Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Double Stack shows both outside receivers running vertical clear-out routes up the numbers to pull cornerbacks and safeties downfield, while the stacked slot receiver runs a quick out to hold the underneath defender. The offensive line sets up a delayed screen release to the running back, who slips out to the flat behind a wall of blockers after the vertical routes clear the throwing lane. This is a classic screen concept designed to beat aggressive man coverage and overzealous blitz packages, with the primary read being an immediate check to the HB in the flat if the defense shows blitz or man coverage with no underneath flat defender.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing Cover 0 or Cover 1 man with press corners, since that alignment leaves the flat wide open for the HB once the verticals clear. Watch for blitz indicators like linebackers creeping to the line or a nickel corner walked up into the box, as blitz-heavy fronts are the most vulnerable to this screen concept. Post-snap, key any user-controlled defender who sits at the line and reads the quarterback's eyes instead of releasing upfield, since a smart user player can jump the screen and blow it up for a loss. Look for linebackers with sub-five yard drops in zone coverage, as they can quickly diagnose the screen action and close the throwing lane before blockers get in position. If the defense shows a Tampa 2 or Cover 3 shell with a hook or curl defender sitting flat-footed near the line of scrimmage, expect that defender to be the primary threat to jump this screen route.
Usage Tips
Call this play when you see man coverage indicators pre-snap like tight press alignment on the outside receivers, since the vertical clear-outs will pull those corners away from the screen lane.
Use this against defenses that bring five or six man pressure, since the extra rushers upfield only helps spring the screen by removing bodies from the underneath area.
Pair this with Four Verticals and PA Jailbreak Screen from the same set to condition the defense into either sitting back in zone or biting on run action, then hit this slip screen as the counter when they overcommit.
Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses with linebackers sitting at five to seven yards, since those defenders can read the screen quickly and close the lane before blockers get set.
Best used on second or third and short to medium distance where defenses are more likely to blitz or play man coverage rather than sit in a deep zone shell.
