Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn HB Screen out of Shotgun Wing Trio is a classic screen pass built to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitzers. Pre-snap motion shifts a receiver across the formation, and at the snap the outside receiver runs a deep clearout up the sideline while the slot receiver runs a shallow drag across the middle to pull underneath defenders out of the screen lane. The HB releases to the flat behind a wall of linemen releasing downfield, and the primary read is the HB screen itself, with the deep clearout and drag route serving as decoys to hold linebackers and safeties before the offensive line gets out to lead block.
Defensive Reads
Man coverage with blitz packages is the easiest shell to exploit here, since man defenders turn their backs to the backfield chasing the clearout and drag routes. Cover 3 and Cover 1 blitzes that send extra rushers upfield get gashed because those rushers take themselves out of the screen lane entirely. Watch for a spy linebacker or a defensive lineman with screen recognition instincts, since they can sit and read the quarterback's eyes to blow up the play before blockers get set. Zone defenses with disciplined underneath droppers, especially Tampa 2 or Cover 4 with linebackers sinking into passing lanes, are the toughest shells to beat since a defender can settle right in the screen's release area. If the user controls a linebacker and shows a delayed spy or hovers near the line without committing to the rush, bail on the screen since that is the clearest sign the defense is sitting on it.
Usage Tips
Call this play against defenses showing pressure indicators like overload blitzes or six-plus men in the box, since the screen naturally punishes upfield rush lanes.
Watch pre-snap for linebackers walking up or a nickel corner creeping toward the line, both are green lights to trust the screen over a check down.
Use the drag route as a manual hot route read if the defense drops into a soft zone instead of blitzing, since underneath defenders sitting in zone can jump the screen lane.
Pair this call with Mtn Drive or RPO Peek Y Pop earlier in a series so the defense respects the quick pass game and commits linebackers upfield, setting up the screen as a change of pace.
Best used on early downs or after establishing inside zone runs from this same formation, since defenses keying run support are the easiest to burn with the screen.
