Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
PA WR Cheat Screen from Bunch X Nasty is a play-action screen designed to slow down aggressive pass rush and second level defenders while getting a receiver the ball in space. Off the play fake, the outside receiver runs a vertical clear route up the sideline to pull the corner and safety deep, while a blocker slips out to the flat and turns upfield as a lead escort for the screen target running the cheat route underneath from the backfield alignment. The primary read is the cheat screen itself out of the backfield look, with the underneath blocker leading the runner upfield and the vertical route serving purely as a coverage clearer, making this a zone beater and a counter to pressure-heavy blitz calls.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive ends and edge rushers who upfield rush hard off the snap, since that aggression opens the screen lane immediately. Identify if the defense is in a zone shell with linebackers dropping to intermediate depth, since undisciplined zone drops that vacate the flat area are the biggest tell this screen will hit. Man coverage with linebackers matched up tight to the backfield can blow this up quickly if the user takes control of the underneath defender and sits on the screen. Look for a lurking user-controlled linebacker or safety who stays home instead of biting on the play-action fake, since that defender can read the quarterback and jump the throw before the blocker gets set. Cover 3 or Cover 4 shells with disciplined zone linebackers who spy the backfield are the toughest coverage to attack with this concept since they can sit on the screen and blow it up for a loss.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or after establishing a run and play-action tendency, since defenders keying run or shooting gaps get sucked in and cannot recover to the screen.
Check the defensive line pre-snap for wide 9 techniques or edge rushers who crash hard, since their aggressive first step is exactly what makes this screen hit.
If the defense shows zone with linebackers sitting deep and reading quarterback eyes, hot route the screen back to a stick or flat concept from another play in the set instead since zone drop defenders can jump the throwing lane.
Pair this with PA Boot or PA Cross earlier in a series so the defense respects play-action and starts biting on the fake, setting up the screen to hit even harder on repeat calls.
Use manual controlled blocker logic by not spamming the throw button immediately, let the lead blocker get out in front and engage before releasing the ball for max yardage after catch.
