Playbooks
Breakdown
Fake Screen Go is a play-action shot play out of the Shotgun Double Stack set that disguises itself as a screen before releasing both outside receivers vertically. The diagram shows the left receiver breaking outward with a quick flat motion before turning straight upfield on a go route, while the right receiver fakes an outward screen action then cuts back and releases deep on a go route as well. This is a man beater designed to freeze aggressive underneath defenders and cornerbacks jumping the screen fake, with the primary read progression going to the boundary go route first since the shorter break gets the corner leaning, then working to the field side go route if the safety bites on the screen fake.
Defensive Reads
Watch for cornerbacks who bite hard on the screen fake footwork, since that hesitation is exactly what turns this into a big play against man coverage. Zone defenses with disciplined deep third or deep half safeties who do not bite on the fake will take away both go routes and force a check down that does not exist here. Press man coverage is risky against this concept because the corner has to respect the screen fake and gets beat vertically once he opens his hips. Look for two high safety shells pre-snap, since a single high safety rotating down to jump the screen action leaves the deep middle exposed. User controlled defenders sitting on the outside for a lurk or spy will erase this play quickly, so avoid calling it when you see the defense clearly baiting screen throws.
Usage Tips
Look for man coverage or aggressive zone defenses that key on screen action before calling this play, since the fake is what creates the explosive window downfield.
Use this on early downs or in shot-play situations like second and short, since the deep shots take time to develop and a sack or incompletion is manageable.
Combine this with HB Slip Screen or PA Jailbreak Screen earlier in a drive to condition the defense to jump screen fakes, then hit them with Fake Screen Go once they start biting.
Hot route the inside receivers into shallow drags or hooks if you see a blitz look, giving the quarterback a quick outlet if both go routes get blanketed.
Attack the boundary corner first since his route breaks and releases quicker, giving the quarterback an early throw window before the safety rotates over.
