Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Fk Screen Sluggo is a play-action screen concept out of Shotgun Empty Steeler that combines a running back swing screen to the flat with a sluggo (slant and go) and a deep post crossing behind it from the two receivers stacked to that side, plus a deep in/dig breaking away from the numbers on the backside. The offensive line and remaining backs sell the screen while the sluggo route occupies the corner and safety over the top, creating a big play window if the defense bites on the screen action or plays man across the board. This is a man beater built to punish aggressive corners and screen defenders, with the primary read progression starting at the swing screen to the flat, moving to the sluggo running vertical off the slant fake, and finishing with the deep in route if the middle of the field opens up.
Defensive Reads
Watch for a linebacker or slot defender sitting flat footed on run/screen action, if he crashes hard on the fake, the swing screen to the flat is wide open. Key the cornerback aligned over the sluggo receiver, if he presses or jumps the initial slant fake in off man coverage, he has no recovery speed to stay with the vertical break. Identify single high safety shells like Cover 1 or Cover 3, since the deep in route crossing behind the sluggo can find soft grass if the safety cheats toward the screen side. Look for a user controlled defender sitting in a shallow zone or spy alignment, since that player can undercut the screen and blow up the whole concept if he reads it pre-snap. Against Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with two deep safeties, this play is more vulnerable because the safety over the top can rob the sluggo route while the flat defender squats on the screen.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs or in screen-heavy game plans where you have already shown the defense the actual HB or WR screen a few times to condition their linebackers to jump the flat.
Check the corner and flat defender pre-snap. If they are playing off man or you see aggressive screen defenders crashing downhill on run action, throw the swing screen immediately for a easy pickup.
If the corner presses the slot receiver running the sluggo, look for him to get beat over the top once he breaks vertical after the slant fake, this is your explosive play window against man coverage.
Pair this call with Steeler HB Screen and WR Screens earlier in a drive so defenders start keying screen action, then hit them with the sluggo double move for the home run shot.
Best used on first or second and medium when the defense has shown Cover 1 or Cover 3 with aggressive corners jumping underneath routes, since the deep in route also gives you a answer against zone drops that sit on the screen.
