Playbooks
Quick Reference
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Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun U Off Trips Flex sends both outside trips receivers vertical up the seams to occupy deep defenders while the two inside routes wheel back outside to clear the perimeter for the screen. The offensive line shows a hard vertical set to sell drop back pass before the backs slip out to lead block for the running back, who releases behind the line for the screen. This is a classic screen concept designed to bait an aggressive pass rush or blitz-heavy defense, with the primary read being the running back in the flat as soon as the blockers get in front of him.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive ends and outside linebackers crashing hard off the edge pre-snap, this is the exact look that gets exploited by the screen. If the defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 1 with aggressive man corners jumping the underneath routes, the screen lane opens up quickly since the corners are locked on the vertical routes. User-controlled defenders sitting in short zones or lurking near the flat can jump the screen route and blow it up for a loss, so avoid this call when the user is spying the backfield. Zone blitzes with delayed linebacker drops are the biggest threat, since a linebacker sitting in a shallow zone can read the screen and undercut the throwing lane. Cover 2 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined linebackers who do not overpursue the play fake will limit the blocking numbers advantage this screen relies on.
Usage Tips
Call this against defenses that show pressure pre-snap, especially five or six man blitz looks with linebackers crashing downhill.
Use the two vertical routes from the trips side to hold the safeties and outside corners so they cannot flow quickly to the screen side.
Hot route the outside receivers into deeper stems if the defense is playing off man, this keeps their defenders occupied longer and buys extra blocking time.
Pair this call with Inside Zone or Duo earlier in a series so the defense respects the run fake and commits linebackers downhill, making them easier to screen against.
Best used on early down and distance or after a hard inside run call has drawn the defense's eyes into the box.
