Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Doubles Y-Flex is a designed screen pass that gets the running back leaking out to the flat behind a wall of pulling linemen while the receivers occupy the deep defenders. The diagram shows both outside receivers pushing vertical or breaking to clear space, the slot receiver running a corner breaking route to hold the flat defender, and the offensive line releasing to set up blockers in front of the HB. This is a zone beater designed to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitzing linebackers upfield, and the primary read is simply getting the ball to the HB on the delayed release once the screen develops.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive ends and interior linemen crashing hard upfield since that rush flow is exactly what this screen wants to exploit. Key the flat defender and outside linebacker depth pre-snap, if they are sitting at five yards or less with outside leverage they can jump the screen before blockers get set. Look for a user-controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a shallow zone drop near the line of scrimmage, that is the biggest lurk threat to blow this play up. Man coverage with press corners funneling receivers inside can actually help the offense by clearing the flat, so man shells are less dangerous than disciplined zone drops. Disguised zone blitzes that still keep a linebacker home in the screen lane are the most effective counter since they combine natural pressure with numbers to stop the play in the backfield.
Usage Tips
Call this against teams that show blitz pre-snap since the delayed rush flow creates the natural running lane for the HB once linemen release. Check the flat defender and nearest linebacker before the snap, if they are sitting short with eyes in the backfield this play gets shut down quickly. Use hot routes to adjust the backside receiver into a shorter hitch or quick out if you need an underneath outlet against zone drops that clog the screen lane. Pair this with HB Draw and Inside Zone from the same set so defenders respect the run action and bite on the initial line movement. Best used on early downs or after establishing a few dropback passes so the defense is not sitting on screens, and avoid calling it into heavy zone blitz packages that key the backfield immediately.
