One of our best red zone plays over the past four years has been our double screen. This past season, whenever we got inside the ten-yard line, our players not only wanted it to be called, they expected it; and, although our offense this past season broke our school’s scoring record, I probably should have called it more. The play was called eight times in the red zone (nine times if you count a 2-point conversion attempt – which failed largely due to having gone to the well with the play one too many times). Of those eight, we completed six for three touchdowns.
The completions set up a 3rdrd and short from the 5; 1st and goal from the one; and we lost four yards on the third due to the RB getting too wide too fast (which I will cover later). Otherwise, the RB walks into the end zone from the 10. Of the two incomplete passes, one was dropped and the other tipped by a defensive lineman. Outside the red zone, we were three of four for gains of seven, three, and 24; with the screen setting up 2nd & 3, 3rd & 1, and 1st & 10 on the +15.
Our double screen is a quick screen to the tailback on the split side and a funnel screen to a receiver to the tight side. We run a lot of horizontal stretch routes and the screen resembles our snag concept. Our snag route is shown in figure 1 out of a pro trips formation using 11 personnel. If we are continuously hitting the tailback on the swing, there’s no need to call the screen. However, I use the screen more down in the red zone and not the snag concept because of the higher percentage threat of man coverage. Figure 2 shows our double screen.
Double Screen – the Quick side:
Our intent on the route is to get the ball to our tailback in space. Just like the snag route, the TB will break flat towards the boundary for three steps and then get his head around; but unlike the snag, speed is not of the essence. All that we want is the TB to clear the box so that the DE is unable to redirect when the ball is in the air. The split tackle (ST) flashes out of his stance to feint a pass protection to entice the DE upfield. The ST should not touch the DE (if the DE slants to the B-gap, the ST should punch him through) and release flat down the line of scrimmage to the numbers. He is responsible for the corner unless someone gets in his path. The split end (X) is cracking the first outside linebacker (W) or the defender that has the TB man-to-man. His path should look exactly the same as the snag route from the corner’s perspective. X and ST are the only two blockers you will need to get the play off. If the split guard (SG) can get downfield to the free safety, the play has a chance to score from a long distance. The SG’s timing is a little slower than the ST (“one-thousand-one-and-go” as opposed to “set and go”) so the nose guard doesn’t end up in the QB’s lap if the ball ends up going to the tight side.
Double Screen – the Slow Side:
Working outside-in, the flanker (Z) will run the CB off, while the slot receiver (W – aligned on the hash) begins to take his bubble path for three steps (we stress to W all of the time about the size of his steps – like the TB, don’t get too wide) and then begins to arc back to the hash. When the slot receiver gets too wide, he doesn’t set up the block well enough to get any yardage. The Tight End (Y) runs his stick route just like he does in the snag concept, except that we want him to inside release the DE if at all possible. We want to place Y in between the two inside linebackers. When Y makes his break, he will end up blocking the linebacker opposite the throw (for example, if the ball comes to his side, Y will spin and block the Mike behind him).
The tight tackle (TT) pass sets to try to run his DE upfield past the QB. The tight guard protects for a two count (“one-thousand-one-one-thousand-go”) and then releases flat down the line for the defender head-up to the inside of the slot receiver. The center helps on the nose guard for the same two counts and then releases up the alley between the edge of the box and the hash. We want the slot receiver to get in behind the two linemen and outside of the tight end.
Double Screen – The Quarterback
The QB will read the split-side defensive end. On a pass rush that brings the DE towards the QB, the QB will get the ball to the tailback. When throwing to his left (right-handed), I will have the QB back away after receiving the shotgun snap and keep his shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage. I have found that this is the fastest way to get the ball out of his hands on a swing to the left. When throwing to the TB to the right, a normal drop will suffice. In either case, I prefer the QB not set up to throw the ball to avoid any unnecessary contact with the DE.
If the DE slows his rush to redirects to the swing route, the QB should look immediately to the funnel screen while continuing to move away from the line. When the funnel is to the QB’s right, the QB will actually pick up speed as turns into his normal drop. When the funnel screen is to the left, do not have your QB’s turn their back to the line; instead, swing the shoulders parallel and deliver the ball with a nice high release (downward trajectory) while backing up.
Boundary pressure will occasionally mess with the QB’s read (Figure 3). You must coach the QB to recognize the DE slanting inside and the blitzer off the edge. The blitzer will become his read – he will either divert his course to the TB or continue to attack the QB. Over the years, the majority of misreads (in practice as well as in games) have been due to the DE crossing with the blitzer continuing to attack the QB. For some reason, our QB couldn’t pull the trigger to the swing route and would run into trouble trying to get back to the funnel.
Again, I love this play and during bowl season I saw it run a number of different ways, but this is the way we believe it works best and have executed it well. Practicing this screen is often tough (as is practicing any screen, for that matter), but we have found it best to rep during our “Pass Under Pressure” period, or in other live to near-live periods against our starting defense.