Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn TE Mid Screen is a TE screen out of Shotgun Doubles Off Close Wk that uses motion to help sell the concept before the snap. Both outside receivers push vertical stems up the field to clear out cornerbacks and occupy deep coverage, while the offensive line sets up a wall of blockers in front of the TE, who slips out to the flat and turns it up field behind that convoy. The primary read is the TE screen the entire way: get to the blocking numbers, follow your lead blockers, and pick your seam once the wall forms.
Defensive Reads
Watch for blitz-heavy or man pressure calls before the snap, since this screen is designed to gash defenses that send extra rushers upfield and leave the middle of the field vacated. Zone coverages with disciplined linebackers who sit and read the quarterback rather than dropping deep can sniff this screen out and squat on the TE's release. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers reading the backfield, expect them to jump the screen quickly since their eyes stay on the QB and TE instead of the vertical decoy routes. Key the play side outside linebacker or nickel defender, if he stays home instead of chasing the vertical route or crashing on the run fake, he becomes the primary threat to blow up the screen. User-controlled defenders sitting in a shallow lurk or spying the backfield are the biggest counter to this play, so avoid calling it against defenses that have shown lurk tendencies on prior snaps.
Usage Tips
Call this when you have seen aggressive defensive line stunts or exotic pressure looks in previous snaps, since screens punish upfield rushers who abandon their gaps.
Use the pre-snap motion to check if the defense follows in man coverage or stays put in zone, that alone tells you whether the underneath defenders will be out of position on the snap.
Pair this with Mtn Stick X Replace or Double Post earlier in a drive so the defense starts keying on vertical routes and linebackers step up expecting a quick game concept, opening the screen lane even wider.
Best called on second and medium or third and short when defenses are more willing to bring pressure or sit in man coverage rather than dropping into deep zone shells.
Get the ball out the instant the TE turns upfield, do not wait on the blocks to fully develop or you risk defenders redirecting through the wash and blowing up the play behind the line.
