Playbooks

WR Screen

Shotgun·Spread·10
Screen PassWr ScreenPass PlayBubble ScreenPostOut
Likely unavailable in the playbook builder
This play belongs to no NFL team or scheme playbook, so it may not appear in the in-game builder.

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 3 playbooks

Fix OffenseOffenseAir Raid Classic OffenseOffenseFranchise Offense Gun ScreengameOffense

Breakdown

WR Screen out of Shotgun Spread with 10 personnel is a quick perimeter screen designed to get the ball into your outside receiver's hands with blockers already leaking out in front of him. The offensive line and any inside receivers not involved in the screen set up a wall block or influence protection to sell pass rush before releasing to escort the ball carrier, while the outside receiver sits at the line and turns to catch a quick flat throw. The primary read is simple: the quarterback fires to the bubble or screen man immediately at the snap, and after the catch it becomes a blocking numbers game on the perimeter, so your read progression is really about pre-snap blitz recognition rather than route options.

Defensive Reads

Watch for user-controlled defenders spying the screen or sitting flat footed at the snap, since a good user player will jump this route and blow it up for a loss Man coverage with cornerbacks pressed on the line is the ideal shell to attack because the corner is out of position once the screen releases Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge or up the middle are perfect for this play since it negates pressure entirely by getting the ball out fast Zone coverage with linebackers reading run or slow to diagnose screen action allows blockers to get clean releases downfield Disciplined zone defenses that keep defensive ends and outside linebackers at home on the edge, or defenses that call screen alert audibles, will have numbers to stop this before it develops

Usage Tips

Use this play as a built-in answer to aggressive man blitzes and edge pressure since the ball comes out before the rush can arrive

Check the defensive alignment pre-snap and look for cornerbacks playing tight press or safeties crashing down into the box, both of which signal blitz or man coverage that this screen exploits

Hot route your other receivers into quick hitches or slants to hold underneath zone defenders and prevent them from sitting on the screen

Call this on early downs or in obvious pass-rush situations like 3rd and long when the defense is selling out to get after the quarterback

Pair it in a sequence with Read Option or HB Option to keep the defense honest, then hit them with WR Screen when they start keying run or overpursuing the edge

Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that keep linebackers at home, since flowing defenders can blow it up before blockers get set

Other Plays in Spread