Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 1 playbook
Breakdown
RNS Flat Screen out of Shotgun Trips 10 personnel is a designed screen pass to the running back releasing to the flat behind a wall of blockers, with the backside X receiver isolated on a vertical go route to hold the deep defender and single coverage. The offensive line and trips receivers set up a screen wall to the flat side, giving the RB a lead blocker convoy as he releases outside. This is a zone beater and blitz beater at its core, designed to bait pass rushers upfield and attack space vacated by an aggressive four man or five man rush, though the go route on the backside gives you a shot answer if the defense sells out on the screen with man coverage. Primary read progression: check the backside go route first if the corner bites down on the flat, otherwise get the ball out quickly to the RB screen and let the blockers work.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check safety depth and corner alignment on the flat side trips: soft zone shells with linebackers sitting underneal are exactly what this screen wants to exploit. Watch for a blitz call from the defense, since extra rushers crashing upfield create the blocking angles this screen is designed to convert into big yardage. Post-snap, key the flat side linebacker's initial reaction: if he sits and reads the screen instead of rushing, the play is dead and you should look to the backside go route immediately. User controlled defenders sitting in a lurk position near the flat, or a spy assigned to the RB, will blow this play up before the blockers can set their wall. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with the corner playing off and reading run/screen action are the toughest matchups, since the flat defender can react quickly without getting sucked into the box.
Usage Tips
Call this play when you diagnose blitz pre-snap, since the screen action punishes aggressive edge rushers and linebacker blitzes by turning their pursuit into blocking angles for your line.
Use the backside go route as your answer versus man coverage or when a corner jumps the flat, since that isolates your X receiver one on one down the field.
Pair this with RPO Alert Screen or Bubble Screen in the same set to condition the defense to react to screen action, then hit them with 60 Go or Four Verticals off similar formation tendencies once they start crashing down.
Best used on early downs or after a big gain when the defense is likely to bring extra rushers to create negative plays, and on third and short when defenders are selling out on the sticks.
Hot route the trips receivers to adjust their blocking angles if you see a wide alignment from the flat side corner, and make sure your RB releases with patience rather than rushing his path.
