Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Mtn TE Middle Screen is a TE screen out of Shotgun Normal Y Off Close (11 personnel) that uses pre-snap motion across the formation to help the QB and OL identify blitz or man coverage before the snap. At the snap the two outside receivers push vertical up the numbers to clear out the deep defenders while the middle TE releases into the flat area and settles as the screen target, with the offensive line initially showing pass set before working out to build a wall in front of him. The primary read is the TE screen itself: the QB should look off the vertical routes for a beat, then dump it to the TE and trust the blockers to seal the alley, using the two go routes as clear-out decoys against man coverage or to hold deep defenders in zone.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defenders spying the TE or sitting in the shallow middle zone before the snap since this is a clear key that the screen has been diagnosed. If the defense runs a nano blitz or all out pressure package with a hard inside rush, resist the urge to bail immediately since the rushers upfield often create the exact alley this screen needs. Man coverage with linebackers turning and running with the vertical routes on the outside leaves the middle wide open, so trust the TE screen against man heavy fronts. A user controlled linebacker sitting still in the middle of the field or a defender staying home instead of rushing is the biggest red flag, since that lurk defender can jump the screen for a big loss. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with linebackers reading run first tend to overreact to play fakes elsewhere in this set, so mix in Inside Zone or Read Option before calling this to keep those linebackers frozen.
Usage Tips
Call this out of a run-heavy personnel look so linebackers bite on play action tendencies and flow away from the middle screen.
Use the pre-snap motion to check if a defender follows across the formation, which confirms man coverage and tells you the screen will have room once the OL gets out in front.
Throw this on early downs or after establishing inside zone or Power Read from this same set so the front seven is already keyed on the run and steps up before you dump it to the TE.
If the defense shows a heavy blitz look pre-snap, this play is a great answer since the rushers will fly upfield and create the alley for the TE screen to work.
Pair this with RPO Zone Stick or RPO Peek Stick in your play calling sequence so the defense has to respect the quick game before you hit them with the delayed screen look.
