Playbooks

Mtn Sprint TE Screen

Shotgun·Flex Y Off Wk·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

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Breakdown

Mtn Sprint TE Screen is a designed TE screen out of Shotgun Flex Y Off Wk, using play-action style sprint motion from the outside receivers to pull the defense's eyes away from the tight end sneaking out into the flat. The offensive line sets up a track block, releasing to escort the TE upfield while the QB sells the sprint action before dumping the ball off underneath. This is a screen play built to beat aggressive man pressure and overload blitzes, with the primary read being the TE in the flat first, and a checkdown to the outlet receiver if the screen is diagnosed and taken away.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing Cover 0 or Cover 1 man with no safety help underneath, since this is the ideal shell for the screen to hit big. Key the linebacker depth at the snap, if they are crashing hard upfield on the sprint action fake, that confirms the screen lane is open for the TE. Post-snap, watch for a user-controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting flat-footed instead of biting on the fake, that is a sign the screen has been read and you should check down immediately. If the defense shows a Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shell with linebackers staying home and not flowing with the fake, abandon the screen mentally and look to your backside hot route. Watch for nano blitz packages or overload blitzes off the edge, since those bring extra defenders upfield fast and create the perfect blocking angle for your TE screen to spring for a big gain.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or in obvious blitz downs like 3rd and long when you have seen the user bring extra pressure or crash the edge on previous snaps.

Watch pre-snap for man coverage indicators such as corners lined up tight on receivers with no help over the top, since man defenders will bite on the sprint action and open up the TE lane.

Hot route the backside receiver into a quick hitch or slant so you have an outlet if the defense sniffs out the screen and drops a defender into the flat.

Pair this play with Mtn Sprint Bench and Mtn Sprint Slot Over in the same set so the defense has to respect the sprint action as a run threat or dropback pass before you hit them with the screen.

Avoid calling this against zone-heavy defenses with disciplined linebackers who sit and read, since a spy or flat defender can jump the route before the blocks set up.

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