Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Empty Mtn FL Screen is a WR screen out of an Empty Shotgun Spread Y-Flex look with 11 personnel. Pre-snap motion brings a receiver in tight, and at the snap the screen receiver at the bottom releases and works back toward the sideline while the offensive line and inside receivers pull out to set up a wall of blockers ahead of him. This is a screen play designed to beat aggressive man and blitz-heavy defenses, and the primary read is the bubble/flanker screen itself with the blockers as the only real progression once the ball is out.
Defensive Reads
Watch for corners playing tight man or blitzing off the edge presnap, this screen is designed to exploit that aggression. If the defense shows soft zone or sits back in a shell, the screen loses value since defenders can read it and squat. Key on outside linebackers and slot corners crashing hard at the snap, that means the defense is not respecting the screen and blockers will have a clean lane. User-controlled defenders sitting on the flat or bubble area can blow this play up instantly, so avoid calling it into defenses that show a lurking user defender near the screen side. Watch for a fast defensive line stunt or contain rush, since a disciplined edge defender who reads screen quickly can beat the blockers to the catch point.
Usage Tips
Call this when you see man coverage or corner blitzes showing pre-snap, since the blockers can wall off the edge before defenders react.
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense follows in man or stays put in zone, that tells you if the screen has a numbers advantage on the perimeter.
Throw the screen quickly after the fake, do not hold the ball since the blockers need the extra second to get set up ahead of the catch point.
Pair this with Mtn HB Cross Screen or RPO Alert Screen in the same set so the defense has to respect multiple screen looks and slows down its edge blitz timing.
Best used on early downs or after a big blitz snap earlier in the drive, since defenses will be selling out on pass rush and leave the perimeter light.
