Screen Pass?

[Star-Fan]

Hey gang! I've had this question for a few weeks now.. It started when I read that thread about favorite MNF play. Winicki mentionted the screen to Tony Dorsett vs the Colts. Anyway... to those of you that know Bledsoe, how good has he been over his career with the screen? I know that we haven't had a great screen game for years now. Is this the year we develope that wrinkle?

By the way THANKS to BrAinPaiNt for my new sig!!! Roy...King of Hits!

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by Star-Fan

Hey gang! I've had this question for a few weeks now.. It started when I read that thread about favorite MNF play. Winicki mentionted the screen to Tony Dorsett vs the Colts. Anyway... to those of you that know Bledsoe, how good has he been over his career with the screen? I know that we haven't had a great screen game for years now. Is this the year we develope that wrinkle?

Screen are a lot harder to run now days, defenses do such a great job of reading and dropping back toward the RB. I think your better off running quick flare passes out to the RB

[WoodysGirl]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Screen are a lot harder to run now days, defenses do such a great job of reading and dropping back toward the RB. I think your better off running quick flare passes out to the RB

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't it also predicated on having a quick release, which is not what Bledsoe is known for having?

[scottsp]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Screen are a lot harder to run now days, defenses do such a great job of reading and dropping back toward the RB. I think your better off running quick flare passes out to the RB

Absolutely. Defenses are better prepared these days. It's just one of those plays they've become familiar with and what to look for. Also, the athletes up front have much better range that allows them to better disrupt such trick-em plays.

Back when TD and Ron Springs were taking those screens for fifteen a pop, the average defensive lineman had little chance to make a play from behind. Meanwhile, run-of-the-mill LBs really wanted no part of a 275 pound offensive tackle barreling down the field, leading a convoy.

[Banned_n_austin]

Originally Posted by Woody'sGirl

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't it also predicated on having a quick release, which is not what Bledsoe is known for having?

Bledsoe has a nice quick release. But the screen pass is not where your money is at. It doesn't always get you up field which is your goal. A screen pass is sometimes the last option the QB has.

[WoodysGirl]

Originally Posted by Banned_n_austin

Bledsoe has a nice quick release. But the screen pass is not where your money is at. It doesn't always get you up field which is your goal. A screen pass is sometimes the last option the QB has.

Oh ok, gotcha.

Now that I've put my ignornance on display, I'll go back to posting Cowboy news...

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by Woody'sGirl

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't it also predicated on having a quick release, which is not what Bledsoe is known for having?

Bledsoe may hold on to the ball too long but that is when he is looking to make a play down field, if your running a quick pattern (Slants, quick outs and screens) Bledsoe can still do the job. But again what I have seen in recent years is how quick the defense are at recognizing screens and reacting back towards the runner

[zorg222]

I think it's more of the OL's job when it comes to screens, bad OL=bad screens, good OL=good screens, then the RB always has to be good, but QBs don't play a huge role in it.

[playit12]

The main problem Bledsoe will have with the screen pass is in avoiding the pass rush until the trap is set. He needs to quickly backpeddle to pull the faster DEs into the backfield before dropping of the pass. Offensive Linemen will usually chip the incomming defender in order to buy some time, but asking them to do more than that is usually a recipe for Holding calls.

Having said all of that, here are the three things you need to run a good screen play. Fast interior linemen, quick footed QB with a soft touch, and running back with good hands and excellent vision.

We aren't exacly fast on the interior with Allen and Rivera...
Bledsoe is not quick footed
I consider JJ still untested as far as his pass catching is concerned, but he does have good vision.

Also I certainly don't think the screen is dead. Several teams use the screen very effectively including the Colts and Lions. It is quite useful to punish an over-agressive defense. Screen plays commit the defense to defending the RB out of the backfield and hold the line backers in the box.

The Cowboys rarely employ the screen now and instead use the draw play to the same effect. Considering the age and speed of our gaurds, I don't expect that to change this year.

