Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

Shotgun·Tight Open·11

Screen Pass Hb Screen Pass Play

Play diagram for HB Slip Screen from Shotgun Tight Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTight Open

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

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Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Tight Open sends four receivers vertical up the seams and sidelines to pull the second and third level defenders downfield, clearing the underneath area for the screen. The offensive line and TE slip out to set up a wall of blockers in front of the running back, who releases to the flat as the shallow outlet. This is a designed screen and pure blitz beater, so the primary read is simply getting the ball to the HB the instant defenders crash the pocket, with the four verticals acting as decoys to hold coverage deep.

Defensive Reads

Watch for user linebackers spying the backfield instead of dropping into zone, since that is the clearest sign the screen is diagnosed. Check safety depth pre-snap, if both safeties are deep and cornerbacks are playing off, the verticals may actually open up as a bonus option. Key on defensive ends and edge rushers, if they are crashing hard upfield off the snap the screen lanes to the flat will be wide open. Look for a linebacker sitting flat footed near the line after the snap rather than retreating, which usually signals a sniff on the screen action. Man coverage with press corners and blitz packages are the ideal defenses to attack, while zone drop teams that keep linebackers at home shut this play down quickly.

Usage Tips

Call this when you see pre-snap blitz indicators like linebackers creeping to the line or a safety rotating down into the box.

Snap the ball and immediately look to the HB release, do not hold the ball waiting on the verticals since they are only there to occupy defenders.

Use this against aggressive man pressure teams that bring nano blitzes, since the extra rushers take themselves out of the screen lanes.

Mix this in after running Inside Zone or HB Draw from the same formation to bait linebackers into crashing downhill on run fakes.

Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that sit their linebackers and spy the backfield, since they can read the screen and blow it up before blockers get set.