Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 14 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Screen out of Empty Chips Quads sends four vertical releases up the field from the quads side while the back, aligned as the lone backfield player, slips out to the boundary behind a wall of screen blockers. The four verticals occupy every underneath defender and both safeties, clearing the flat and sideline for the RB to catch the ball in space with linemen leading. This is a classic screen play designed to bait an aggressive pass rush or overloaded blitz, and the primary read is the HB out of the backfield first, with the four verticals serving as clock-eating decoys if the screen is covered.
Defensive Reads
Key the defensive line and linebackers for upfield, aggressive rush lanes, since screens thrive when the front seven sells out to get to the quarterback. Check safety depth pre snap, two deep shells with soft corners give the verticals room to work if the screen is taken away. Identify any zone defender or user lurker sitting shallow near the line of scrimmage, they can read the screen fast and blow it up before blockers get set. Watch for a spy or contain defender on the play side edge, this is the number one screen killer since he stays home instead of rushing upfield. Man coverage with blitzing linebackers is the ideal beat for this concept, but disciplined zone teams that keep a linebacker underneath in the flat will shut it down.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and long when the defense shows exotic pressure or a heavy blitz look, since the screen punishes upfield rushers. Watch pre snap for stacked boxes or overhang defenders crashing hard off the edge, that is the green light to trust the screen. Use the four verticals as a built in changeup: if you throw this a few times and defenders start sitting on the screen, come back with Crossers or Dagger from the same formation to attack the space those flat defenders vacate. Manually control a lead blocker if possible to seal the first unblocked defender in space. Avoid calling this into press man across the board with no underneath help, since a jump-happy corner near the backfield can blow it up instantly.
