Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn WR Slip Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun Spread Dbl Flex that sends the near flex receiver in short jet motion pre-snap while the offensive line releases upfield to sell a pass rush before slipping out to wall off defenders for the screen. The primary target is the outside receiver running the shallow flat/screen route (blue arrow), with the offensive linemen climbing to the second level to escort him, and a secondary swing/checkdown option underneath (red route) if the screen is jumped. This is a zone beater designed to punish teams that drop into soft zone or blitz off the edge, since the flow of blockers arrives just as underneath defenders are flowing away from the screen side.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and cornerback press alignment on the screen side, soft zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4 with off corners are the most vulnerable to this concept. Watch for a defensive end or outside linebacker with contain responsibility who can sit on the screen instead of rushing, that defender can blow up the play if he reads it early. Post-snap, track the flow of linebackers, if they bite hard on the initial line movement and flow toward the quarterback drop, the screen lane opens wide. User-controlled defenders who stay home and shadow the motion man instead of rushing are the biggest threat, they can jump the screen route before blockers arrive. Man coverage with underneath linebacker spies or Cover 1 robber looks tend to shut this down quickly since defenders keying the backfield can beat blockers to the catch point.
Usage Tips
Use the pre-snap motion to identify man versus zone: if the defender follows the motion man across the formation you are likely facing man coverage and should consider audibling to a quicker hitting concept.
Snap the ball as soon as the motion clears the tackle box so your blockers get a full head start before the screen develops, this is critical against aggressive edge rushers.
Best called on early downs or second and short when defenses are selling out on the run or expecting a standard dropback pass, since the initial line movement mimics pass protection and freezes linebackers.
Pair this call with Mtn Fk Swing Mid Screen or HB Slip Screen earlier in a drive so defenders start keying screen action, then hit them with Four Verticals or PA Read once they start crashing hard on screens.
Avoid calling this against interior blitzes or nano blitzes that send extra rushers up the middle, since your linemen will be occupied and the screen lane can collapse before it develops.
