Playbooks
Mtn TE Mid Screen is a designed screen pass out of Shotgun Wide Y Trips WK that uses pre-snap motion to shift the defense before releasing the tight end into the middle of the field behind a screen wall. The offensive line sets up a delayed pass pocket before releasing to lead block, baiting pass rushers upfield while the TE sneaks into the vacated underneath zone. This is primarily a blitz beater and zone beater, designed to punish aggressive interior pressure and linebackers who bite on the motion or drop too deep in coverage. The primary read is the TE in the middle screen look, with the QB progressing to check the blocking wall setup before delivering the ball once the lane develops.
Watch for linebackers flowing hard to the pre-snap motion, if the defense overreacts and crashes toward the motion side the middle screen lane opens up wide for the TE. Identify blitz packages before the snap, nano blitzes and interior pressure from the defensive line actually help this play since the rushers get sucked upfield away from the screen setup. Check for a defender spying the TE or sitting in the shallow hook zone, a disciplined Tampa 2 or Cover 3 zone drop with a linebacker sitting at five to seven yards can blow this play up immediately. Look at safety depth post snap, if both safeties stay deep in a two high shell the middle of the field is more open for the screen to develop into a big gain after the catch. Man coverage with no underneath help is the biggest liability for this play, if a user controlled defender reads screen and breaks off the motion man early they can jump the throwing lane and turn it into a defensive pick.
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense is playing man or zone, if a defender follows the motion man across the formation you are likely facing man coverage and this screen becomes riskier against a spy or trailing linebacker.
Call this play on early downs or in obvious passing situations where the defense is expecting a dropback shot play, since the delayed screen action punishes an aggressive four man or five man rush.
Hold the ball just long enough for your blockers to get out in front, throwing too early into a crowded middle of the field results in a negative play or a sack if the defensive line reads screen.
Pair this play with Mtn HB Swing or Mtn TE Angle in the same set to keep the defense guessing on quick game concepts, then mix in Four Verticals or Y Corner as a deep shot once the defense starts flowing hard to stop the screen game.
Avoid calling this against a defense that shows heavy zone drops with linebackers sitting in the shallow middle, since spy linebackers and hook zone defenders can jump the route before the blockers set the wall.