Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 12 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Spread Dbl Flex is a designed screen pass built to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitz packages. Four receivers push vertical stems up the field to clear out underneath zones and hold cornerbacks and safeties deep, while the HB slips out to the right behind the line after showing pass block, catching the ball with blockers releasing in front of him. The primary read is the HB out of the backfield first, with the four vertical routes acting as clear-out decoys rather than true progression reads.
Defensive Reads
Watch for zone defenses that keep a linebacker or safety spying the HB at the snap, since that defender can blow up the screen immediately. Man coverage with aggressive cornerbacks jumping the vertical routes is ideal since it removes underneath help and opens the screen lane. Blitz heavy calls from the defense are the biggest weakness this play exploits because rushers flow away from the screen side. Post snap, identify whether defensive ends or edge rushers are selling out upfield versus sitting and reading, since disciplined edge play forces the HB to bail the route. User controlled defenders who stay home in the shallow flat or spy the backfield will diagnose and disrupt this screen quickly, so avoid this call if the opponent shows lurk tendencies near the box.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and short when the defense has shown blitz tendencies on previous snaps.
Check pre-snap for stacked box looks or overload blitz alignments since screens punish defenses that sell out on interior pressure.
Let the four vertical routes fully occupy the cornerbacks and safeties before the HB releases so the screen lane develops naturally.
Pair this with Inside Zone or HB Sweep earlier in a series so the defense keys run action and bites on the screen fake motion at the snap.
Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses that spy the backfield, since screen recognition kills this play before it develops.
