Playbooks

Return Sprint TE Screen

Shotgun·Trips TE Offset Wk·11

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 4 playbooks

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Breakdown

Return Sprint TE Screen is a designed screen play out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset Wk that uses the sprint action to sell a rollout or fake perimeter play before dumping the ball to the tight end on a delayed release. The offensive line and backside blockers work to release downfield and set up a wall in front of the TE, giving him blockers to work behind as he catches the ball in space. This is a screen designed to beat aggressive man pressure and blitz-heavy fronts, and the primary read is a pre-determined throw to the TE once the sprint action draws defenders upfield, with the QB looking to get the ball out quickly before defenders read screen.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing man coverage with press corners or blitz indicators like linebackers creeping to the line, both are green lights for this screen Watch for a defensive lineman or linebacker who reads screen instantly and sits, this is the biggest threat since it lets him jump the throwing lane before blockers get set Check safety depth before the snap, a two-high shell that rotates down late can still recover fast enough to blow up the screen if the user controls a safety and reads it Post-snap, key on whether linebackers are flowing hard toward the sprint action, aggressive linebacker flow away from the TE is what makes this play successful Beware zone defenses with disciplined defensive ends who stay home and squeeze the middle, since they can shed blocks quickly and cut off the TE before he gets to the second level

Usage Tips

Call this play when you diagnose blitz pre-snap, since screens punish defenders who are crashing downhill instead of reading the backfield

Use the sprint action to your advantage by rolling toward the trips side first, this manipulates linebackers and edge defenders into thinking its a run or rollout pass

Pair this with Bounce Read Option or HB Power earlier in a series so the defense starts keying run action, then hit them with this screen to slow down blitz timing

On third and short or second and medium, this play works as a low risk chain mover if the defense bites on the sprint fake

Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers home, since screen defenders sitting in underneath zones can jump the route before blockers set up

If you see a nano blitz or overload pressure look pre-snap, this is one of the best answers in the set to slow down the rush

Other Plays in Trips TE Offset Wk