Playbooks

Zipper HB Slip Screen

Shotgun·Tight Open·11
Screen PassHb ScreenPass Play
Play diagram for Zipper HB Slip Screen from Shotgun Tight Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

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Breakdown

Zipper HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Tight Open lines up with two receivers running deep clearout routes to the far side, dragging linebackers and corners downfield while the RB slips out to the flat behind a wall of screen blockers. The offensive line releases upfield to set the screen wall as the HB works laterally into open space, with a shallow drag underneath from the slot acting as a secondary outlet. This is a screen play designed to bait aggressive man and blitz looks, since the clearout routes pull defenders away from the intended throwing lane and the blockers create a numbers advantage on the perimeter. The primary read is the HB in the screen, and if the screen is covered the shallow crosser underneath is the emergency check down.

Defensive Reads

Key the defensive ends and outside linebackers immediately after the snap, if they crash hard upfield on a blitz the screen wall forms easily and the HB has a clean lane. Watch for a user controlled defender sitting in a shallow zone or spying the backfield, since a disciplined lurk defender can jump the screen for a big loss. Man coverage with no underneath help is the ideal shell to attack because the clearout routes remove defenders from the screen area entirely. Cover 2 or Cover 3 zone shells with linebackers sitting short can sniff this out quickly, so avoid this call against teams that consistently drop a defender into the screen lane. If the defense shows Cover 0 or heavy man pressure with blitzers off the edge, this play has explosive potential since those defenders take themselves out of position.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or third and short when the defense is showing man coverage or an aggressive edge blitz, since blitzing defenders run themselves out of the play. Watch pre-snap for corners in press or safeties creeping toward the box, both indicate man or blitz looks that this screen exploits. Delay your throw just enough to let the linemen get out in front and set the wall before releasing the ball to the HB. Use hot routes to convert the shallow drag into a quick flat route if you need an immediate outlet against zone shells. Sequence this behind Inside Zone or Read Option earlier in the game so linebackers start flowing hard downhill, then hit this screen to punish overaggressive run fits.

Other Plays in Tight Open