Playbooks

Mtn Orbit Swing Screen

Shotgun·Empty Bunch Wide·11

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Mtn Orbit Swing Screen is a screen play out of Shotgun Empty Bunch Wide that uses the bunch alignment to disguise a swing screen to the orbit motion man releasing out of the backfield area. The offensive line sets up a delayed screen block, releasing defenders upfield before pulling out to wall off pursuit for the swing man, while the bunch receivers occupy underneath defenders with mesh style releases to clear space. This is a screen play designed to beat aggressive man pressure and blitz heavy fronts, since the rushers who crash upfield create the exact lanes the screen needs. The primary read is the orbit swing man out of the backfield first, with the QB reading if the perimeter is walled off before checking any secondary breaking route from the bunch if the screen is taken away.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap identify if the defense is showing man coverage with corners in press or trail alignment, since man defenders chasing the orbit motion will be sealed away from the swing man by design. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they crash hard upfield on a blitz or fast pass rush read, the screen lane opens instantly and this is a green light throw. Sit and read defenses with a spy or a linebacker who stays flat footed and reads the backfield will blow this screen up, so identify any defender lurking near the line who is not committing to the rush. Zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with disciplined underneath defenders staying square can shut down the screen by keeping outside contain and squeezing the swing man before blockers arrive. User controlled defenders who key the QB eyes and jump the swing route immediately after the snap are the biggest counter, so vary your play-action fakes and use Mtn Orbit Fk Swing Screen to keep users honest.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or second and long when defenses expect a dropback pass and are more likely to bring pressure. Motion pre-snap and watch how the defense adjusts, if a defender follows the orbit man across the formation you are likely facing man coverage and this screen becomes a high value call since man defenders will get lost in the wash. If the defense shows an obvious blitz look with linebackers or corners walked up near the line, this play punishes that aggression because the rush flow creates the screen lane automatically. Pair this play with Mtn Orbit Fk Swing Screen in the same set to keep defenders honest, since the fake swing screen looks identical pre-snap and forces linebackers to hesitate on their run fits. Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers patient in their drops, since screen blockers will have nobody to block downfield and the play will die at or near the catch point. Use QB Draw or RPO Screen QB Draw from the same set as a changeup once the defense starts sitting hard on screens after seeing this concept multiple times.

Other Plays in Empty Bunch Wide