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Breakdown
Philly Screen out of Shotgun Split Offset sends both outside receivers vertical on go routes to clear out the corners and safeties, while a third receiver runs a sharp angle route breaking back inside toward the middle of the field. The running back releases to the flat away from the play call, giving quarterback a checkdown outlet if the screen or the middle route gets jumped. This is a screen play at its core, using the two vertical stretches as clock-eaters and man beaters to hold coverage deep while the underneath crosser looks for soft grass in zone or a natural pick against man coverage. Primary read progression starts with the angle route working back across the middle, then works down to the running back releasing to the flat opposite the formation if the first read is covered.
Defensive Reads
Check pre-snap safety depth, if both safeties are deep and cornerbacks are pressed at the line, expect man coverage and prioritize the angle route breaking inside. Watch for linebackers dropping into shallow zones immediately after the snap, this signals zone coverage and the running back flat release becomes the higher value target since underneath zones will be occupied. Identify any blitz packages by reading linebacker depth pre-snap, a stacked box with linebackers crowding the line means the running back release into the flat is your answer against pressure. Post-snap, look for a user-controlled defender sitting in a lurk position near the middle of the field, this can jump the angle route so be ready to check down immediately to the running back. This play struggles against zone coverages with a strong underneath robber or a linebacker spy, since both the angle route and the running back release into similar shallow areas that a disciplined zone defender can cover simultaneously.
Usage Tips
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to see if linebackers bite on run action, since the running back release can look like a run fake before the flat route develops.
Call this against aggressive man coverage or blitz-heavy defenses, since the two vertical routes on the outside will occupy corners and safeties in coverage while the angle route works underneath against man leverage.
Best run on second and medium or third and short, since the angle route sits down quickly and the running back flat route gives a safe checkdown if the defense sits back in zone.
Hot route the running back into a swing or check release if you see a linebacker spying the backfield, this keeps the play alive against delayed blitzes.
Pair this with Mtn FB Cross Screen or ATL Slip Screen in the same set to keep defenses guessing on quick game answers, then hit them with Deep Comeback or WR Corners once they start jumping the shorter throws.
