Playbooks

Cheat TE Screen

Shotgun·Normal Y Off Close·11
Screen PassTe ScreenMotionPass Play
Play diagram for Cheat TE Screen from Shotgun Normal Y Off Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Cheat TE Screen is a TE screen play out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close with 11 personnel. Pre snap motion brings a receiver across to help sell the play action or clear space, while the offensive line shows a quick pass set before releasing to wall off the screen lane for the TE. The outside receiver on the near side runs a hitch to hold the corner, and the deep receiver on the far side takes the top off the coverage on a vertical to pull the safety away from the screen. The primary read is the TE screen itself: the QB should look to the flat immediately at the snap and deliver to the TE once the blockers get in front, using the vertical route only as a check down if the screen is jumped.

Defensive Reads

Watch for linebackers staying disciplined in their zone drops instead of flowing hard to the line, this signals they can react to the screen. Key the flow of the defensive line, if they get up the field quickly it opens the lane for blockers to seal the screen. Identify man coverage by checking if a defender shadows the motion man across the formation before the snap. User a linebacker or slot defender at the snap to sit on the TE screen and jump the throwing lane for a potential pick six. Watch the deep safety alignment, if he bites on the vertical route it confirms the screen has room to develop against light underneath coverage.

Usage Tips

Use this play on early downs or third and short when defenses are selling out to stop the run or crash hard on blitz packages.

Pay attention to pre snap motion, it can help identify man coverage if a defender follows across the formation.

If the defense shows blitz with linebackers crashing downhill, this is a great answer since the screen exploits vacated underneath zones.

Combine this with Mtn Inside Zone or Cheat Inside Zone earlier in a series so the defense keys run action and bites on the line movement.

Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers home, since spying defenders can jump the screen for a big loss.

Other Plays in Normal Y Off Close