Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 19 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Spread Y-Slot Wk sends four receivers vertical to clear out the underneath zones while the offensive line sets up a screen wall to the left for the HB, who slips out of the backfield behind two pulling blockers. This is a screen play designed to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitzes, since the vertical routes hold linebackers and safeties deep while the HB works into open space with blockers in front. The primary read is the HB out of the backfield first, then the QB progresses to the four vertical routes only if the screen is covered or the defense sits back in a soft shell.
Defensive Reads
Key the play side defensive end and outside linebacker at the snap, if they crash hard upfield or blitz off the edge the screen wall will have room to develop. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a lurk technique near the line of scrimmage, that is the primary way this play gets blown up. Identify man coverage versus zone before the snap, man coverage with defenders turning their backs downfield on the verticals is ideal for the screen to hit. If linebackers stay low and read the QB's eyes instead of biting on the vertical releases, they can beat the pulling blockers to the screen and stuff it for a loss. Check safety depth, two deep safeties or a single high safety who does not bite on the vertical routes suggests the defense can rally fast enough to limit the screen after the catch.
Usage Tips
Call this play on early downs or third and short when you expect man coverage or a blitz look, since both take defenders away from the screen lane.
Check pre-snap for stacked or crashing defensive ends and blitzing linebackers on the play side, that aggression is exactly what makes this screen hit big.
If the defense shows zone with linebackers sitting flat footed near the line, consider audibling or checking to a different concept since zone defenders can read and jump the screen.
Combine this with Four Verticals or Dagger earlier in a drive to condition the defense to respect the deep shots, which sets up the HB Slip Screen as a change of pace call that slows down the pass rush.
Use manual motion or a hard count to see if linebackers bite on the run fake tendencies from this formation, then throw the screen the instant you diagnose blitz.