[Star-Fan]

Originally Posted by playit12

The main problem Bledsoe will have with the screen pass is in avoiding the pass rush until the trap is set. He needs to quickly backpeddle to pull the faster DEs into the backfield before dropping of the pass. Offensive Linemen will usually chip the incomming defender in order to buy some time, but asking them to do more than that is usually a recipe for Holding calls.

Having said all of that, here are the three things you need to run a good screen play. Fast interior linemen, quick footed QB with a soft touch, and running back with good hands and excellent vision.

We aren't exacly fast on the interior with Allen and Rivera...
Bledsoe is not quick footed
I consider JJ still untested as far as his pass catching is concerned, but he does have good vision.

[View Full Quote]Also I certainly don't think the screen is dead. Several teams use the screen very effectively including the Colts and Lions. It is quite useful to punish an over-agressive defense. Screen plays commit the defense to defending the RB out of the backfield and hold the line backers in the box.

The Cowboys rarely employ the screen now and instead use the draw play to the same effect. Considering the age and speed of our gaurds, I don't expect that to change this year.

True. But, was it last year that talk out of camp was the 'Boys were looking into trying the screen? Maybe it was BP's first year. I was just wondering if Bp and Bledsoe used it before. D@mn I wish this off season would end already. Hey wouldn't it be great if NFL the season lasted as long as NBA?

That song 'How far is Heaven?' applies now don't it?

[WilmingtonHeel]

Woody's Girl your Okay keep bringing it sweetheart! Allen is reportedly in good shape and Rivera is from GB who by the way run the best screen pass in football. IMO with those two and Johnson who's pretty mobile I think we could do it. We haven't been able to run one effectively for years to save our life

[LaTunaNostra]

During the big bad debate that engulfed New England in 2001 and the post season before Bledsoe was traded to Buffalo, Drew's truly awful screen passing talents were oft brought up as one reason to go with Brady.

Drew's got other weapons in his repertoire, like a fantastic mid to longish range out, but screens he sucked at.

[kartr]

Originally Posted by Doomsday101

Bledsoe may hold on to the ball too long but that is when he is looking to make a play down field, if your running a quick pattern (Slants, quick outs and screens) Bledsoe can still do the job. But again what I have seen in recent years is how quick the defense are at recognizing screens and reacting back towards the runner

Is he really holding on to the ball too long for that reason or is it that he's just to slow in reading defenses as Jaws suggested. It seems to me that if he really knew what he was doing, he'd throw it away rather than taking needless sacks.

[ravidubey]

Originally Posted by playit12

The main problem Bledsoe will have with the screen pass is in avoiding the pass rush until the trap is set. He needs to quickly backpeddle to pull the faster DEs into the backfield before dropping of the pass. Offensive Linemen will usually chip the incomming defender in order to buy some time, but asking them to do more than that is usually a recipe for Holding calls.

Having said all of that, here are the three things you need to run a good screen play. Fast interior linemen, quick footed QB with a soft touch, and running back with good hands and excellent vision.

We aren't exacly fast on the interior with Allen and Rivera...
Bledsoe is not quick footed
I consider JJ still untested as far as his pass catching is concerned, but he does have good vision.

[View Full Quote]Also I certainly don't think the screen is dead. Several teams use the screen very effectively including the Colts and Lions. It is quite useful to punish an over-agressive defense. Screen plays commit the defense to defending the RB out of the backfield and hold the line backers in the box.

The Cowboys rarely employ the screen now and instead use the draw play to the same effect. Considering the age and speed of our gaurds, I don't expect that to change this year.

I have always believed a key component of the screen is misdirection and faking, a skill and trait the power and talent of the 90's teams washed out of the Cowboys organization.

The Boys haven't been able to fake worth a crap since Danny White was QB. Drop back towards one side of the field, sell the pass, and throw the screen back towards the middle giving your back the whole field to work with.

But I agree that Bledsoe is not known for short touch, Larry Allen has the finesse of a ballpeen hammer, and Julius Jones absolutely stinks at catching the football while facing behind him. Still, it would be fun to watch if we could get it right!

[Waffle]

Originally Posted by LaTunaNostra

Drew's got other weapons in his repertoire, like a fantastic mid to longish range out, but screens he sucked at.

Well then, he ought to feel right at home playing for Dallas.