There are certain plays that just irk me to all hell no matter when they are called. Enter the boundary screen, especially those that are thrown immediately after the snap of the football. Unless there is a HUGE cushion, it seems like a total waste of time to throw it out there. The QB throws it, the WR catches it and gains precious few yards. And that is if he is lucky enough to get back to the LOS. Teams throw these all the time. And I understand why. It looks like the path of lest resistance. Why not throw it out there and let your WR make a move on the CB, then scoot up the sidelines for a huge gain? But how often does that plan work? And, on the off chance that the receiver misses a backward pass there, or if the player is stripped of the ball, or if the DB gets there quick and picks the ball off, the result is, almost always, a touchdown for the defense. In a risk-reward relationship, it seems that the boundary screen is 80 percent risk for 20 percent reward, not numbers that I value.
Now, I am in favor of the throw back pass, where the QB rolls right or left and throws it to a running back going the other way out of the backfield. With most boundary screens, however, there is usually no misdirection action that creates a separation for the receiving player, be it a WR, RB, or TE. And, even when there is a misdirection action, a throw-back screen should only be attempted once every great while and only if the QB can be trusted to put throw only when the misdirection action creates separation between receiver and defender.
If you are going to pass the ball, work the ball down field. What if all the receivers are covered. Even then, don't automatically throw a boundary screen. Rather than throwing a dump off, throw the ball away. I can't count how many times I have seen players catch a boundary screen and then get destroyed by some defender driving on the play.
In summary, don't throw boundary screens or, for that matter, any screen play, unless the following conditions apply, 1. there is misdirection. 2. The play isn't used too often. 3. The quarterback understands how to read a defense and opts to throw the ball well out of bounds if it appears that there are too many defenders lurking around where the screen is being set.
Dallas threw a boundary screen late in the first half on Monday. We see how well that worked out.
So, take a cue Huskers. Don't do it.
Who is with me?
Now, I am in favor of the throw back pass, where the QB rolls right or left and throws it to a running back going the other way out of the backfield. With most boundary screens, however, there is usually no misdirection action that creates a separation for the receiving player, be it a WR, RB, or TE. And, even when there is a misdirection action, a throw-back screen should only be attempted once every great while and only if the QB can be trusted to put throw only when the misdirection action creates separation between receiver and defender.
If you are going to pass the ball, work the ball down field. What if all the receivers are covered. Even then, don't automatically throw a boundary screen. Rather than throwing a dump off, throw the ball away. I can't count how many times I have seen players catch a boundary screen and then get destroyed by some defender driving on the play.
In summary, don't throw boundary screens or, for that matter, any screen play, unless the following conditions apply, 1. there is misdirection. 2. The play isn't used too often. 3. The quarterback understands how to read a defense and opts to throw the ball well out of bounds if it appears that there are too many defenders lurking around where the screen is being set.
Dallas threw a boundary screen late in the first half on Monday. We see how well that worked out.
So, take a cue Huskers. Don't do it.
Who is with me?
