Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Angle Screen out of Shotgun Trey Open is a designed screen pass built to get the running back out into the open field behind a wall of blockers. At the snap the HB releases out of the backfield on an angle route while the offensive line and TE release upfield to set up screen blocks in space, while the three receivers to the trips side and the backside X run vertical and crossing routes to clear out underneath defenders and occupy the deep coverage. The primary read is the HB on the angle release out of the backfield, with the quarterback looking to get the ball out quickly before the blockers get set.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive ends and outside linebackers crashing hard upfield off the edge, since that is exactly what this screen is designed to exploit. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with deep zone drops, the underneath defenders are more likely to be baited by the vertical releases, opening the screen lane. User controlled linebackers who stay disciplined and sit on the screen, often called a lurk technique, can jump the angle route and blow up the play before it develops. Check for man coverage on the HB pre-snap, since man defenders following the back out of the backfield will collapse the screen quickly. Blitz heavy defensive fronts with man coverage behind them are the biggest threat to this play, since extra rushers can beat the blocking wall before it forms.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or short yardage passing situations when you want a low risk, high reward play against aggressive defenses.
Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing blitz or crashing the edge, since HB Angle Screen is designed to punish overpursuit and outside contain blitzes.
Use the vertical releases from the trips side and the backside X route as clear out concepts to pull linebackers and safeties away from the screen lane before releasing the HB.
Pair this play with HB Draw or Inside Zone in your play-calling sequence to keep the defense honest on run fits, then hit them with the screen when they start keying run.
Avoid throwing into a well disciplined zone defense with linebackers sitting short, since spy or scrape techniques can blow this play up before the blockers get set.
