Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Screen out of Strong I Y Open Flex is a classic screen pass designed to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitz-heavy defenses. Both outside receivers run vertical clear-out routes up the sideline to pull corners and safeties away from the flat, while the TE runs a shallow drag underneath to occupy any zone dropper sitting in the middle. The HB releases to the flat behind a wall of offensive linemen releasing downfield, and the primary read is simply getting the ball to the HB in the flat once the screen wall sets up.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive ends and outside linebackers crashing hard off the edge, this play is designed to exploit exactly that aggressive pass rush behavior. If you are on defense, key the HB at the snap instead of following the vertical routes, since those clear-out routes are decoys meant to move your eyes off the screen. Man coverage with press corners is a prime alignment to attack since those corners will be fully occupied running downfield with the outside receivers. Zone defenses with disciplined linebackers who hold contain and do not flow hard upfield can blow this play up before the wall forms. On defense, spy the HB with a linebacker or user a defender to sit in the flat rather than blitzing every gap, since heavy blitz packages are the biggest vulnerability against this screen.
Usage Tips
Call this play when you see pre-snap indicators of a blitz such as linebackers creeping to the line or a safety rotating down into the box.
Use the vertical routes from the two outside receivers as bait, they are not the primary target but they occupy corners and safeties who could otherwise sit on the screen.
Do not user the HB immediately after the catch, let the AI blockers set the wall first, then take control once a lane opens to the sideline or up the middle.
Sequence this play after HB Dive or Inside Zone in the same set so the defense sees run action tendencies and bites on run blitz fits, making the screen wide open.
Best used on early downs or after a stuffed run to catch overpursuing linebackers, and avoid calling it against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers at home.
