Playbooks

WR Mid Screen

Shotgun·Trey Open·11

Screen Pass Wr Screen Pass Play

Play diagram for WR Mid Screen from Shotgun Trey Open in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

SetTrey Open

Personnel

111 RB · 1 TE · 3 WR

In 9 playbooks

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Breakdown

WR Mid Screen out of Shotgun Trey Open lines up the screen receiver at the bottom of the formation, releasing him upfield before he settles and curls back toward the sideline as blockers get out in front. The offensive line sells pass rush for a beat before releasing outside to wall off pursuit, and the flanker's route (the vertical marker) occupies the deep defender to buy the screen time to develop. This is a screen play designed to beat aggressive man and zone pressure alike, and the primary read is simply the screen receiver, get the ball out on time and let the blocking do the work in space.

Defensive Reads

Watch for man coverage with the corner playing tight or bailing hard at the snap, this leaves the alley wide open once blockers get outside. Identify blitz packages pre-snap, stacked linebackers or a corner blitzing off the edge are the biggest tell that this screen will hit big. Post-snap, track any user controlled defender sitting in a shallow zone or lurking near the flat, a disciplined lurk defender can jump the throw before blockers arrive. Zone coverage with linebackers reading run first and flowing to the play side blocking will shut this down quickly, so avoid calling it against defenses that stay disciplined in their drops. If the defense diagnoses screen and drops a spy or keeps outside contain defenders home instead of rushing, abandon the screen read and consider checking down to the vertical route occupying the safety.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or in obvious blitz counts when the defense shows heavy pressure looks pre-snap, since screens live off overpursuit from edge rushers and linebackers.

Check the defensive front before the snap, if you see six or more defenders crowding the box or wide 9 techniques crashing hard off the edge, this play punishes that aggression immediately.

Throw with anticipation as soon as the receiver turns to face the quarterback, do not wait for him to fully set up or the blockers will lose their angles.

Pair this with WR Screen's sister concepts like HB Slip Screen or HB Cross Screen in the same set to keep defenses guessing between backfield and perimeter screens.

Use it as a changeup after calling a few drop back passes from Trey Open, since defenses that start pinning their ears back on the QB are the most vulnerable to getting caught flat footed.