What plays stop the WR middle screen?

[c2v24b]

I've figured out how to stop the HB screens (user the safety and keep your eye open basically) but I can't stop the WR middle screen. Help??

[SalvArmyMatt]

I kill those WR middle screens.... play a cover 3 zone and audible both dts into flat zones... not much qb pressure in the middle, but if you know that wr mid screen is coming this will kill it. I've even had my dts pick off the pass.

[PowerofRed25]

Quote: Originally Posted by SalvArmyMatt

I kill those WR middle screens.... play a cover 3 zone and audible both dts into flat zones... not much qb pressure in the middle, but if you know that wr mid screen is coming this will kill it. I've even had my dts pick off the pass.

If you 100% know it is coming and you're playing an idiot, that is a good idea. But anyone with any lick of intelligence will see you hot routing guys or see how you adjusted to it once and he'll line up in that same formation and run it right up the middle.

I LOVE the people that hot route a DT or DE when I go Mid Screen heavy because then I quick audible to a draw/dive and run for miles. The people that think they are smart by blitzing the LB's behind that get the single side WR running a slant or streak depending on where the CB is aligned. I used to run an entire series of plays on offense off these 3 plays out of Trips plus the HB Swing Screen. Not stoppable, especially when I could audible to all 4 at the line of scrimmage.

Just don't do that against a real player.

My biggest success comes with just manually diagnosing and attacking it. I will try and go straight man to man and press and the CB usually avoids the block by the inside WR. But if the WR picks that block up, I'll go Cover 2 and manually step out.

[SalvArmyMatt]

I like to player audible the right DE into a spy and then user him over the middle as well. I've smashed the audible to draw also. Another option is to fake player audibles and let the DTs run straight down.

It's a chess match... but WR mid screens die against I.

[Pielet]

I will purposely high light a player, do nothing for 3 seconds, then move on in user games. Just messes with peoples heads. Another good one is call a blitz where the DEs are standing up then audible to normal man or cover2/3 zone. Sometimes the impression of those DL standing up put people in certain mindsets.

[blkrptnt819]

It's a blitz in nickel strong where ur DT drops into zone and ur cb brings pressure. You can use it as an audible and it will not be as easy to see coming.

[Claw49er]

Quote: Originally Posted by blkrptnt819

It's a blitz in nickel strong where ur DT drops into zone and ur cb brings pressure. You can use it as an audible and it will not be as easy to see coming.

agreed

[c2v24b]

Thank you guys! Very helpful info