AFM RSS Feed Follow Us on Twitter       
AMERICAN FOOTBALL MONTHLY THE #1 RESOURCE FOR FOOTBALL COACHES
ABOUT |  CONTACT |  ADVERTISE |  HELP  



   User Name    Password 
      Password Help





Article Categories


AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


Screen your way to success

Wide Receivers Coach, University of North Carolina
© More from this issue

Click for Printer Friendly Version          

If you liked this article, here are three others just like it:

1. Play Action of the Big Play, Sept. 2001
2. Packaging Your Passing Game, May 2001
3. Attacking the Red Zone, Aug. 2000

With all the heat modern defenses are bringing and the games they play along the line of scrimmage to bottle up the running game, the screen game to the running back has become an outstanding mode of counter-attack. We use this package frequently at the University of North Carolina and have had excellent success.

This package is used with a one-back set and was developed by offensive coordinator Gary Tranquil with input from all our offensive staff members. Each of us on the staff has had some experience with this package. When I was at Marshall University, for example, and we had a go-to guy at receiver like Randy Moss, these plays were an excellent way to take advantage of all the attention defenses paid to Randy. They would double him up to one side and we’d throw the screen to the opposite side.

This screen package is simple, adaptable and effective from a variety of formations. Most of the blocking rules are the same for the offensive linemen, and there are not a lot of reads for the quarterback. These plays demand an accurate arm and good timing from the quarterback, but they do not require a cannon for an arm.

Work these plays into your game plan this season and you’ll give defenses fits when they load up the box with eight or nine men.

THE DOUBLE SCREEN PASS

The beauty of the double-screen is that it provides two plays in one. The first read is the defensive end to the running back side. If he rushes, the quarterback dumps the ball to the running back. If the defensive end doesn’t rush, or does not get a clean release, the quarterback throws the screen to the wide-receiver side.

The double screen can be run out of many formations with only minor adjustments. Start with a base 5-man protection and adjust your screen rules. In this case, the play side offensive tackle will set and release for support. The tight end will release and block the play side inside linebacker. The backside offensive tackle will block man-on and block the defensive end. The center will block the first LB to the receiver side screen. The play side guard will block the alley, and the receiver-side guard will block the alley to that side.

This play like all others works best when you have superior personnel at key positions. It provides stress relief for your quarterback and offensive linemen. It’s an easy read for the quarterback and lets the linemen set up the defensive lineman with pass-rush tricks. By getting the ball into the running back’s hands on the perimeter, you should always have a chance for a successful play. (See diagrams 1-3)


Diagram 1. Double Screen - 3X1
One Back/Three WRs Strong Side Screen


Diagram 2. Double Screen - 2X1
Two Backs/Three WRs
Strong Side Screen


Diagram 3. Double Screen/3X1 to the WR
Note: DE peals or doesn’t rush go to WR side


Coaching Points:

Wide Receivers
• Block #1 and #2 (see diagram 1, 2 and 3), except for the receiver getting the ball. He will take two sets up, and then work back into the formation behind the line of scrimmage looking for the ball.

Running Back
• Free release at all costs.
• Catch the ball behind the line of scrimmage.
• Get your head around quickly and find the ball.
• Read the blocks of the offensive line.

Offensive Line
• Know where the ball has a chance of going
• Play side tackle run the line and block support. • Backside tackle block pass pro (DE)
• Center and both guards block for two count and execute the screen blocks.

Quarterback
• Execute quick 5-step drop; if 1st screen is not there pump fake and throw to the wide receiver.
• Make an accurate throw.
• Adjust on the run.

Best Time to Call
• Any blitz situation – work on zone-blitz looks; they are more difficult for the offense to recognize.
• Man-to-Man looks/ 2 Man
• When defensive line starts really rushing up field.

Adjustments
• You can use a receiver to crack the inside linebacker and have the TE go to the safety.

THE FLARE SCREEN PASS

The beauty of the flare screen is that it gets leverage on the cornerback and puts the ball in the running back’s hands after he’s turned up field and is headed north-and-south. The base rules are simple, which is one reason it has been effective over the years.

This play enables you to get the ball to a back on the edge going downhill. It is just another way to run a sweep or bounce play and use the skill kids to block instead of the offensive linemen. By getting the ball into the running back’s hands on the perimeter, we will always have a chance for a successful play.

The flare screen can be run to a split-end side or a tight-end side. The split-end side can be more effective than the tight-end side as this side has a greater chance of getting a rush end, and the read is cleaner for the quarterback. For protection, we use a zone three-step type protection since the ball is thrown quickly. The back getting the ball is a free-releaser and the other back can protect off the edge.

A blitz from the linebacker who normally would have been blocked by the running back means the quarterback must recognize the blitz quickly and get rid of the ball to the running back.

The widest receiver to the call cracks the first defender inside of him off the line of scrimmage. The second receiver to the call cracks the second defender inside of him off the line of scrimmage. The third receiver, if there is one, cracks the third defender inside of him off the line of scrimmage.

