Wide Receiver Screen?

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IslandTime

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I have a question about our use of the wide receiver screen. It seems to me that our receivers are taught to try to cut block the DB as opposed to engaging them and keeping their feet. Often this has allowed the DB that was "blocked" to quickly recover to their feet and make the play. I watched OU run the same play with their receivers engaging the DB and it typically netted them more yardage than our plays did us. My question is why do we not at least experiment with keeping our feet on some plays? It seems that the technique we teach is only to cut block and I find it hasn't been that successful. If we could get 5-8 yards consistently by keeping our feet bringing up 2nd and short or producing a first down then the play call would not be so hated by our fans. What say you?
 
The reason it hasn't been successful is because our slot receiver often doesn't get out in time to make the block and because the throw takes too long to get there. Most teams run an actual screen but we run a hitch which gives the defensive back plenty of time to make a play on the ball before the block can get there and the WR is forced to try to cut the man. If we could run an actual screen with the WR coming towards the QB it makes it a lot easier.
 
I remember when we ran it against Mississippi St. in the cotton bowl with Wayne McGarrity and him tainking to the house. It also worked with Kwame that day. GD seemed to fall in love with the play that day. I know the play can be frustrating, but it always seems to get at least 3 yards. It is a numbingly consistent play that likely sets up other plays, bringing db's in closer to the line of scrimmage. IMO, its a productive play and a different blocking tactic should'nt be out of the question. Thats my take on it.
 
As others have noted in different places it would also help the play if the receiver was moving when he caught the ball. To me, this is why OU's version is slightly better than ours.

However, I think moving the receiver also makes it a slightly more dangerous play. I guess it depends on whether you want to use the WR "screen" to primarily gain yardage or to set-up another play down the line as safely as possible.
 
I like this play because it never works when we run it and we never stop it when they run it. The best would be watching our offense run it vs our defense because then it would have been easier to see which of the two schemes was worse.
 
OU seemed to run their WR screens more like slants. The "wide" receiver would run a quick slant in while the slot receiver ran straight upfield a few yards to block. Even if the guy shed the block and made the tackle the WR had already gained 5-6 yards by that point. Mark Clayton was really dangerous with that route b/c he could take the slant route in full sprint and still quickly cut back to the sidelines if necessary.

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the play that we run with Quan where he just catches a pass while standing still at the line of scrimmage and the slot goes to block the corner is not really a screen. this is really ment to gain 5 yards and to bring the DBs up to play bump and run.

the other play you guys are talking about, the one that Kwame and McGarity were so good at is called the "tunnel screen." the WR begins the play by running toward the QB and runs underneith or behind the line or scrimmage to catch the pass. this allows the lineman to release downfield and pick-up blocks. we ran this play a little bit this year but it was with Nate Jones.

one play or screen i'd like to see come back is the one that we use to run with Roy. the one that starts with the QB opening up in one direction only to swing around to throw the ball to the receiver on the back side with the tackle flying out there to block the corner. the only tackles i can remember doing this with was Blalock and Scott. i think the last time i saw us run it was in 2006 against Nebraska on the last drive with Quan. the same play he fumbled on and Studdard recovered if i remember correctly.
 
This play should be ripped from the playbook and burned on the sideline. It hasn't worked in years, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
 
What I'd like to know is where is the good ole classic screen to the running back. I haven't seen one of those at Texas in the ten years under Mack and GD. Based on our offense you'd think it was against the rules.
 
It used to own - I remmeber Chris simms as a freshman tossing it to someone in the aggy game and that someone running like he was underwater and it almost going.

Too badit wasnt to jeremy jones.
 
also, cut block = no holding, which WRs tend to do, and its more obvious because they are out by themselves with all eyes on a one on one matchup
 
It's true about running the 'classic' RB screen one time this year because I remember falling out of my chair in amazement that we actually ran it.

I do remember trying to run the RB screen a number of times in Vince's early years with Ced and it always being an unmitigated disaster. For whatever reason, Vince had a horrible time making the little dump off throw, so the ball was always at Ced's shoelaces or way over his head. Then if we did connect on the pass, the downfield linemen were never blocking in tandem so the LBs or DBs could easily split the blocks for an easy tackle.

Last week, NE ran a nice version where their RB (Evans I think) would motion out to the sidelines and catch a quick hit at around the slot position. The motion threw off the balance of the D and put the ball in the hands of a powerful runner at full stride. Would have been a nice play for JC.
 
I think the old fashioned screen to the RB might be more effective now due to the fact that me have smaller, faster OL than we had several years ago.
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The short pass to McGarity that he took to the house was not the Tunnel Screen. I'll never forgrt the roar in the Cotton Bowl when Kwame scored on the tunnel screen vs. OU in 1998.

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