The Screen: Possible OL Achilles Heel?

[Hoofbite]

Just watching the game and maybe I'm seeing something that isn't there but I really think the OL is very poor at getting out and blocking in space.

The bubble screen has been the most effective screen I have seen Dallas run in a long time and its a play that doesn't require the OL to move a lot laterally. They can actually get out in front of the play without taking a long time.

I used to wonder why Dallas just couldn't run a screen but I really think the problem is the OLs inability to get out into space and make plays.

I'm pretty sure it was BIG who completely whiffed on Kiwi during the play where Kiwi caused the fumble. He had him lined up and just missed.

Also, watching the sweeps and stretch plays it really seems like those guys are moving too slow. the LBs are meeting the RB at the corner and it just seems like that wouldn't happen as badly if the OL could get over there a little quicker.

I dunno. I used to wish Dallas would at least try to screen and I used to call for some screens thinking that eventually it could become a legitimate threat but it hasn't. I'm not sure there is a worse screening team in the league. Dallas just gets nothing from those plays and part of me has to wonder if the reason is the inability of the OL to get over there.

Is that the trade off you have to take though? If you want a MASSIVE line, do you have so sacrifice the ability to get any of them out into space?

I just don't know why this team cannot execute a screen play. It has to be something more than misfortune. I think it has to be something with the type of OL this team looks for. Not saying that I want to go with light OL but I think its time find out why the screen play is so absent and ineffective when present.

I mean, maybe its time to run some middle screens to keep the OL from having to move too much.

With as much as teams blitz Dallas, the screen should and could be a big hitter. Did I read it correctly the other day when someone said that Romo is the most blitzed QB in the league?

How can it be that the team with the most opportunity to run the screen has the least amount of success?

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Teams that are good at the screen pass (aka Green Bay) practice it until it's second nature to them. Teams that aren't good at it, don't practice it and don't run it in games. For some reason, our idiot coaches don't practice it nearly enough, but still insist on running it in games. I have not seen a screen pass by this team that didn't look like a total disaster.

 

[TD-33]

Just watching the game and maybe I'm seeing something that isn't there but I really think the OL is very poor at getting out and blocking in space.

The bubble screen has been the most effective screen I have seen Dallas run in a long time and its a play that doesn't require the OL to move a lot laterally. They can actually get out in front of the play without taking a long time.

I used to wonder why Dallas just couldn't run a screen but I really think the problem is the OLs inability to get out into space and make plays.

I'm pretty sure it was BIG who completely whiffed on Kiwi during the play where Kiwi caused the fumble. He had him lined up and just missed.

Also, watching the sweeps and stretch plays it really seems like those guys are moving too slow. the LBs are meeting the RB at the corner and it just seems like that wouldn't happen as badly if the OL could get over there a little quicker.

I dunno. I used to wish Dallas would at least try to screen and I used to call for some screens thinking that eventually it could become a legitimate threat but it hasn't. I'm not sure there is a worse screening team in the league. Dallas just gets nothing from those plays and part of me has to wonder if the reason is the inability of the OL to get over there.

Is that the trade off you have to take though? If you want a MASSIVE line, do you have so sacrifice the ability to get any of them out into space?

I just don't know why this team cannot execute a screen play. It has to be something more than misfortune. I think it has to be something with the type of OL this team looks for. Not saying that I want to go with light OL but I think its time find out why the screen play is so absent and ineffective when present.

I mean, maybe its time to run some middle screens to keep the OL from having to move too much.

With as much as teams blitz Dallas, the screen should and could be a big hitter. Did I read it correctly the other day when someone said that Romo is the most blitzed QB in the league?

How can it be that the team with the most opportunity to run the screen has the least amount of success?

This is the conclusion I've come up with too. The OL is huge and the trade-off is the lack of speed. I also think this is the reason for a delayed draw, to give the OL time to bulldoze guys out and may be why JJ always hit piles, because with his speed he was hitting the line before the linemen could move out while Barber being slower suits that better.
That's my theory anyway. :

 

[casmith07]

Teams that are good at the screen pass (aka Green Bay) practice it until it's second nature to them. Teams that aren't good at it, don't practice it and don't run it in games. For some reason, our idiot coaches don't practice it nearly enough, but still insist on running it in games. I have not seen a screen pass by this team that didn't look like a total disaster.

