Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

Shotgun·Spread Flex·11

Screen Pass Hb Screen Pass Play

Play diagram for HB Slip Screen from Shotgun Spread Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetSpread Flex

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 3 playbooks

Franchise College Spread OffenseOffense Balanced Pass OffenseOffense Spread Classic

Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Spread Flex is a designed screen pass that releases the running back to the flat while the offensive line sets up in front of him to escort. On the diagram, the two outside receivers run vertical clear out routes (a corner post and a straight seam) to pull coverage downfield, while the two inside receivers break inward and then hook back outside toward the line of scrimmage to serve as lead blockers on the screen. The running back checks release protection before slipping out to the flat, giving the quarterback a quick, high percentage throw once the screen sets up. This is a zone beater at its core since it exploits underneath zone defenders who drop deep and lose contain on the flat, and the primary read progression is simply the HB screen itself with no true secondary read.

Defensive Reads

Identify Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells pre-snap, since deep zone defenders will bite on the vertical clear out routes and abandon the flat, letting the screen hit for big yardage. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if the Mike and Will linebackers crash hard upfield on run fake or blitz, the screen lane opens instantly for the HB. Beware user controlled defenders sitting in a lurk technique near the line of scrimmage, since a smart user can jump the screen read and blow it up for a loss. Man coverage with press corners can bait the offense into throwing the screen into a numbers disadvantage if the defense keeps a spy or scrapes a linebacker to the flat. Disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers shallow and squeeze the screen lane, rather than chasing the vertical routes, will shut this play down before the blockers get set.

Usage Tips

Call this play against aggressive four man or five man pass rush looks since the extra rushers create more space for the screen to develop behind them.

Watch pre-snap for Mike linebacker blitzes or nano blitz packages, since a fast interior rush actually helps the screen hit quicker by removing defenders from the throwing lane.

Use this on early downs or after showing several dropback passes from Spread Flex, so defenders are primed to rush and bite on the play fake motion of the offensive line.

Pair this with Inside Zone and HB Draw in the same set to keep linebackers honest on run fits, then hit them with the slip screen when they start flowing hard downhill.

Hot route the two clear out receivers deeper or wider if you see man coverage press at the line, forcing the corners to fully commit before the screen releases.