Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

Shotgun·Spread·10
Screen PassHb ScreenPass PlayFadeStreak
Play diagram for HB Slip Screen from Shotgun Spread in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Spread is a designed screen pass to the running back who slips out to the flat while the offensive line sets up a wall of blockers in front of him. Four receivers push vertical up the field to clear out underneath defenders and drag linebackers and safeties deep, leaving the shallow flat open for the screen. This is a blitz beater and zone beater at its core, since aggressive pass rushes and drop-heavy zone coverages both get exploited by the delayed release and the wall of blockers. The primary read is simply the HB out of the backfield, get the ball to him quickly and let your blockers work in space rather than looking to the four vertical routes first.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a blitz look with linebackers crashing the box, since this is exactly the alignment that gets burned by the slip screen. Watch for a spy or a linebacker sitting flat footed in the middle of the field, as a disciplined defender who reads screen quickly can blow this play up before the wall forms. Man coverage with press corners funnels defenders toward the vertical routes and away from the flat, which is exactly the shell this screen is designed to punish. If the user jumps out of coverage and shoots the flat immediately after the snap, the screen has almost no chance since the blockers will not have time to set up. Zone coverages with linebackers who stay disciplined in their short zone drops instead of biting on the vertical releases can sit on the screen and shut it down.

Usage Tips

Call this play specifically against defenses that show pressure pre-snap, since blitzing linebackers and defensive ends run right into the screen and get picked off by your blockers.

Snap the ball and immediately get eyes on the HB, resist the urge to hold the ball and look at the four verticals since this is a timing based screen.

Use this on early downs or in third and short to medium situations where defenses are likely to bring extra rushers or play man coverage with no underneath help.

Pair this with your four verticals or deep shot plays from the same Spread Shotgun set so defenses cannot sit on the screen tendency after seeing the same receiver alignment.

If the user controlled defender jumps the screen immediately, check off the HB and look to any receiver who settles into a soft zone created by the vertical clearouts.

Other Plays in Spread