Playbooks
Breakdown
TE Screen out of Empty Chips is a designed screen pass that attacks aggressive pass rushes and man coverage with numbers in space. At the snap the outside receivers to the left run vertical and comeback routes to clear out the corner and occupy the flat defender, while the two receivers on the right run deep crossers to drag underneath defenders away from the screen. The tight end (aligned inside) sits back behind the line as offensive linemen release upfield to set a wall of blockers, giving the QB a quick throw to the TE with blockers leading him into space. Primary read is the TE screen itself, with the QB looking to hit him immediately after the initial fake drop.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing blitz or heavy man coverage since both alignments are vulnerable to this screen. Post-snap, user a linebacker or safety and immediately sit at the line of scrimmage instead of dropping into coverage, this is the single biggest counter to TE screens. Watch for a defensive lineman with screen recognition (spy or scrape technique) since he can blow up the play before blockers get set. Zone coverage with disciplined linebackers who stay short and read the QB's eyes will often diagnose the screen action and close the passing lane. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers spying underneath, expect them to jump the throw, so be ready to check to a different concept if that shell appears.
Usage Tips
Call this play when you see aggressive pass rush tendencies or blitz-heavy defenses since the screen slips out behind the rush lanes.
Watch for man coverage pre-snap, especially press man on the outside receivers, because that pulls defenders out of the box and creates cleaner blocking angles for your linemen.
Hot route the crossing receivers deeper if you see zone defenders sitting short, this pulls linebackers further from the screen lane.
Use this on early downs or after establishing a hard run game, defenses that key run support will bite on the line release and get caught out of position.
Pair this with Dagger or Deep Post Out earlier in a series so defenders start keying vertical routes, then dial up TE Screen to punish overaggressive linebackers and DBs flying upfield.
