Playbooks

Mtn HB Slip Screen

Shotgun·Y Off Trio Close·11
Screen PassHb ScreenMotionPass Play
Play diagram for Mtn HB Slip Screen from Shotgun Y Off Trio Close in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

In 3 playbooks

Ravens OffenseOffenseShotgun Classic OffenseOffenseNFL Live Ravens OffenseOffense

Breakdown

Mtn HB Slip Screen is a motion HB screen out of Shotgun Y Off Trio Close that slips the running back out to the flat behind a wall of screen blockers while three vertical routes clear out the underneath and deep defenders. The diagram shows two receivers on the left running a deep vertical and a corner cut inward, a receiver on the right pushing vertical to occupy the deep defenders, and the HB releasing to the boundary side flat off the pre-snap motion with linemen sliding out to set up the screen wall. This is a classic screen play designed to beat aggressive man and blitz looks, with the primary read being the HB in the flat first, then the deep in cut if the screen is sniffed out.

Defensive Reads

Watch for defenders spying or shuffling toward the HB during his pre-snap motion, which signals the defense recognizes the screen concept. Keep a linebacker or slot defender with eyes on the backfield instead of biting on the vertical clear-out routes. User a defender to sit in the flat or shallow zone on the boundary side to jump the screen route before blockers can get set. Zone coverage with disciplined linebacker drops shuts this down hard since they will not vacate the screen lane for the vertical routes. Man coverage with aggressive underneath blitzers is the most vulnerable shell to this play, since blitzers run themselves out of the screen lane.

Usage Tips

Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense follows the HB with a linebacker or defensive back, since that tips man coverage or a screen-savvy defense.

Call this on early downs or after establishing the run game so linebackers bite on the vertical releases and abandon their screen responsibility.

Throw the screen quickly once the HB turns upfield behind his blockers, do not wait on the vertical routes unless the flat is jumped.

Pair this with Mtn Inside Zone or Bounce Inside Zone earlier in a drive so defenders key run action and crash down, opening the screen lane.

Avoid calling this against defenses that show heavy inside blitz packages with contain defenders staying home, since fast pass rushers can blow up the screen before blockers set.

Other Plays in Y Off Trio Close