Screen Passing Game for Football

The screen pass has proven to be a very potent weapon in any offensive game plan. When used and executed right it can wreak havoc on the defense.

In this article we will define what is a screen pass, some different screen plays, when to us them and why.

What is a Screen Pass:

It is a play from the short passing game that is designed to look like a long vertical pass play. Teams line up the same way the do when they are throwing the ball down the field.

The quarterback drops back like in any regular pass play and the offensive linemen hold their blocks for up to two seconds before releasing and letting the pass rushers charge the QB. Its purpose is to trick the defense, reduce the number of pass defenders, have the offensive men blocking down field and burn the defense for big yards.

The targets would be the same as any vertical pass play, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs.

Typical Screen Plays:

1. Conventional Screen:

Typically this pass is thrown to the running back who positions himself between

pass rushers and the offensive linemen blocking down field. The pass is thrown

behind the line of scrimmage and the linemen can block down field taking

out the linebackers and the receivers block the defensive backs.

2. Bubble Screen:

The inception of this play is credited to former Montana Grizzly Coach Don Read and credit

for its prominence goes to former Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz who learned the play from

Read and introduced it to Division 1 football.

The wide receivers are the targets for this play. They take one step off the line of

scrimmage then head back towards the quarterback to receive the ball as the linemen

block past them setting up the screen. This play is very effective against man to man

coverages and zone defenses.

3. Quarterback Throw Back Screen:

This play calls for the quarterback to either toss the ball to a running back or

throw it to a wide receiver. Then the QB runs in the opposite direction will a wall

linemen blocking in front of him with the running back or receiver passing the

ball back to the quarterback. This play is also known as the "Blitz Breaker." It is

most effective against heavy blitzing defenses.

4. When to use the Screen Pass:

This passing strategy can be used most anytime during a game and is very effective

against teams that are blitzing a lot. Those teams are very vulnerable to the

Quarterback Throw Back Pass while teams that are in man to man or zone are

exposed to the Bubble and Jail Break Screen.

When the running game is stalling or the offense cant consistently get going the screen

pass is a way to get things going. It can make the defense play honest and give the

quarterback more confidence such as how the Denver Broncos have done with Tim

Tebow.

5. Why Use Screen Plays:

1. Spark a stalled running game

2. Slow down the pass rush

3. Beat the Blitz

4. Open up the vertical passing game

5. Exploit man to man and zone coverages.

In conclusion the screen pass should be part of every team's offensive game plan. It makes defenses play more honest and have to take the strategy into account in their defensive game plan. It creates more ways to get your skill players into space with the ball and get big gains.

There are a lot of screen play coaching DVDs with dozens of screen plays. Use the links below and see which ones best fit your offense.

Football Screen Passing Game DVDs

Football Passing Game DVDs

Football Off Season Training Videos

An effective off season training program can give you the edge over your competition coming into fall or spring football camp!

With that in mind scoretouchdowns.com has created a new category named Off Season Football Training. It is located under the Conditioning Category on the navigation bar on the left.

The DVDs are position specific and designed to get you into great shape. Whether you are a running back, quarterback, receiver, offensive or defensive lineman or a defensive back we have the right training video just for you.

Check out our list of DVDs so you can enter your next training camp in top condition and have the edge over your competition.

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Bank Of America Gets Foreclosed on by Home Owner

You read it right, a branch of the infamous Bank of America was foreclosed on in Collier County Florida.

I know this post runs contrary to the theme of the blog and has nothing to do with sports or football. However we have all heard the horror stories of Bank of America abusing home owners, foreclosing on people they should not have.

This week Brett Bair of Fox News did a special on banks wrongly foreclosing on people, telling customers to let their home get a few months behind to qualify for the home modification loan. Once patrons followed the advice on the home modification loans and made the new lower payments, Bank of America was denying the modification and was foreclosing on these home owners.

In Collier Count Florida the bank initiated foreclosure proceedings against the Nyergers. The problem was, the Nyergers paid cash for the house and still had to go through a court proceeding to prove Bank of America had no interest in the home what so ever since the Nyergers never had a mortgage.

The judge ordered all court costs be assigned to the Bank of America and that is where the banks arrogance came back to bite them. For 5 months after the matter was settled the bank refused to return phone calls and letters of demand. The Nyergers attorney foreclosed on the back and the video below shows.

There is 35 second commercial before the actual foreclosure video starts, it also stops a couple of time but enjoy seeing Bank of America get theirs.


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Boise State Football Blue: Is It Becoming A Trend?

In 1986 Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier decided to make a bold move and take big risk. When he was installing a new astro turf field in Bronco Stadium he decided to make it blue. Thus the Boise State Broncos became the first and only team in the country to play on a blue field.

Naturally there were the detractors and I was one of them. Back then the field earned the nick name "Smurf Turf". On those rare occasions the Broncos played on national television the TV announcers would pre-warn the audience, "don't adjust your sets the color of the field is blue."

Today the Boise State Broncos are known nation wide for their blue turf and the way they play football. Gone are the urban legends of ducks mistaking the field for water and dying dive bombing in for a place to float. Gone is the name smurf turf, today we call it playing on "The Blue."

Back in 86 Bleymaier took a big gamble and made his move as a publicity stunt hoping to get Bronco Stadium on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Bronco Stadium did not get on the cover of Sports Illustrated back then. However the team and some of "The Blue" did last season.

If imitation is the best form of flattery then Boise State Blue is becoming a trend, in at least the high school ranks.

Currently there are 3 high schools and one college across the country that have followed suite and have blue football fields and they are about to be joined by another.

West Hills Chaminade High School in California is going blue. Football Coach Croson said the blue turf will be similar to the field at Boise State. Construction will be finished in time for the fall season.

Current list of high schools with blue fields.
High schools in Barrow, Alaska; Hidalgo, Texas; and Lovington, N.M., play their football games on artificial blue surfaces. Division II The University of New Haven reinstated football in 2009 and went with Boise State Blue as the color of their football field.

Football Training Videos