Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Trips X Nasty is a designed screen pass that slips the running back out to the flat behind a wall of linemen while the three trips receivers push vertical to clear out underneath defenders. The lone receiver on the backside runs an underneath route away from the screen to hold the backside corner and take a defender out of the throwing lane. This is a blitz beater and zone beater built to punish aggressive pass rushes and overloaded fronts, with the primary read being the HB out of the backfield once the offensive line releases to set up blocks in space.
Defensive Reads
Watch for man coverage with the corners locked on the trips receivers, since aggressive man coverage often pulls defenders vertical and away from the screen lane, giving the HB a clean release. Identify blitz packages pre-snap by counting defenders near the line of scrimmage, because this play thrives against six and seven man pressure looks that vacate the middle of the field. Post-snap, track any user-controlled linebacker or safety who sits and reads the quarterback instead of biting on the vertical routes, since a lurking defender in the shallow area can jump the screen for a big loss. Zone coverage with disciplined linebackers sinking their drops and keeping eyes on the backfield shuts this play down quickly, so avoid calling it into teams that consistently spy the running back. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with linebackers staying square to the line of scrimmage are the toughest matchups for this concept, while all out blitz calls and man coverage with no underneath help are where this play hits its ceiling.
Usage Tips
Call this play when you see pre-snap blitz indicators like linebackers creeping to the line or a defensive coordinator dialing up extra rushers, since the screen turns aggression into explosive yardage. Check the defensive line alignment before the snap, if you see a lot of speed rushers crashing hard off the edge, the natural flow away from the box sets up the HB perfectly in open grass. Manually control your outside linemen right after the snap to seal off the first defender that reads screen, since AI blocking can whiff on cutting off flow players. Pair this play with HB Off Tackle or Inside Zone earlier in a drive so defenses start keying run action out of this same trips look, then hit them with the screen when they sell out on the ground game. Use this on early downs or in third and short situations where defenses are more likely to bring pressure, and avoid throwing it into disciplined zone teams that keep linebackers at home reading the backfield.
