The Mountain Hawk Wide

Receiver Screen Game

Dave Cecchini
Offensive
Coordinator/
Wide Receivers
Coach
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pa.

Pete Lembo
Assistant
Head Coach/
Offensive Line
Coach

t is an honor and a privilege to contribute

some of our wide receiver screen concepts at Lehigh University for the 2000
AFCA Summer Manual. We would like to
thank Tim Landis, the Summer Manual
Committee and Lehigh Head Coach Kevin
Higgins for allowing us this opportunity. In
addition, it is important to recognize the
outstanding student-athletes in our program whose hard work and dedication has
enabled us to reach the I-AA playoffs for
the last two years.
Wide receiver screens are an important
element in our offensive scheme.
There are five main benefits our wide
receiver screen package provides our
offense
1. Its flexible. We are able to run at least
one type of wide receiver screen out of all
our formations and personnel groups.
2. Its practical. We are able to install
and fine tune our screens using a minimum
of team practice time.
3. Its high-percentage/high yield. Over
the past three years, we have completed
over 86 percent of our wide receiver
screens, with an average of more than 12
yards per reception.
4. It slows down an opponents pass
rush. As defensive linemen are forced to
defend the wide receiver screen, they are
less effective rushing the quarterback during dropback pass.
5. Big play potential. Every wide receiver screen has a chance to go the distance.
The X Quick Screen
The quick screen to the X or backside
receiver is easy to install and can compliment just about any run game. Like most of
our run and pass game, it can be used from
a variety of personnel groups, formations,
motions and even from the shotgun. Each
week we will look to run this screen from a
formation which is: 1. based on the
defenses typical alignment gives our linemen a chance to execute their assignments successfully and 2. reflects similarities to what we are trying to accomplish in
the run game as it is a play-action screen
Quick Screen Assignments and
Techniques
Tailback: If the quarterback is under
center, fake the toss play to the strong side.
If the quarterback is in the shotgun, fake
the inside zone play to the strong side and
look to pick-up the end man on the line of
scrimmage

AFCA Summer Manual 2000

Fullback: Sell full flow to the strong

side and block the end man on line of
scrimmage.
Quick Tackle: Pull flat down the line of
scrimmage and kick out the cornerback.
Work upfield if necessary. Leave the five
technique unblocked unless he buzzes to
the flat in a zone dog.
Quick Guard: Block an outside zone
course through the weak side B gap, climbing to the Will linebacker.
Center: Block an outside zone course
to the weak side. Try to reach a three technique if you can. Prevent initial penetration.
Strong Guard: Block an outside zone
course to the weak side. Prevent initial
penetration. Work up to the second level.
Strong Tackle: Block an outside zone
course to the weak side. Prevent initial
penetration. Work up to the second level.
Tight End: Block an outside zone
course to the weak side. Prevent initial
penetration. Work up to the second level.
Quarterback: If under center, fake toss
to the strong side, set and throw to X. If in
the shotgun, fake an inside zone handoff to
the strong side, set and throw to X.
Z: Take an angle to cut off the half or
third defender to your side. Stalk and cut if
appropriate.
X: Maximum split. Take two steps forward, then work back to one yard behind
the line of scrimmage. Turn your numbers
towards the quarterback. Once you make
the catch, get behind and read the block of
the quick tackle. Once you navigate his
block, understand that the pursuit will come
from the inside. Work back outside and
score!

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

Diagram 3

the slip screen (quickly), and block deep

half or third safety.
Z: Maximum split. Take two steps forward, then work back towards the quarterback under control, getting three yards
behind the line of scrimmage. Make the
catch and get downfield!

Diagram 4
The Z Slip Screen
The slip screen to the Z (outside) receiver is an excellent compliment to dropback
pass. It can be used out of a variety of formations, with the quarterback under center
or in the shotgun. In this scheme, the interior linemen will count the linebackers
starting from the strong side. We try not to
over-coach the Z receiver as to what to do
after the catch, other than stressing to get
downfield as quickly as possible
Z Slip Screen Assignments and
Techniques
Tailback: (Quick side runningback) Run
swing route and block the corner.
Fullback: (Strongside runningback)
Release and block defender over the slot
wide receiver.
Quick Tackle: Pass set, inviting the
defensive end up the field, then seal him off
from falling back into the play.
Quick Guard: Pass set for a two count,
then release to the third linebacker. If third
linebacker blitzes, let him go and find the
next most dangerous defender downfield.
Center: Pass set for a two count, then
release to the second linebacker. If second
linebacker blitzes, let him go and find the
next most dangerous defender downfield.
Strong Guard: Pass set for a two
count, then release downfield for the first
linebacker. If the first linebacker blitzes or is
engaged with the tight end or fullback, run
the alley for the safety.
Strong Tackle: Pass set, invite the
defensive end up the field and cut him!
Tight End:Release and block defender
over the slot wide receiver.
Quarterback: After receiving the snap,
pump fake the screen away from the Z,
then six turn and deliver the slip screen by
leading the Z downfield with your throw.
Slot: Release downfield to block corner.
Stay flat on angle, especially vs. a hard or
pressed corner. Stalk or cut if appropriate.
X: If a single wide receiver, get downfield and block deep half or third safety.
With a slot wide receiver inside you, fake

Diagram 5

If third linebacker blitzes, let him go and

find the next most dangerous defender
downfield.
Strong Tackle: Pass set, inviting the
defensive end up the field, then seal him off
from falling back into the play.
Tight End: Release and block defender
over the slot wide receiver.
Quarterback: After receiving the snap,
pump fake the screen away from the X,
then turn and deliver the slip screen by
leading the X downfield with your throw.
X: Maximum split. Take two steps forward, then work back towards the quarterback under control, getting three yards
behind the line of scrimmage. Make the
catch and get downfield!
Z: Fake the slip screen (quickly) and get
downfield to block deep half safety. If there
is no safety, seal off outside.

Diagram 6

The X Slip Screen

The slip screen to the X is similar to the
Z slip screen, except that it is run to the
quick side (two receiver side). This type of
screen is excellent against teams that play
man under coverages, as the three defenders covering the strong side receivers are
removed from the play. In this scheme, the
interior linemen will count the linebackers
starting from the quick side.
Slip Screen Assignments and
Techniques
Fullback: (Strongside runningback) Release and block defender over the strong
slot wide receiver.
Slot: Release downfield to block corner.
Stay flat on angle, especially vs. a hard or
pressed corner. Stalk or cut if appropriate.
Quick Tackle: Pass set, invite the
defensive end up the field and cut him!
Quick Guard: Pass set for a two count,
then release downfield for the first linebacker. If the first linebacker blitzes or has
removed himself from the play by covering
the slot, run the alley for the safety.
Center: Pass set for a two count, then
release to the second linebacker. If second
linebacker blitzes, let him go and find the
next most dangerous defender downfield.
Strong Guard: Pass set for a two
count, then release to the third linebacker.

AFCA Summer Manual 2000

Each week during the season, we spend

approximately 10 minutes of team practice
time reviewing our screen package vs. the
defensive looks we are anticipating.
Because of the simplicity of each play, this
is usually enough time to keep us executing at a high level.
We hope these concepts will be helpful
to your offensive scheme. Our staff has
learned from so many great coaches who
took the time to help us get where we are
today by sharing their ideas with us. Best
wishes for a successful 2000 season.

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