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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Tackle Over Trips is a designed screen pass built to punish aggressive pass rushes and blitz-heavy defenses. Two receivers on the left sell vertical routes to pull second-level defenders upfield while the trips receiver runs a deep out to clear the flat, and the offensive line sets up a wall in front of the running back who slips out to the left after a brief pass-block fake. The primary read is the HB screen itself: check the release, let the linemen get out in front, and follow the blocking wall for the cutback lane.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive ends and linebackers crashing hard upfield off the snap, since that aggression is exactly what the screen is designed to exploit. Man coverage with blitz packages is the ideal shell to attack, as the delayed release leaves cornerbacks and linebackers out of position once the ball is thrown. Zone coverages with linebackers sitting short, especially Cover 3 sink or Cover 2 hard flat drops, can jump the screen if the user recognizes the RB releasing late and stays home instead of biting on the vertical routes. Check safety depth pre-snap: two-high shells with safeties reading run keys tend to fly downhill and can blow up the screen if they diagnose it quickly. Post-snap, key the playside linebacker's first two steps. If he sprints upfield he is out of the play, but if he sits and reads the tackle release he is in position to make the tackle for a loss.
Usage Tips
Call this play when you see the defense showing man pressure or an overload blitz look, since the delayed release and blocking wall neutralize extra rushers before they reach the backfield.
Use pre-snap motion or a hard count to bait the defense into jumping the snap, which widens running lanes for the HB once he slips into the screen.
Pair this with Inside Zone and HB Power O earlier in a series so linebackers start keying run fits, then hit them with the slip screen to freeze second-level defenders who read run first.
Avoid throwing this against disciplined zone defenses with linebackers sitting in shallow hook zones, since they can sniff out the screen and blow it up before the wall forms.
Combine with Fake Screen Wheel later in the drive once defenders start jumping the HB screen aggressively, turning their aggression against them for a big play.
