2025 Screen Game Research and Development – Case 3: Shoot Screens: The Newest Additive in the Wide Zone Family Cupboard

By Mike Kuchar
Senior Researcher/Co-Founder
X&O Labs
@MikeKKuchar

If you’re an offense that majors in the wide zone, then you’re going to need some complementary controls to keep those defensive ends from running the play down. Here’s the point/counterpoint on the traditional options:

• Slice Concept- Y/H comes across the line of scrimmage to seal the C-gap defender. Problem- your Y/H may not be as big as their DE.
• Boot Concept- Digs, Drags, and Posts are packaged with wide zone. Problem- your QB may not have the intermediate route acumen to handle completions.
• Quick Game Controls- This is where quick route concepts like snags and spots are built into the backside of wide zone. Problem- not easy to teach and very expensive to install.

The latest build-in might just be the easiest to install, particularly if you have a speedy slot on the perimeter that can make plays. They are known as “shoot” or “line” screens and are packaged off wide zone runs. Similar to Slide RPO concepts, they are used from both compressed and open formations. And the benefit of the wide zone run action is that the full flow of the run scheme forces second-level defenders to become out-leveraged by the perimeter throw.

Prerequisite: What Your QB Must Have:

• The arm strength to throw to the opposite hash (if needed)
• The ability to build in run/run reads off the C-gap defender if cover down defenders are impeding the screen

Like the Slide, it’s a first-level RPO read based on numbers and grass. But most of the time, the decision of the quarterback is made pre-snap based on perimeter numbers. You don’t need to count the Mike linebacker because he will flow with the wide zone run action. So, against two-high looks, it’s a no-brainer to run the wide zone play because you have numbers.

Editor’s Note: In this report, Mike reveals the details of how this works, and best practices, and he identifies who else is using it. And, as always, Mike includes a lot of video and diagrams—as well as shares where to find more game film in X&O Labs’ Film Room. Login below to get unlock the full report (and if you’re not a member, click the ‘Join’ button in the upper right-hand corner of this page).