Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

Shotgun·Split Y-Flex·21
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Split Y-Flex is a designed screen play that gets your running back leaking out to the flat behind a wall of screen blockers while the offensive line sells pass protection for a beat before releasing downfield. This is a blitz beater and zone beater by design, since it punishes aggressive pass rush upfield and defenders dropping into deep zones who lose sight of the checkdown release. The primary read progression is simple: the QB looks off the initial drop, waits for the screen to develop with blockers getting out in front, and delivers the ball to the HB as soon as he turns upfield with room to run.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing Cover 3 or Cover 1 with man corners pressed at the line, since those shells often bring extra rushers that this screen exploits. Key the middle linebacker depth before the snap, because a linebacker sitting shallow or spying the backfield can read the screen fast and blow it up for a loss. Post-snap, watch for a user-controlled defender staying home instead of biting on the fake pass rush, since a smart user can sit on the HB and jump the throw for a pick six. This play struggles against disciplined zone drops where a linebacker or slot defender stays flat footed and reads the offensive line release, so avoid it against defenses that consistently sit in Tampa 2 or Cover 4 with patient linebackers. Look for edge blitzes and simulated pressure packages, since defenders crashing hard off the edge take themselves out of the screen lane and get walled off by your blockers.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or after you have shown a heavy dose of dropback pass from this same personnel to bait the defense into rushing hard upfield.

Watch pre-snap for overload blitzes or a nano blitz package, since those aggressive fronts crash inside and open up the perimeter lanes this screen needs to hit big.

Hold the throw button slightly longer than feels natural so your blockers can get out in front, then release the ball the instant the HB turns his shoulders upfield.

Pair this with Read Option or HB Off Tackle from the same set so defenses respect the run and widen their linebackers, which clears even more space for the screen to develop.

Avoid calling this into zone shells with disciplined linebackers sitting underneath, since sharp zone defenders can sit on the flat and blow this up before it starts.

Other Plays in Split Y-Flex