Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 11 playbooks
Breakdown
Mtn Y Screen out of Shotgun Y Off Trips sends the two outside trips receivers and the backside X on vertical releases to clear out the defense and hold linebackers and safeties deep, while the offensive line pass sets briefly before releasing to wall off defenders in front of the screen. The motion man from the backfield swings out wide and back underneath as the screen target, with the interior linemen climbing to lead block once the ball is caught. This is a designed screen pass built as a man beater against aggressive man coverage and blitz packages, since the vertical routes occupy man defenders downfield away from the underneath throwing lane. The primary read is the swing screen to the motion receiver, with the quarterback looking to get the ball out quickly before the pocket collapses.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, check linebacker depth and alignment since screens die when linebackers stay patient and read run/pass instead of biting on the vertical releases. Watch for a defender spying the backfield or sitting in a shallow zone underneath, since that user-controlled defender can jump the screen route for a big hit or interception. Man coverage with aggressive corners and safeties chasing the vertical routes downfield is the ideal shell to attack, since it removes defenders from the screen lane. Blitz packages that send extra rushers up field are a green light for this play, since those rushers cannot redirect in time to stop the swing screen. If the defense shows Cover 2 or Cover 3 with linebackers staying square and reading the backfield, expect this play to get sniffed out and consider audibling to a different concept.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or third and short when you expect man coverage or a blitz look, since the vertical clear outs pull defenders away from the screen lane.
Use the pre-snap motion to identify if the defense follows the receiver in man coverage or stays put in zone, which tells you whether the screen will have room to develop.
If the defense shows a heavy blitz look with linebackers crashing, this play is money because those blitzers overrun the screen and cannot get back in time.
Pair this with Mtn Stick or Mtn Stick N Nod earlier in a series to condition the defense to sit on quick underneath routes, then hit this screen when they start jumping routes.
Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers at home, since spy defenders or zone droppers can sit on the screen and blow it up for a loss.
