HB Slip Screen

Key the defensive ends and outside linebackers immediately after the snap, since disciplined edge defenders who sit and read instead of crashing upfield will blow up the screen before the wall forms. Watch for a user controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a shallow zone underneath, as that lurk threat is the biggest killer of the HB Slip Screen. Pre-snap, look for two deep safeties in a zone shell rather than single high man coverage, since zone shells tend to keep linebackers and DBs at home instead of biting on the clear out routes. Post-snap, if the linebackers or nickel defender stay square and drift toward the flat instead of chasing the vertical routes, abort to the crossing route read since the screen lane will be clogged. Against controlled blitzes, check if the extra rusher is coming from the screen side, since that defender can beat the blockers to the HB before the wall sets.