Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Shotgun Y Off Trips is a designed screen pass that slips the running back out to the flat behind a wall of releasing linemen while the trips receiver side runs vertical routes to occupy the deep defenders and clear out underneath space. The three trips receivers stem upfield to hold corners and safeties, the backside X runs a shallow drag to the opposite flat as a hot route outlet, and the offensive line sets up a screen wall to escort the back. This is a blitz beater and zone beater by design: the primary read is the HB in the flat first, with the backside drag as the checkdown if the screen is diagnosed or covered.
Defensive Reads
Watch for user-controlled defensive linemen who spy or drop instead of rushing, since they are the biggest threat to blow up the screen before it develops. Check linebacker depth pre-snap: if linebackers are sitting shallow or showing zone drop keys, they can read the screen and undercut the throwing lane. Man coverage with corners playing tight on the trips receivers actually helps this play since it removes underneath defenders from the screen lane. Look for outside linebackers or slot corners staying home on the running back instead of rushing, which signals the defense has identified the screen tendency. Heavy zone blitz packages with delayed linebacker drops are the biggest counter, since they disguise pressure while still getting bodies into the screen area.
Usage Tips
Call this play when you see pre-snap blitz indicators like linebackers creeping to the line or a defensive back showing edge pressure, since the screen naturally voids the rush lanes.
Use it on early downs or after a string of inside runs to slow down aggressive user blitzers and second-level defenders flowing hard downhill.
Pair it with Inside Zone, HB Draw, or Duo earlier in a series so the defense keys run action and bites on the screen fake even harder.
If the defense shows a hard zone drop with linebackers sinking immediately, hot route the trips receivers into quicker breaking routes to hold defenders shorter and open the screen lane faster.
Combine this with Four Verticals or PA Zone Shot from the same trips look to keep defenses honest and prevent them from jumping the screen based on formation recognition.
