3 Reasons You Need A Screen Pass
Right up front, FirstDown PlayBook wants to get this out of the way. When you install a screen pass in your offense, it is a lot of work. Almost every screen pass requires a great deal of detail and timing. It also requires some acting, as in convincing the defense this is just another run or pass play.
There has to be buy in from all eleven players that this is going to be a fun and explosive play, at the defense’s expense. However; back to our original point, it can take a lot of dedicated practice time to insure you are running a screen pass correctly. You might be asking yourself, “Then why run a screen then?”
There are plenty of reasons to include a screen pass in your offense and in fact if you throw the football at all, we think it is almost mandatory. Here are three reasons we believe this.
1. A Screen Pass Helps Slow Down The Pass Rush
With apologies to the Wing T coaches out there, it is hard to be good on offense and not throw the ball. Defenses are going to load up the box and make life miserable for your offensive line. The key is to be smart about how you throw the ball. Gap protection and getting the ball out of your quarterback’s hand quickly are normally good thoughts.
Eventually in 3rd and 7-10 or more you are going to need more. If the defense knows they can pin their ears back then you are in danger of a sack or even worse, a fumble. Having a screen pass to mix in gives you a chance to use this aggressive pass rush to your advantage. It’s a nice changeup that you can use to keep a defensive line off balance.
2. It’s An Opportunity For An Explosive Play
Screens allow you to get the ball in your best players hands with out handing it off or throwing it down the field. There are slow screens that allow you to get the ball to your running back or tight end. Hitch screens, bubble screens and jailbreak screens do the same for your wide receivers. You are getting the ball in their hands behind the defensive line with blockers in front. That’s normally a good thing that can result in explosive plays.
3. A Screen Pass Makes Your Base Plays More Effective
At its root, a screen pass is a trick play. It’s a “gotcha” situation. Whenever someone gets tricked, they try to make sure that doesn’t happen again. If you execute a successful screen pass, the defense you are playing against will adjust. The defensive line will rush with just a tad less bravado. Your offensive line (and quarterback) will appreciate this.
Click This Play To Get Coaching Points
It’s not just the big guys who benefit though. Good coaches who run successful screen passes normally run them off of a base pass play or run play. If you go back and break down a good screen pass, you will see that the receivers are running a pass concept that disguises the screen for the defensive backs. You may also see screens runoff of jet sweeps and arounds.
The screen pass that we are showing you above is a slow screen. Please be aware that FirstDown PlayBook has every kind of screen known to football in a special section devoted to just screens. All of these plays are blocked vs different defenses with coaching points. After all and back to our origianl point, screens demand the detail and precision that FirstDown PlayBook provides you.
