the vertical releases, making it a strong zone beater against teams that drop into deep coverage without accounting for underneath traffic. The primary read is the screen to the TE in the middle, with the HB in the flat serving as a secondary outlet if the screen is jumped.
Defensive Reads
Key the linebackers at the snap, if they sink into zone drops and take their eyes off the backfield the TE screen lane will be wide open behind them Watch for a spy or a defender staying home on the HB orbit motion, that indicates man coverage and signals the user should shift attention to the flat route instead of the middle screen Look for nano blitz packages or interior line stunts that crash the middle of the field quickly, this can blow up the screen before blockers get set and is the biggest counter to this concept User controlled lurk defenders sitting in the shallow middle zone are the primary threat to this play, if the user jumps the TE screen route the HB flat route becomes the checkdown Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with deep safeties who stay disciplined and do not bite on the vertical clears will limit the explosive potential, forcing the offense to rely on blocking angles to win instead of a busted coverage read
Usage Tips
Call this play when you see zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 pre-snap since the vertical clear-outs are designed to pull zone defenders deep and open the middle screen lane
Watch the defensive line pre-snap for wide nine or aggressive four man rush looks, since a fast rush actually helps this screen by getting defenders up the field and out of the throwing lane
Use the HB orbit motion to identify man coverage before the snap, if a defender follows the HB across the formation you know you are facing man principles and can hot route the vertical routes into deeper option routes
Sequence this play after running several HB Orbit Mesh Spot or HB Orbit Spacing calls so defenses start keying the orbit motion as a run or quick game action, which sets up the delayed TE screen for a big explosive play
Best used on early downs or second and medium when the defense is more likely to sit in base zone coverage rather than blitz heavy sub packages that can blow up the screen before it develops
