THANK GOD! Somebody finally brought this up. I was afraid to at first––thought there was some taboo, or everyone knew something I didn't. But now I'm out with it. Prepare yourselves.
I f*cking hate the lateral screen. Against the Sun Belt teams you could run the fake punt every play and still score fifty. But against real teams that rinky-dinky sh#t is absolutely useless. It's a high risk play with minimal payout. When since Callahan took over and installed our skirt-wearing offense has one of those plays gone for a touchdown? Has it ever happened? Probably not, but I can distinctly remember two times that those useless passes have gone the other way for six, one of which happened yesterday.
Even in NCAA football on Xbox I don't run that play. Why? Because it's usually a guaranteed 5 yard loss, and that's with a team three deep at five stars in every position.
What's even more unbearable than the inevitable yard lossage is the simple fact that Lee can't complete it. They're behind, in front, high, low––anywhere but the bread basket. One would think the O-coordinator would nix the play for this reason alone. "Quarterback can't complete this simple pass? Very well. I shall place a fat red X next to this one." Shovel pass, middle screen––all fine. But throwing behind the line of scrimmage with our slow and wooden-handed receivers is an exercise in futility. Lee might as well throw a hand grenade instead; it couldn't do any more damage than the football.
I hate the lateral screens. I hate them when the work. I hate them when they fail. Up with them I will not put!