Mean Green’s Short-Yardage Stick & Screen
When it’s crunch time on 3rd and short or 4th and inches your play call can make or break the drive. Watching North Texas (UNT) in these situations is like getting a free clinic on how to attack defenses with precision. Their passing concepts aren’t just creative, they’re calculated to exploit coverage rules and create easy yardage. If you’re a high school coach looking for ways to move the chains without leaning on brute force, these ideas are worth stealing.
Stick vs Man Coverage
It’s 3rd and short, and the defense is showing press man. UNT nails situational football here. They motion the slot across the formation to run a shoot route for the first down. The magic? The outside WR chops his feet, sells vertical, and forces the corner to engage upfield. That slight hesitation acts as a natural screen, making it nearly impossible for the corner or safety to cover the shoot. At five yards, he spins and flashes his hands like he’s the target, but he knows the ball is already in the slot’s hands for a fresh set of downs.
Coaching Points:
Teach the WR to sell vertical: Emphasize footwork and pad level to make the corner commit.
Timing is everything: The motion must finish before the snap so the shoot route hits in stride.
QB read: Confirm man coverage pre-snap; if the corner doesn’t bite, check down to the hitch.
Common Mistake: WRs rushing the vertical release kill the screen effect. Patience.
Stick vs Soft Zone
What if the defense drops into zone? “Stick” to your rules: push vertical to five yards and look for the ball. On 3rd and 7, the alley defender jumps the shoot route, leaving the stick wide open for the outside WR. It’s not a first down, but it sets up a manageable 4th and 1. That’s winning football.
Coaching Points:
Route discipline: WR must push vertically five yards before turning, don’t cut it short.
QB progression: Shoot first, stick second. Don’t force the flat if the alley defender squeezes.
Practice drill: Pair defenders in zone drops against WRs running shoot/stick to teach spacing.
Common Mistake: WR drifting inside can shrink the stick window.
Stick + Corner
Here’s a slick variation for 4th and 1. The off-ball WR runs a corner route, stemming inside to grab the safety’s attention and slow the flat defender. Could throttling down the route create an even better rub? Meanwhile, the on-ball WR in the stack gets an outside release on his stick route, occupying the corner. The shoot connects, and the WR cuts inside for the first down. Simple, smart, effective.
Coaching Points:
Corner route technique: Stem inside hard to force the safety to commit.
Stack alignment: Keep WRs tight to create natural traffic.
Tempo control: Teach WR to adjust speed for better rub effect.
Common Mistake: WRs breaking routes too early kills spacing and timing.
Shield Screen
This shield screen is a beauty when executed right. Perfect for goal-line situations against man coverage. UNT stacks two WRs, motions the outside WR inside, and snaps the ball when he’s five yards from the stack. The throw hits him in stride, and the “shield” double-teams the point defender to the safety. Up front, the OL and RB sell outside zone into the boundary, freezing box defenders. Result? Easy six.
Coaching Points:
Motion timing: Snap when WR is five yards from stack don’t wait too long. WR catching flat-footed kills momentum and angles.
Blocking technique: WRs must stay square and drive through the defender’s hip.
Sell the fake: OL and RB must commit to outside zone look.
Key Screen
Want something different? UNT lines up in empty trips bunch and throws a quick screen to the outside WR. Instead of racing to the edge, they work back inside, leaving the CB unblocked. The two inside WRs seal the point defender to the safety, creating a bubble look, but in reverse. The WR eventually bounces outside for a touchdown. It’s creative and keeps defenses guessing.
Coaching Points:
Blocking angles: Inside WRs must seal inside leverage, don’t chase.
Ball security: WR needs to protect the ball when cutting back inside.
Tempo: Quick trigger from QB, don’t let the defense rally.
Common Mistake: WR hesitating on the catch can kill timing and flow.
Short-yardage situations don’t have to be predictable. UNT shows that with smart motion, disciplined route rules, and well-timed screens, you can turn 3rd and 4th downs into opportunities instead of stress points. Steal these concepts, drill them, and watch your offense stay on schedule when it matters most.