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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
Mtn Slip Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun Doubles Flex with 11 personnel that uses two clear out routes to sell the pass rush and flood the backfield with blockers. Both outside receivers run vertical clear outs (one breaking to a corner route, the other running a deep out) to pull coverage away from the middle, while the TE and slot both run shallow crossers underneath to occupy linebackers and set the screen up. The HB releases into the flat behind the line as the primary screen target, with the offensive line and inside players sliding out to escort him, making this a classic slip screen designed to beat aggressive man and zone pressure by getting blockers in front of the HB in space.
Defensive Reads
Key the offensive line at the snap, since immediate outside releases from guards or the center are the first tell that a screen is coming. Watch the HB after the snap instead of following the initial line movement, because he sits and releases late into the flat as the actual target. Sniff out this play against man coverage teams by seeing if both outside routes are just clearing space rather than working back to the ball, which signals the screen is live. Zone defenses with linebackers that stay disciplined in their drops rather than crashing the line take away the blocking angles and can undercut the throwing lane. A defensive lineman who reads screen and stays home instead of rushing can knife into the backfield and disrupt the timing before blockers get set.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses showing pressure pre-snap, since blitzing linebackers and edge rushers take themselves out of the screen lane and get walled off by your slip blockers.
Watch for a defender spying the backfield or a linebacker sitting flat footed near the line, since that is the guy who can blow this play up if he reads it early.
Use the two clear out routes on the left side to hold single high safeties and corners in man coverage, then let the HB work behind the wall of blockers once the rush commits upfield.
Pair this with Mtn Drag H-Choice or HB Mid Draw in the same set so defenses cannot key on the screen action out of this identical backfield look.
Best called on early downs or after establishing inside runs, since defenses playing downhill run support or overpursuing on stunts get gashed by the delayed release to the HB.
