Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Orbit Cross Screen is a screen pass out of Shotgun Trips TE that uses pre-snap orbit motion from the backfield to sell the play-action look before releasing the RB out to the flat as the screen target. The three-man TE side runs a clear-out combo, with the inside receiver crossing hard underneath while the outside receiver on that side pushes vertical and breaks back across the field to occupy defenders deep, and the backside X runs a shallow drag away from the screen to hold off any late flow. The offensive line sets up a screen wall in front of the RB, and the primary read is the orbit motion RB screen first, working to the crossing route underneath if the screen is jumped or taken away.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, key on whether a linebacker or slot defender mirrors the orbit motion RB, since that defender is the primary threat to blow up the screen if he stays home instead of biting on run action. Watch the flow of the defensive line, if they crash hard toward the run fake off the orbit motion, the screen wall will have a clean lane and this play becomes very difficult to stop. Man coverage that has a linebacker locked on the RB out of the backfield is the biggest defensive read killer, so user that defender and sit him on the screen instead of following the motion man. Zone coverage with a robber or lurk defender sitting in the shallow middle can jump the crossing route, so if you see a defender spying the middle of the field pre-snap, expect that route to be covered. Post-snap, if the edge defenders squeeze down instead of maintaining width, that signals a screen read and you should get depth immediately to string the play out and let the wall develop.
Usage Tips
Use the orbit motion pre-snap to identify if the defense shifts a linebacker or defensive back to follow the RB, since that tells you if they are keying the screen action.
This play hits best on second and short or third and short because linebackers sitting shallow to defend the run or a quick pass get sucked up by the crossing route and orbit fake, opening the screen lane.
If the defense shows an aggressive blitz look pre-snap, trust the screen wall and get the ball out fast since the blitzers will run themselves out of the play.
Pair this with Orbit RPO Zone Alert or Orbit TE Middle Screen in the same drive to condition the defense to respect the orbit motion, then punish overreactions with Orbit PA HB Wheel for a shot play off the same look.
Against zone coverage, hot route the backside drag into a deeper crossing route to stress the middle void created by the underneath crosser and the deep breaking route.
