WR Mid Screen from Shotgun Trips HB Wk is a classic screen pass built to punish aggressive pass rushes. The three receivers stacked to the trips side crisscross at the snap, with the outermost trips receiver working back underneath as the screen target while his fellow trips receivers and the tight end wall off defenders in front of him. The lone isolated X receiver runs a vertical route to hold the corner deep and keep him out of the throwing lane, and the HB stays in to help protect. The primary read is the screen receiver himself: throw it as soon as the blockers get set, using this as a built-in answer to blitzes and overaggressive edge rushers.

Defensive Reads

Watch the defensive line pre-snap for wide alignments or stunts, since those rushers create natural running lanes once they commit upfield. Key the flow of second level defenders after the snap, if linebackers and the strong safety flow hard to the trips side immediately they are sniffing screen and will blow it up for a loss. Man coverage and all-out blitzes are the biggest liabilities against this call because defenders turn their back to the backfield, so look for press corners or heavy blitz packages pre-snap as a green light. Zone coverage with disciplined linebackers who sit and read the quarterback is the best counter, so if you see a Tampa 2 or Cover 3 shell with linebackers staying square, expect this screen to get sniffed out. User-controlled defenders spying the backfield or sitting in the shallow flat are the biggest threat, since a smart user can jump the route and turn it into a pick six.

Usage Tips

Call this on early downs or third and short when you expect man coverage or a blitz look, since blitzing linebackers and press corners take themselves out of the play.

Check the defensive line pre-snap. If you see wide nine techniques or stacked edge rushers crashing hard, this is an ideal counter because it uses their aggression against them.

Let the blocking develop before throwing. Do not force the screen into a defender who read it early, cycle to the checkdown or eat a minor loss instead of forcing a turnover.

Pair this with Trips Cross or Mesh Spot from the same set to sell dropback pass shows first, then hit this screen once the defense starts keying on your quicker route combos.

Use audibles to flip the screen away from the side with a jamming corner if you are getting press man across the trips stack, since a soft or off corner sells the concept much better.

WR Mid Screen

Quick Reference

In 10 playbooks

Receiver routes

Read progression

Breakdown

Defensive Reads

Usage Tips

Other Plays in Trips HB Wk