Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
Stretch WR Screen out of Singleback Wing Pair is a perimeter screen built off outside zone action, using 13 personnel to sell the run fake to the front side. The offensive line and near backfield player execute zone blocking steps to the play side while the outside receiver releases downfield to seal or block off the numbers, and the screen target sets up in the flat behind the line of scrimmage before working upfield with lead blockers in front. This is a zone beater and blitz beater designed to punish overpursuing linebackers and aggressive edge defenders, with the primary read being the screen target in the flat first and the zone action as the change of pace look if the defense sits back.
Defensive Reads
Watch for linebackers flowing hard to the play side pre-snap, since fast flow defeats their ability to read screen and squeeze the perimeter. Man coverage with off corners is vulnerable here because the blockers can seal defenders who are not squatting at the line. Zone defenses that keep a flat defender home or use a cornerback with outside leverage can sit on this screen and blow it up for a loss. Look for a user-controlled defender spying the backfield or sitting in the flat, since that is the biggest indicator the defense is baiting the screen. Blitz packages that send extra rushers off the edge often overcommit, so if the edge defender crashes upfield untouched, the screen lane opens immediately behind him.
Usage Tips
Call this play when you see linebackers creeping up pre-snap or a defense that has been flowing hard to outside zone all game.
Use it on early downs to keep defenses honest against your HB Stretch and HB Inside Zone runs from the same set.
Hot route the backside receiver into a quick slant or drag if the defense shows a heavy blitz look to give yourself a checkdown away from the screen side.
Pair this with Stretch and Power O in the same drive so linebackers start keying run flow and bite on the zone steps, opening up the screen lane.
Throw with anticipation as soon as the blockers get their heads turned upfield, do not wait for full separation since the leverage comes from blocking angles, not route separation.
