Ah, the Screen Pass.
Those tricky change-ups that Offensive coaches love to use in an attempt to slow us down.
Don’t get me wrong, these Screens can end up being HUGE plays. I’ve been burned many times, and I’ll be burned again.
But there are a couple keys we can try to use in order to sniff out the Screen.
What’s a Screen Pass?
A Screen Pass is a sneaky play.
On a Screen, the Offensive Linemen want to let the Defensive Linemen through. They want to invite them upfield so that the Quarterback can dump the ball just over their heads, usually to the Running Back.
The goal is for the Offence to have a wall of blockers out in front to protect the ball carrier downfield.
Situational Football
If we’re being smart about down and distance, we might be alert for the Screen. It tends to be a 2nd and Long play, when the Offence thinks we’re in full pass rush mode.
I do find, however, that Offensive coaches are using these more and more on First Downs, which is a nice wrinkle.
Either way, your opponent probably has a tendency when it comes to when they run the Screen Pass, or maybe what Formation they are in when they run it.
If you can detect these in your film study, that’s a good head start.
First Line of Defence
It’s the opposite of what we preach all day to our Defensive Linemen.
We want them to attack. We want them to defeat the Offensive Linemen in front of them, we want them to get to the Quarterback.
Except when it’s a Screen.
If the Offence does a good job selling it, there’s not much we can do except pursue the play after the fact. We don’t want our Defensive Line to play slow all game just in case there’s a Screen Pass developing.
But often, there are keys.
Sometimes, as a Defensive Lineman, you get through a little too easy.
Or maybe the Offensive Lineman is the one trying to use a Rip or Swim to get off the line and get downfield.
If you are able to sense this developing, you should follow the Offensive Lineman. They will take you to the play.
Linebackers vs. Screen
It can play out a couple different ways for the Linebacker.
If the LB is in Zone Coverage, they are in a tough spot. They are probably working to get to the deeper routes and have already gained some depth.
Once the LB reads Screen from this position, they should retrace their steps back down towards the ball carrier. When they meet blockers out in space, they should avoid them with SPEED.
In Man Coverage, the LB is in better shape. If they are Man on the Running Back, they have their eyes in the right spot to sniff out the screen. Then it’s just a matter of being decisive and defeating the blockers.
Final Thoughts
As I said, these can be tough to defend.
Offences especially like using these plays against aggressive and attacking Defences.
The final piece of the puzzle defensively is PURSUIT. Everyone must rally to the football to limit these plays from gaining chunk yardage.
All the best,
Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
IG: @jonsvecx
Twitter: @jonsvecx
To read more check out the Canadian Football Chalk Talk e-books series, which includes: Defensive Basics, Linebacker Toolbox, and Modern Pressures.