If a receiver’s defender blitzes, he does block that defender; he continues to the next defender or the next level. We do not block the cornerback, hoping to gain leverage on him by the receivers crossing the field. We’re hoping to “sucker” him into a bad spot on the field where he has no chance to make the play.

The running back flares out to the play side and catches the ball two-to-five yards outside the tackle, then turns up field. If the weak side linebacker blitzes, it’s the running back’s job to get his head around and find the ball. (See diagrams 4 & 5)


Diagram 4. Flare Screen 3X1 set


Diagram 5. Flare Screen 2X1 set

Coaching Points:

Wide Receivers
• On the crack-block – stay above the waist and keep your head in front of the defender.
• Never loose the defender over the top – spill him underneath.
• Continue to next defender or next level if your man disappears.
• Go hard early then get under control – stay on the move.
• First time is a kill shot – after that controlled stalk block.

Running Backs
• Must have a clean release at all costs.
• Catch the ball behind the line of scrimmage.
• Get your head around quickly and find the ball.
• Read the blocks of the receivers.

Offensive Line
• Know where the ball is going.
• Play side tackle set and cut in order to get the DE hands down.
• Play side tackle attack the defensive end and cut if he does not rush.
• Offensive line doesn’t release and go down field until ball is thrown.

Quarterback
• Execute quick 5-step drop, may have to pull up and throw before five steps.
• Make an accurate throw.
• Adjust on the run.

Best Time to Call
• Any blitz situation – work on zone-blitz looks since they are more difficult for the offense.
• Man-to-Man looks/2 Man
• When corner starts to chase crossing routes.

Adjustments
• Can game plan an Arc Scheme. (A crack and arc)

THE CRACK SCREEN PASS

This screen sets up great to help your drop-back passing attack. If you run crossing routes, it helps to set up the crack blocks by the receivers. The theory behind this play is to get leverage on the cornerback and get the ball to the running back turned up field headed north and south.

The crack screen is run to an open-end side or split-end side; we found this to be more effective than the tight-end side. One reason for that is a wide rusher, it helps to have a wide 5 technique, because the RB can get out underneath him easier than a tighter technique and usually he is a rusher. We use a “big-on-big” principle for our protection, where the running back has the weak side linebacker. If the weak side linebacker comes, the running back is responsible for chipping him on the way out into his route. At times he doesn’t even need to block him, if the linebacker comes from depth.

The blocking rules for the receivers are exactly the same as the Flare Screen above.

The running back slips under the play side tackle out into the flat area and catches the ball one yard behind the line of scrimmage, then turns up field. If the weak side linebacker blitzes, it’s the running back’s job to chip him on the way out.

This play enables your running back to slip under the rush end and get to the edge quickly. It allows the receivers a great angle to block and gives the offensive linemen a chance to mix up drop-back protection techniques.


Diagram 6. Crack Screen - 3X1 set


Diagram 7. Crack Screen 3X1 set


Diagram 8. Crack Screen 2X1 set 2 back


Coaching Points:

Wide Receivers
• On the crack block – stay above the waist and keep your head in front of the defender.
• Never loose the defender over the top – spill him underneath.
• Continue to next defender or next level if your man disappears.
• Go hard early then get under control – stay on the move.
• First time is a kill shot – after that controlled stalk block.
• You can mix faking the Bubble Screen in here.

Running Backs
• Must have a clean release at all costs.
• Catch the ball behind the line of scrimmage.
• Get your head around quickly and find the ball.
• Chip weak side linebacker if he comes.

Offensive Line
• Know where the ball is going.
• Play side tackle invite a wide rusher up field.
• Play side tackle attack the defensive end and cut if he does not rush.

Quarterback
• Execute 5-step drop.
• Make an accurate throw.
• Adjust on the run.

Best Time To Call
• Any blitz situation – work on zone-blitz looks, they are more difficult.
• Man-to-Man looks/2 Man.
• When corner starts to chase crossing routes.

Adjustments
• Can game plan an Arc Scheme.
• Can run to the Tight-end instead of the running back as a change.


About the author
Gunter Brewer

Gunter Brewer is in his fourth season as the Tar Heels’ wide receivers coach, having joined the staff in February of 2000. Brewer came to Carolina after coaching at Marshall from 1996-99.

An energetic and enthusiastic coach, Brewer has produced several outstanding receivers at Carolina. Last season, Sam Aiken set single-season school records in receptions (68) and receiving yards (990) and Chesley Borders set a single-game record with four touchdown catches at Arizona State.

For more information on this article or Coach Brewer, email brewer@uncaa.unc.edu.






NEW BOOK!

AFM Videos Streaming Memberships Now Available Digital Download - 304 Pages of Football Forms for the Winning Coach



















HOME
MAGAZINE
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE COLUMNISTS COACHING VIDEOS


Copyright 2024, AmericanFootballMonthly.com
All Rights Reserved