Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

Shotgun·Trey Open Offset·11
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Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 1 playbook

Air Raid Classic OffenseOffense

Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Trey Open Offset is a designed screen play that gets the ball to the running back in space behind a wall of blockers. The offensive line sets up a slip block scheme, releasing to the perimeter or short area while the trey side receivers occupy defenders vertically to clear space. This is primarily a blitz beater and zone beater, punishing aggressive pass rushers and overplayed underneath zones, with the primary read being the halfback out of the backfield as soon as he shows out for the swing or slip release.

Defensive Reads

Look for defensive ends and outside linebackers crashing hard off the snap, since unblocked rushers upfield are the biggest tell that the screen will hit big Identify man coverage shells pre-snap since man defenders turning their backs to run with receivers downfield open up the escort lane for the halfback Key any user-controlled defender sitting in a shallow zone or spying the backfield, since a disciplined lurk defender can jump the route and blow up the play for a loss Check linebacker depth at the snap, since linebackers who stay put and read the backfield instead of flowing with blockers will clog the screen lane Watch for zone coverages that keep contain rushers home or use a designated screen defender, since these fits take away the space the play depends on

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or in obvious blitz-heavy situations since the design capitalizes on defenders crashing upfield past the line of scrimmage

Watch pre-snap for stacked boxes or defenders showing blitz off the edge, since those defenders will run themselves out of the play and create a running lane

Use the trey side receivers as a decoy by holding the snap count if you see safeties rotating late, forcing them to declare before the ball is thrown

Pair this with HB Draw and Inside Zone from the same set to keep defenses honest on the ground, then hit them with the screen when they start selling out against the run

Sequence this after PA Read or Read Option earlier in a series so linebackers bite on run fits and vacate the underneath area the screen relies on

Avoid calling this against disciplined zone teams that keep linebackers at home, since spy defenders or zone drops sitting in the screen lane can blow it up immediately

Other Plays in Trey Open Offset