You must have missed a couple of them this year, then, because Kevin Ogletree nearly scored on two, Miles scored on one, and Roy Williams took one at least 30 yards downfield.

 

[Hook'em#11]

Didn't F. Jones score on a screen play last season?

I agree with the not being able to get out in space. But, that fumble was all on Barber.

 

[CATCH17]

The very 1st play against Carolina this year Felix had about a 30 yard gain on a screen play.


Its just a play that you can give up on... Especially when teams do everything they can do get to Tony Romo.


Dont shy away from the screen pass.

 

[Hoofbite]

The very 1st play against Carolina this year Felix had about a 30 yard gain on a screen play.


Its just a play that you can give up on... Especially when teams do everything they can do get to Tony Romo.


Dont shy away from the screen pass.

Wish it was the norm. Hell, I'd take a lot less as the norm.

 

[Coast2Coast27]

Dallas hasnt been able to run a screen pass with any consistency since 1989.

 

[Zman5]

EaGirls have a big line if not bigger than ours and they are one of the best screen teams in the league.

I don't think size has anything to do with it. I think our OL are just not nimble/athletic enough to run it well.

 

[craig71]

To run the screen effectively takes alot of coordination betweent the line,Qb and the backs.To get that coordination and timing down pat takes alot of practice time.Now they have ran the screen successfully a handful of times throughout the season,so I think they have the ability.However,I don't think they have the execution part down to be successful on a consistent basis.

When it comes to running a bubble screen to the outside they have been more successful on that play than a traditional screen to the back.I think part of the reason for that is that it doesn't require as much coordination between the players.

To be honest about it,I don't think they've ran the screen well since the Landry years though.

Craig

 

[CF74]

Anybody care to define:

1) "Middle Screen"
2) "Bubble Screen"

as opposed to just a "Screen?"

 

[Quarterback Coach]

Teams that are good at the screen pass (aka Green Bay) practice it until it's second nature to them. Teams that aren't good at it, don't practice it and don't run it in games. For some reason, our idiot coaches don't practice it nearly enough, but still insist on running it in games. I have not seen a screen pass by this team that didn't look like a total disaster.

How lovely. I posted this about a month ago and got abused...yet, now we all seem to agree...funny how that works.

 

[RS12]

The screen does not work well because for the Cowboys because it is called way too often in this offense. Way too many plays called and thrown behind the line of scrimmage and not enough downfield and beyond the LOS IMO. Teams just studying tendencies and stacking their defense accordingly.

 

[dbair1967]

Just watching the game and maybe I'm seeing something that isn't there but I really think the OL is very poor at getting out and blocking in space.

The bubble screen has been the most effective screen I have seen Dallas run in a long time and its a play that doesn't require the OL to move a lot laterally. They can actually get out in front of the play without taking a long time.

I used to wonder why Dallas just couldn't run a screen but I really think the problem is the OLs inability to get out into space and make plays.

I'm pretty sure it was BIG who completely whiffed on Kiwi during the play where Kiwi caused the fumble. He had him lined up and just missed.

Also, watching the sweeps and stretch plays it really seems like those guys are moving too slow. the LBs are meeting the RB at the corner and it just seems like that wouldn't happen as badly if the OL could get over there a little quicker.

I dunno. I used to wish Dallas would at least try to screen and I used to call for some screens thinking that eventually it could become a legitimate threat but it hasn't. I'm not sure there is a worse screening team in the league. Dallas just gets nothing from those plays and part of me has to wonder if the reason is the inability of the OL to get over there.

Is that the trade off you have to take though? If you want a MASSIVE line, do you have so sacrifice the ability to get any of them out into space?

I just don't know why this team cannot execute a screen play. It has to be something more than misfortune. I think it has to be something with the type of OL this team looks for. Not saying that I want to go with light OL but I think its time find out why the screen play is so absent and ineffective when present.

I mean, maybe its time to run some middle screens to keep the OL from having to move too much.

With as much as teams blitz Dallas, the screen should and could be a big hitter. Did I read it correctly the other day when someone said that Romo is the most blitzed QB in the league?

How can it be that the team with the most opportunity to run the screen has the least amount of success?

Dallas won 3 super bowls in 4 years...tons of teams around the league were running screens galore...I bet we didnt try to run more than 3 in those 4 years combined, that worked out pretty good.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Dallas historically has been a poor screen team, your offensive lineman have to be very athletic to execute the play... Dallas isn't very athletic up front.