Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Slip Screen Lt out of Shotgun Split WR Backfield is a designed screen pass that leaks the backfield RB out to the left behind a wall of linemen while the receiving corps occupies the defense downfield. The diagram shows two vertical stems on the right side breaking upfield to clear out coverage, an underneath crosser working from left to right to hold linebackers, and the offensive line releasing outside to set up blocks in front of the swing man to the left. The primary read is the screen to the backfield receiver first, with the vertical routes and crosser serving purely as clear out and eye candy so the underneath defenders bite on the pass rush or drop too deep.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a blitz look with extra rushers or walked up linebackers, since this screen is designed to punish exactly that aggression. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they sit and read instead of rushing or dropping too deep on the verticals, they can blow up the screen before the blockers get set. Key the flow of the defensive line, if the ends and tackles are crashing hard upfield off the snap, the alley for the screen stays wide open. On the user side, be wary of a defender spying the RB or sitting in a shallow zone to the play side, since that lurk defender can jump the screen for a negative play. Look for teams that stay disciplined against play action and screens by keeping linebackers home in a zone drop, since that shell forces the RB to try to outrun numbers instead of exploiting blockers.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or obvious passing downs against aggressive pass rush teams that bring pressure or crash the edge, since the blockers in front of the screen thrive against upfield rushers. Check the pre-snap alignment for blitz indicators like walked up linebackers or safeties creeping into the box, since defenses selling pressure are the best matchup for this concept. Use this play right after calling Inside Zone or HB Power O from the same set to bait the defense into keying run fits and linebacker downhill triggers, then hit the screen for a big gain when they overcommit. Hot route the crosser into a shallow drag if you see zone defenders sitting underneath, since that extra body can occupy a linebacker who might otherwise sit on the screen. Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that keep linebackers at home or against defenses that consistently spy or shadow the RB, since those looks erase the blocking numbers advantage.
