Huskers Focusing on Screen Plays This Spring

[Mavric]

“We’ve been working hard on it,” offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said. “It’s got to be a big part of our game. We’ve got to execute it.”

Cavanaugh’s group may have the most influence on whether that happens.

The success of the screen pass so often relies on the offensive linemen — they have to subtly give up a rush lane, then hastily move downfield as they find a target to engage. If the defense gets to the quarterback too quickly or the pass catcher doesn’t have enough space, the play has no chance.

“We’ve just got to cover guys up to get it started,” Cavanaugh said.

The Huskers weren’t as efficient at it as they would have liked last year.

On the conventional screen passes to running backs, the Huskers averaged 5.8 yards per attempt.

They completed just 4 of 7 screens to tight ends, totaling 18 yards. One of those resulted in an interception.

NU does have a variety of screens for receivers, particularly those that single out defensive backs along the sideline. But on the 10 receiver screens over the middle that the Huskers ran last year, they averaged 7.5 yards per attempt.

 

OWH

[cornographic]

I like the idea of screens, too bad that's the weakest part of TAs game. Don't hold your breath for alot of screens next season.

 

[Landlord]

I miss the Bill Callahan runningback middle screen play.

[Red Five]

Tommy has never been strong in passing short to the RBs out of the backfield. I see that as being as big of an issue as the OL on the screens.

[Hunter94]

well, in this play he had a guy right up his ass, in his defense he had no chance to complete it, in fact it was a piss poor play to call deep in our end of the field.........

[84HuskerLaw]

The screen pass play has been a fundamental football play for many decades. It is a great play, particularly vs opponents with speed and agressive defenses or blitzing on 2 and longs and third and mediums. I enjoy the play when called in the right circumstances and ran well. The O line and the rest of the players MUST do their parts well as it has deception and trickery as elements. The linemen must sell the idea that it is a drop back pass play and the QB will be vulnerable to a sack so that the defenders will overrun the line of scrimmage allowing the offense to make a good gain by dropping the ball just over the heads of the defensive front wall. We did not run the plays well at all in recent years.

[Hunter94]

it's just like any play using deception, it's all about when and where you run it.......not deep in our own backyard......too risky.

[Swiv3D]

it's just like any play using deception, it's all about when and where you run it.......not deep in our own backyard......too risky.

So is calling a pass from your own 1, but every so often, you get a 99 yard touchdown.

[GBRFAN]

well, in this play he had a guy right up his ass, in his defense he had no chance to complete it, in fact it was a piss poor play to call deep in our end of the field.........

 

so I guess we should have waited until we got down to the 10 yard line so that way the int for a td could have been 95 yards.... I don't see the logic.

 

 

except for your constant desire to bitch.

[Mavric]

I miss the Bill Callahan runningback middle screen play.

 

Marlon Lucky feasted on those

[BigRedBuster]

Everyone loves the screen pass until it goes for a pick 6 then it's the dumbest play ever called.

 

It's possibly the one play that causes more fans to be bipolar than any other.

 

And...yes....I loved the middle screen BC ran.

[cornographic]

well, in this play he had a guy right up his ass, in his defense he had no chance to complete it, in fact it was a piss poor play to call deep in our end of the field.........

I agree that you don't call a screen deep in you own territory, but the idea of a screen is to let the rushers through, so that can't be used as an excuse, the QB has to deal with that.

[Blackshirt96]

well, in this play he had a guy right up his ass, in his defense he had no chance to complete it, in fact it was a piss poor play to call deep in our end of the field.........

Had the tackle on the play done anything other then dive at his laces & miss, this play would have gone a long way down the field.

[Saunders]

well, in this play he had a guy right up his ass, in his defense he had no chance to complete it, in fact it was a piss poor play to call deep in our end of the field.........

That's where you run that play. Look at the GIF. If the tackl doesn't dive at the DE's shoes, the pass is completed, and he's got an edge sealed and a lead blocker for the last guy. At worst it's a 20 yard gain.

[cm husker]

I like the idea of screens, too bad that's the weakest part of TAs game. Don't hold your breath for alot of screens next season.

 

that play is a perfect example of how picks aren't always a QBs fault. That was a completely blown block that led to the pick.