Playbooks

Slot Screen

Shotgun·Trey Open HB Str·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 2 playbooks

Bills OffenseOffenseNFL Live Bills OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Slot Screen out of Shotgun Trey Open HB Str is a quick-hitting screen designed to get the ball to the slot receiver in space while the offensive line sells pass protection before releasing to set up a wall in front of the catch point. This is a screen play built to bait aggressive man and blitz-heavy defenses, since the linemen release upfield right as blitzing defenders are crashing through gaps they think are wide open. The primary read is automatic: get the snap off, let the animation play out to the slot receiver, and trust the blockers to clear the lane rather than progressing through a normal route tree.

Defensive Reads

Watch linebacker depth at the snap, if they are crashing hard off the edge or blitzing through interior gaps, the screen has a clean lane once blockers release. Identify man coverage on the slot receiver pre-snap, tight press or inside shade from the slot corner means the leverage favors the screen since he has to run with the receiver instead of sitting on it. Key any user-controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in a shallow zone drop near the slot, since that defender can jump the throw and blow up the play before blocking sets up. Zone shells with linebackers reading run/pass and staying disciplined in their drops are the biggest counter, since they can rally to the screen before blockers get in position. Cover 2 or Cover 3 with disciplined zone drops from the underneath defenders shuts this down fast, so if you see that shell pre-snap, consider audibling to a different concept in the set instead.

Usage Tips

Call this against user blitzes and CPU aggressive blitz packages where defenders are flowing hard upfield, since their pursuit angles work against them once the ball is out. Use pre-snap motion or a quick shift to see if defenders are keying the slot receiver, and if you see man coverage with a corner playing tight, this play deletes that leverage instantly. Best down and distance situations are second or third and short to medium, or anytime you have called two or three straight aggressive blitzes and want to punish the defense for teeing off. Pair this with RPO Zone Alert Smoke or RPO Peek Bubble in the same set so the defense has to respect quick perimeter throws on every snap, which slows down their blitz timing. Avoid throwing this into a hard zone blitz with underneath defenders sitting flat, since those defenders can read screen and jump the throw before blockers get set.

Other Plays in Trey Open HB Str