Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
HB Slip Screen out of Weak I Slot Flex is a designed screen pass built to bait aggressive pass rushers and blitz packages. The HB slips out to the flat behind a wall of linemen releasing downfield to set up blocks, while the two outside receivers run a post and corner combo up top and the slot runs an out route to clear underneath space and hold linebackers. The primary read is the HB in the flat first, with the deep post and corner as later progression options if the screen is jumped or blown up pre-snap.
Defensive Reads
Watch for defensive ends and linebackers crashing hard off the edge pre-snap, since unblocked rushers flying past the line are the biggest tell that a screen is coming. Key the middle linebacker depth at the snap, if he sits and reads instead of rushing, he can blow up the play by sitting on the HB in the flat. User the strong side linebacker or nickel defender and spy the backfield instead of rushing to jump the screen before blockers get set. Against man coverage, watch the corner and safety leverage on the post and corner combo, since a hard blitz call often leaves those routes open if the screen is covered. Zone coverages with linebackers dropping into short flat zones neutralize this play, so look for Cover 2 or Cover 3 shells with disciplined underneath defenders as a sign to abandon the screen.
Usage Tips
Call this on early downs or after showing HB Stretch and HB Gut to sell the run action and freeze linebackers before they read screen.
Check pre-snap for overload blitzes or a heavy box, since aggressive defenders flying upfield are exactly what this screen is designed to punish.
If the CPU or user defense shows Cover 3 or Cover 4 with linebackers sitting deep, the flat can get crowded, so be ready to reset and check to the post or corner route instead.
Use in combination with Power O and Counter F earlier in a series to establish inside run tendencies, then hit this screen when defenders start crashing downhill.
Avoid calling this against disciplined zone defenses that keep linebackers at home, since the blockers need space to develop before the HB can turn upfield.
