Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Cross Screen out of Shotgun Trey Open sends the three receivers vertically upfield to occupy defenders and clear the underneath area, with the two receivers on the strong side pushing deep to hold safeties and the backside receiver crossing the field to drag off linebackers. Up front the offensive line shows a delayed screen release, sliding to the play side to wall off the front and give the HB a lane after he releases from the backfield and works across the formation. This is a screen play designed to beat man pressure and aggressive blitz packages, since the primary read is simply getting the ball to the HB in space once he clears the line, with the wide receiver routes acting purely as clear-out concepts rather than progression reads.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage and blitz heavy fronts are the primary weakness this screen attacks, since defenders in man are running with receivers away from the backfield when the HB releases. Watch for a linebacker or safety sitting flat in a lurk or spy technique near the line, that defender can read the HB's release and blow up the screen before blockers get set. Zone coverages with linebackers sinking into shallow drops are the biggest counter, since those defenders can settle short and read the HB's crossing path immediately. If the defense shows a Cover 3 or Cover 4 shell with linebackers spying the backfield, expect the screen to get sniffed out and consider checking to a different play at the line. Pre-snap, count the box defenders and check safety depth, a light box with safeties rolled deep signals the defense is selling out on the pass and this screen will have room to develop.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or in known pressure situations when you expect a nano blitz or heavy man coverage, since the screen action punishes overaggressive pass rushers. Pre-snap, look for corners playing tight man or safeties creeping into the box, both are green lights for this screen to hit big. Get a feel for how the defense reacted to your last few dropback passes in the set like Curls or Quick Slants, then dial up HB Cross Screen to slow down an aggressive four man rush. User the play side blocker briefly after the snap to help pick off the first defender flowing to the screen, then release control to the HB once the lane opens. Mix this in on early downs (1st and 10, 2nd and short) so defenders respect the run action out of Trey Open and stay honest against your other HB run plays like HB Draw and HB Off Tackle.
