Playbooks

HB Angle Screen

Shotgun·Trey Open·11
Screen PassHb ScreenAnglePass Play
Play diagram for HB Angle Screen from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

HB Angle Screen out of Shotgun Trey Open is a designed screen pass that gets the running back leaking out to the flat behind a wall of blockers. At the snap the HB releases on an angle route toward the sideline while the offensive line and TE pull out in front to set a screen wall, and the two outside receivers to the trips side run vertical routes to clear out coverage and occupy deep defenders. This is a classic zone and blitz beater that punishes overaggressive pass rushes and man coverage that turns its back on the backfield, with the primary read being the HB on the angle screen and the vertical releases only in play if the screen is jumped or blown up pre-snap.

Defensive Reads

Watch for defenses that spy the running back or drop a linebacker into a shallow hook zone immediately at the snap, since that defender is reading screen and will blow it up. Man coverage with linebackers manned up on the HB is the toughest matchup for this play, since a defender already eyeing the backfield can undercut the angle route before blockers get set. Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells that keep linebackers reading run fits are the most vulnerable, since their eyes go to the line and they get walled off from the screen easily. Zone blitzes and heavy interior pressure calls are prime bait for this screen since rushers commit hard upfield and leave the flat wide open. If you see a user controlled defender sitting still near the line instead of rushing, that is a strong pre-snap tell they are sniffing out the screen, so consider checking to a different play at the line.

Usage Tips

Call this play when you see pressure indicators like a nano blitz alignment, overloaded fronts, or defenders creeping to the line pre-snap, since aggressive rushers take themselves out of the screen defense.

Use the vertical routes from the trips side as window dressing to hold safeties deep, but do not force the ball there since the HB angle route is the true first and only read most snaps.

Let the blocking wall fully develop before pulling the trigger, drop back briefly to sell the pass and draw the pass rush upfield before hitting the HB in the flat.

Pair this with HB Slip Screen and HB Cross Screen from the same set so the defense cannot key on one screen look, forcing user linebackers to hesitate on run fits and blitz timing.

Best used on early downs or after establishing inside zone and HB draw from this formation, since defenses that respect the run game bite harder on the screen action.

Other Plays in Trey Open