Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA SE Screen out of Shotgun Slot Right is a play-action screen designed to get the split end isolated in space on the outside. Off the play fake, the outside receiver runs a shallow screen route while the offensive line sets up a wall of blockers to escort him upfield, and the play action look holds linebackers and safeties for a beat before they can flow to the perimeter. This is a zone beater at its core, punishing defenses that drop into coverage and vacate the flat, with the primary read being the screen to the SE as soon as the blockers get out in front.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebacker depth at the snap, if they are creeping up to sell run blitz they will be late getting back to defend the screen. Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells pre-snap, since the deep zone defenders are often the last to recognize the screen and take poor angles. Key on the flat defender or slot corner, if they sit and read the quarterback's eyes instead of attacking downhill they can blow this play up. Man coverage with a linebacker spying or a defensive end dropping into contain can disrupt the screen before the blockers get set. User a linebacker or safety to lurk in the throwing lane and jump the screen route the instant play action is diagnosed.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in obvious run situations where the defense is keying on the play action fake and biting on inside run flow.
Check pre-snap for zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers sitting deep, since those defenses are slower to react to the screen developing on the perimeter.
Use this play in sequence after running HB Iso or Inside Zone Split earlier in the drive so the defense respects the run action and commits their linebackers downhill.
Avoid calling this against aggressive man blitz packages that send extra defenders off the edge, since the screen blockers can get beat before they set their wall.
Pair this with PA Bubble or RPO Alert Bubble in your play-calling script to keep defenders guessing between quick perimeter throws and this slower developing screen.
