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Quick Reference
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Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Strong I Slot Flex is a designed screen pass built to slow down aggressive pass rushes and blitz-heavy defenses. At the snap the offensive line sells pass protection before releasing to the flat, with the HB slipping out behind them as the primary target while both outside receivers push vertical stems up the field to hold off deep coverage and clear out the underneath defenders. The lone WR at the bottom of the formation runs a shallow drag across the field as a secondary checkdown or man beater against trailing defenders. The primary read progression is HB in the flat first, then the shallow drag if the screen is sniffed out or blown up.
Defensive Reads
Presnap, identify if the defense is showing a blitz look with linebackers crowding the box or walked-up safeties, since that is exactly the look this screen wants to exploit. Key the defensive ends and outside linebackers immediately after the snap, if they are reading run or screen and staying home instead of rushing hard, this play gets blown up before it develops. User a linebacker or safety with eyes in the backfield to sit and spy the HB, since jumping the flat route early can result in a tackle for loss or a pick if timed correctly. Watch for zone coverages like Cover 3 or Cover 2 where a linebacker drops into a shallow zone, since that defender can undercut both the HB screen and the underneath drag route. Recognize man coverage combined with a delayed blitz as the worst matchup for the offense, since defenders can peel off their assignments and swarm the screen before the blockers get set.
Usage Tips
Call this play on early downs or second and long when you expect the defense to bring pressure, since the delayed blocking scheme is designed to punish aggressive pass rushers and blitzers.
Presnap, look for stacked or crashing defensive ends and linebackers showing blitz, since a five or six man rush leaves fewer defenders to read the screen develop.
Avoid throwing the HB Slip Screen into zone coverages with disciplined linebackers who sit and read the backfield, since a lurking Mike or Sam linebacker can jump the throw before the HB gets his blockers set.
Pair this play with HB Dive and HB Sweep in your play-calling sequence so the defense respects inside run action, making the delayed screen release even harder to key on presnap.
Use the two vertical routes from the outside receivers as a decoy against man coverage, since cornerbacks locked on those routes will be out of position to help support the screen underneath.
