Playbooks

Slot Pick Screen

Shotgun·Empty Base·11

Screen Pass Pass Play

Likely unavailable in the playbook builder

This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Diagram coming soon

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetEmpty Base

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 1 playbook

Superstar HB Receiving

Breakdown

Slot Pick Screen is a designed screen pass out of Empty Base Shotgun that uses a slot receiver's route to rub off a defender, springing the screen target open behind the traffic. The offensive line and adjacent receivers set picks or delayed releases to wall off underneath defenders while the screen receiver sets up in the void created by the pick action. This is a man beater at its core since the natural rub concept disrupts man coverage leverage, though it can also gash aggressive zone blitzes if the underneath defenders bite on the initial routes. The primary read is the screen receiver getting picked open, and if the pick is jumped or blown up, the QB progresses to any secondary flare or check down route on the backside.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is in man coverage by checking for tight, physical alignment on the slot receivers, since this play thrives against man leverage. Watch for a linebacker or nickel defender sitting flat footed near the line of scrimmage after the snap, which indicates a screen read and a likely blown up play if he stays disciplined. If the safety rotates down hard toward the slot pre-snap, that usually signals a blitz or man match call, both of which the pick action can exploit if timed well. Zone shells with linebackers dropping to depth and reading the QB's eyes are the biggest threat to this play, since they can react to the screen and close the throwing lane before the pick develops. Post-snap, key any user controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a lurk technique in the middle of the field, as a smart user will jump the screen route and undercut the throw for a big loss or turnover.

Usage Tips

Call this against man coverage looks where you see press or tight slot alignment, since the pick action is most disruptive to defenders playing tight man technique.

Use pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is showing man or zone, and if you see a defender shadow the motion man across the formation, you know it is man and this play becomes a high value call.

Hot route the outside receivers into quick hitches or slants if you are getting a hard blitz look, this keeps the picture clean and gives the QB a faster outlet if the screen is jumped by a linebacker with eyes in the backfield.

Pair this with Fk Screen Sluggo or Fk Screen Verts earlier in a drive so the defense starts keying screen action, then hit them with straight verticals or Y Cross out of the same Empty Base look to counter their aggression.

Best used on second and short or early down situations where defenses are more likely to sit in man coverage or blitz, since a zone shell with disciplined linebackers sitting on screens can sniff this out and blow it up for a loss.