Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Tight Y Off Wk sends four vertical routes upfield to clear out the underneath zones and pull defenders downfield while the offensive line initially shows pass pro before releasing to escort the HB out to the flat. The lone X receiver at the bottom runs a shallow drag away from the screen side to bait linebackers and defensive backs even further from the throwing lane. This is a classic screen pass designed to beat aggressive man coverage and blitz packages, since the vertical routes occupy man defenders while the HB slips out behind the leaking linemen. The primary read is the HB out of the backfield immediately after the blockers set up in front, with the vertical routes serving purely as clear-out decoys rather than actual progression reads.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing a blitz or heavy man coverage look, since this play is designed specifically to punish those calls. Key the middle linebacker depth and initial movement, if he sits at the line and reads the backfield instead of dropping or blitzing, he can jump the screen. Watch for a user-controlled defender spying the HB or sitting in a shallow zone near the line of scrimmage, this is the biggest counter to the concept. Post-snap, defensive linemen who diagnose the screen quickly and get their hands up can disrupt passing lanes even if they cannot make the tackle themselves. Cover 3 or Cover 4 zone shells with disciplined linebacker eyes on the backfield tend to shut this down since defenders stay home instead of chasing the vertical clear-outs.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses that show blitz pressure or man coverage pre-snap since the vertical routes will pull defenders away from the screen lane and the rushers will run themselves out of the play.
Delay the throw just enough to let your linemen get out in front of the HB, but do not hold it so long that a spy or zone defender sits and reads your eyes.
Use this on early downs or after establishing the run game so linebackers bite on run fakes and crash toward the line, opening up the screen lane even wider.
Pair this with Inside Zone or HB Power O in the same set to sell run action first, then mix in HB Slip Screen once the defense starts keying on the run.
Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses with linebackers who sit and read the backfield, since spy defenders or a hard-charging user linebacker can blow this up before blockers get set.
