Playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Trips TE Offset sends the two outside trips receivers vertical to clear out and occupy deep defenders while the inside slot receiver runs an out to the boundary to pull flow away from the screen side. The offensive line shows pass-blocking steps before releasing to set up a wall in front of the running back, who slips out to the flat opposite the trips look for the screen. This is a classic screen pass designed to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitzes, with the primary read being the HB out of the backfield once the blockers get set, and the vertical routes serve as the secondary window if the defense sits back and covers the screen.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage with blitzing linebackers is the biggest weakness for this play, since those defenders run themselves out of position chasing the quarterback. Watch for a spy linebacker or a defender sitting in the flat pre-snap, that is a lurk threat who can jump the screen route before the blockers get set. If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 3 with linebackers staying home instead of rushing, the screen has no room to develop and you should reset to the vertical routes as the outlet. Post-snap, if defensive backs are aggressively pressing the trips receivers, they will likely bite on the vertical release and open up easy throwing lanes underneath. Watch for a defensive tackle stunt or twist that gets penetration too quickly, since that can blow up the screen before the linemen release into their blocks.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses that are bringing pressure or showing blitz indicators like linebackers creeping to the line pre-snap.
Check the defensive line alignment before the snap, if you see a wide nine or stunt package the screen will hit even faster because the rush flows upfield.
Use the vertical routes on the trips side as a hot route outlet if the defense drops into a soft zone and sits on the screen, especially versus zone shells like Cover 3 or Cover 4.
Pair this play with RPO Alert Screen or RPO Zone Alert WR Screen earlier in a series so the defense starts keying run action, then hit them with the pure HB Slip Screen when they overplay the box.
Best used on early downs or after establishing inside zone and HB Counter, since defenses that respect the run game will bite harder on the screen action.
