Need new threat: Better Screen Passes

[Broncos4tw]

If Jake is stuffed on the rollout, and is forced into staying in the pocket, our offense becomes shakey. We have one real strength (well two typically) on offense, being Jake's ability to do something while on the move, and our running game. But if the running game is stuffed, and if a team stuffs our rolls, what do we do? Well, we suck, we've seen it happen several times this year.

One play that a lot of teams use, because it's so effective, is the screen. These plays against blitz-happy teams usually pick up 8 to 12 yards chunks in a hurry. But some reason, we rarely do this. And when we have done it, we look very sloppy. I've seen Jake muff a very simple screen pass.

My question is why don't we run this play more? I'm thinking it's just a matter of practice and we'll get it down just as well as any team. Some teams screen the hell out of their opponents to good effect. Why don't we do the screen more? It's like it's a play we run a couple times a game perhaps, and we don't do it well.

Thoughts?

[BroncoMatt]

It's because Jake can't throw the short ball <sarsasm/>

[dbfan4life]

I thought we've been using the screen well in very key situations. I recall one 3rd and long where is was used and it netted a 1st down.

[bendog]

I thought we've been using the screen well in very key situations. I recall one 3rd and long where is was used and it netted a 1st down.

Exactly. What the post misses is that Pitt sold out against the run. WRs were open all night, and yeah, even Rod dropped a long one ... but Den won. The screen is only a viable play if the back 7 are dropping into coverage, and there's a hard 4 or 5 man pass rush. In 3rd and long, for example. But, the WC scheme of Shanny's isn't screen friendly. It tends to stretch the field horizontally, which is death on a screen play.

[watermock]

I'm not sure what that post tried to say. You hope they send blitzers on a screen. I've been screaming for more screens for years. We just don't seem to execute that play very well and it's rarely called.

If there was ever a team that needed to call some screens it was Oakland last night. Crazy Al will take that antiquated "vertical" offense that doesn't use motion to the grave. Gruden had that WC offense clicking and the odd tuck call saved N.E.

It's certainly missing in this offense. It's not like this isn't a pretty experienced line that can't move.

[Popps]

It's because Jake can't throw the short ball <sarsasm/>

LOL

nice.

Seriously though, I really dug what we did against NE and KC with the dumps and implementing the shotgun when defensive pressure got too hairy.

Luckily, that shouldn't be a problem this week. _aklan_ has pretty much quit for the season.

I think we're all in the mood for a nice blowout. Hopefully we'll get one this weekend.

[e-mac]

the traditional screen will never be a big part of this offence for three reasons; 1 we zone block and on a screen lineman have to pull out to block for the screen since are lineman don't pull on running plays it is a tell when they pull out into a screen, 2 is the fact Tatum bell had problems catching the football, and usually once he has it he is usualy too concerned of droping it to set his blocks and run the screen, Mike Bell has better hands and you see the screen more with him in, and 3 when lineman pull out to screen they abandon thw QB to block for the RB and leaving Jake unprotected and once he hears footsteps Jake turns into 'Zona Jake. I think thi "middle screen" or "the shuffle pass" we ran with Son of Bob would be affective with Mike Bell, hopefully Tatum comes back and we won't need the screen because are runinng game will be back.

[bombquixote]

I've been screaming for more screens for years. We just don't seem to execute that play very well and it's rarely called.

Seems like we used to screen a lot to Portis. I remember we torched KC with Portis screens in the 2001 home game.

Despite what somebody mentioned about zone blocking not lending itself to the screen, I've seen several attempts this year that should have been successful but that were executed so sloppily they went for little or now gain, or incompletes. Maybe they just don't practice it enough.

[broncosteven]

I'm not sure what that post tried to say. You hope they send blitzers on a screen. I've been screaming for more screens for years. We just don't seem to execute that play very well and it's rarely called.

If there was ever a team that needed to call some screens it was Oakland last night. Crazy Al will take that antiquated "vertical" offense that doesn't use motion to the grave. Gruden had that WC offense clicking and the odd tuck call saved N.E.

It's certainly missing in this offense. It's not like this isn't a pretty experienced line that can't move.

Huh?

Not sure which brain cell this post bounced off of!

[bendog]

Seems like we used to screen a lot to Portis. I remember we torched KC with Portis screens in the 2001 home game.

Despite what somebody mentioned about zone blocking not lending itself to the screen, I've seen several attempts this year that should have been successful but that were executed so sloppily they went for little or now gain, or incompletes. Maybe they just don't practice it enough.

Yeah, they used to pass back to Sonic off the bootleg. Another way of getting the defense leaning one way, and ripping sonic the other. It was beautiful