Playbooks

HB Slip Screen

Screen Pass Hb Screen Pass Play Fade Streak Wheel

Receiver routes

Depth-chart slots are shown as they line up in the base package for this set.

See this play with a team's players

Player	Side	Route
HB1	Right	Slip Screen
TE1	Right	Wheel
WR1	Left	Fade
WR2	Left	Streak
TE2	Right	Streak

Read progression

HB1 right, Slip Screen
TE1 right, Wheel or WR1 left, Fade or WR2 left, Streak or TE2 right, Streak

Breakdown

HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Wing Slot Offset sends all four receiving options vertical to clear out the underneath defenders while the HB slips out to the flat behind a wall of blockers. The offensive line and TEs release downfield to sell pass and then set up screen blocking in front of the RB, giving him a lane to work outside once he catches the ball. This is a screen play designed to counter aggressive man pressure and blitz packages, since the vertical routes pull defenders away from the line of scrimmage and the delayed release confuses blitzers keying the backfield. The primary read is the HB out of the backfield, with the four verticals serving purely as clear out routes rather than actual progression reads.

Defensive Reads

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing blitz or heavy man coverage, this play is designed to gash exactly those looks. Key the middle linebacker depth, if he is creeping toward the line of scrimmage expecting run or blitz, that is confirmation to trust the screen. Post-snap, user your fastest linebacker or a slot corner to sit on the HB release instead of chasing the vertical routes, a disciplined defender who reads screen can blow this up for a loss. Watch for a spy or contain rush end who stays home instead of crashing upfield, that defender is the key to shutting down the screen lane before blockers get set. Zone coverage shells with linebackers sitting in underneath windows instead of blitzing tend to smother this concept, since the delayed blockers get engaged before the RB can turn the corner.

Usage Tips

Call this against defenses showing blitz pre-snap, especially six or seven man pressure looks, since the natural delay in blocker releases punishes overpursuing rushers.

Watch for defensive ends or outside linebackers who consistently crash hard off the edge, this play turns their aggression into a wide open lane for the HB.

Use this on early downs in your play-calling sequence to set up defenders who bite on run fakes or blitz calls, then follow up with Jet HB Angle or PA Jailbreak Screen to keep the defense guessing.

Snap the ball quickly after your pre-snap read confirms man coverage or a blitz, delayed screens die against disciplined zone defenses that sit and read the backfield.

Avoid calling this on third and long against teams that consistently spy the RB, since a spy or contain defender can blow this up before blockers set their wall.