Playbooks

Empty Mtn FL Screen

Shotgun·Spread Y-Flex·11
Screen PassWr ScreenMotionPass Play
Play diagram for Empty Mtn FL Screen from Shotgun Spread Y-Flex in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Empty Mtn FL Screen is a bunched, empty backfield screen pass out of the Spread Y-Flex set that uses pre-snap motion to shift a receiver across the formation before the snap. The diagram shows the flanker running a quick hitch and settling on the numbers while the offensive line and tight end fan out to build a wall of blockers in front of him, creating a screen lane to the sideline. This is a zone beater designed to punish teams that rush upfield or drop into soft zone coverage, with the primary read being an immediate throw to the flanker on the screen as soon as the blockers get set, using the wall as a lead escort downfield.

Defensive Reads

Watch the flanker's motion pre-snap, if a corner or slot defender follows him across the formation it signals man coverage and the screen has less room to develop. Key the defensive line's get off, if they are crashing hard upfield without containing the edge, the screen has a clean lane once blockers get outside. Look for a linebacker or safety sitting flat footed near the line of scrimmage, since a disciplined defender reading screen can jump the route and blow it up for a loss. Check if the defense is in a zone shell with cornerbacks bailing deep, this often leaves the flat area wide open for the screen blocker wall to spring the receiver. Beware of user controlled defenders spying underneath, a smart human defender can sit on the flanker and undercut the throw before blockers arrive.

Usage Tips

Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is shifting or bumping a defender out to match, which tells you if this is man or zone coverage.

Throw this quickly off the snap once your blockers release, do not hold the ball and let defenders read the screen and sit on it.

This play excels against aggressive four man rushes or blitz packages that overpursue the quarterback, since the screen blockers can seal off pursuit lanes.

Pair this with Mtn HB Swing or Mtn TE Mid Screen earlier in a drive so the defense has to respect multiple screen threats out of the same empty look.

Best called on early downs or in obvious pass rush situations like third and long, since defensive linemen selling out for the sack open up the screen lane.

Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that spy the screen or against defenses that show heavy slot blitz pressure toward the flanker side.

Other Plays in Spread Y-Flex