Playbooks

HB Cross Screen

Shotgun·Spread·10
Screen PassHb ScreenCrosserPass Play
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This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Franchise Offense Gun ScreengameOffense

Breakdown

HB Cross Screen out of Shotgun Spread 10 personnel is a designed screen play in which the halfback releases laterally across the formation while the offensive line sets up a wall of blockers ahead of him, with linemen releasing downfield to escort the running back through the alley. This is a screen play built to punish aggressive pass rushes and blitz-heavy defenses, since the RB slips out as the rest of the offense sells pass protection or a delayed release to draw defenders upfield. The primary read progression is simple: the QB looks off or holds his eyes downfield for a beat to let the screen develop, then delivers the ball to the HB once the blockers get in front, so the read is essentially the leverage of the nearest flowing defender rather than a route tree.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with corners playing tight technique on the outside receivers, since that leaves fewer eyes on the backfield and makes the screen hit for bigger chunks. Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they immediately drop into zone drops or shuffle toward the flats they are reading the screen and will close the passing lane fast. Key the defensive ends and edge rushers, if they crash hard upfield off the snap without containing outside, that is the blitz look this screen is designed to exploit. User controlled defenders who sit at the line or shadow the HB out of the backfield are the biggest threat since a smart user can jump the route and blow up the screen before blockers get set. Against zone blitz packages or defenses that drop a spy on the running back, avoid this call since the blocking wall will be outnumbered and the QB has no time to let it develop.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or third and short against defenses that show blitz indicators like walked up linebackers or safeties creeping into the box pre-snap because the extra rushers create bigger running lanes once the screen sets up. Hold the ball for a full one to two count after the snap so your linemen can climb and seal off defenders before you throw it, throwing too early kills the blocking wall. Use hot routes to convert an outside receiver into a quick hitch or slant on the play side to occupy the corner and prevent him from sitting on the screen. Pair this call in a sequence with Inside Zone or HB Draw earlier in the series so linebackers start keying run fits and bite on the screen action instead of scraping to the RB immediately. Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses with linebackers that stay square and read the backfield, since they will sit on the screen and blow it up for a loss.

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