Thread: Should the Vikings use more screen passes?

The New Orleans Saints are one of the many teams around the league that has great success by executing quite a few screen passes every game. Reggie Bush is not as good at running between the tackles as many people predicted he would be coming out of the draft. On the other hand, he seems to be in the right element when he gets out in more open fields. That is probably one of the reasons to why the Saints like to design screen passes to Bush, but it's also a good weapon against man-to-man coverage and blitzes.

Is it just me or do the Vikings execute less screen passes than most other teams?

Another reason is that it's a very easy throw for the QB to make which is good considering we have a young Tarvaris Jackson under the center. Most of the responsibility is on the blockers and the receiver, which in Minnesota's case would be Adrian or Chester who we all know can work plenty of magic when they get into space.

I can only remember a couple of screen passes last week against the Lions (one to Adrian and one to Chester) and they all went for a first down, so why not try to execute more screens in the next games?

Here's a video on NFL.com where Saint's Head Coach Sean Payton explains how the Saints utilize the screen pass as a weapon against man-to-man coverage: http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80d3b378


Also... screen passes to wide receivers can be a nice way to move the chains for a change.
Bobby Wade, Bernard Berrian, and in particular Aundrae Allison, seems to me as good players to run after the catch.

I vote yes only because it seems TJ can throw a better screen than Gus.

If T-Jack can have that nice touch like he had against Detroit it would be very effective

The old screen question. Wow, this is a tricky subject on these boards( Marr, you know you want to post).
Many of us believe that the screen can be effective for us. While many believe that it will not be an effective play for us. I see both stances and I am torn as well. The major problems I see with the screen pass as I have seen it stem from
major issues.

1) Who is the defense keying on when our QB drops back. Some posters beleive that screens aren't effective because the defense is expecting peterson to get the ball and that ruins the deception

2) Where are we running this screen to. It seems at the start of the season we were running what my team called a RB bubble. The Vikings blocked for a bit but let everyone thru and snuck a rb to the middle of the field. This essential left Peterson with 3-4 O line blockers in front of him and the entire defensive line out of positions







C


LG

RG
LT

AD


RT





DE



DE


DT
DT





TJ

The above diagram representas how this play is ideal suppose to work. The Qb would simply have to loft the ball over the DL to AD. This play did not work when ever we tried it. I beleive a more traditional screen to the rb is more likely to work.




LB





















DT

DE
TE
LT
LG














C RG RT




















DE DT
AD






















TJ

If it is worth the trouble to practice it, put it in the playbook. I trust Childress to know better than I do.

"kevoncox" wrote:

The old screen question. Wow, this is a tricky subject on these boards( Marr, you know you want to post).
Many of us believe that the screen can be effective for us. While many believe that it will not be an effective play for us. I see both stances and I am torn as well. The major problems I see with the screen pass as I have seen it stem from
major issues.

1) Who is the defense keying on when our QB drops back. Some posters beleive that screens aren't effective because the defense is expecting peterson to get the ball and that ruins the deception

2) Where are we running this screen to. It seems at the start of the season we were running what my team called a RB bubble. The Vikings blocked for a bit but let everyone thru and snuck a rb to the middle of the field. This essential left Peterson with 3-4 O line blockers in front of him and the entire defensive line out of positions








C


LG


RG
LT


AD


RT






DE




DE



DT
DT





TJ

The above diagram representas how this play is ideal suppose to work. The Qb would simply have to loft the ball over the DL to AD. This play did not work when ever we tried it. I beleive a more traditional screen to the rb is more likely to work.





LB























DT

DE
TE
LT
LG















C RG RT





















DE DT
AD






















TJ

If it is worth the trouble to practice it, put it in the playbook. I trust Childress to know better than I do.

your first one would result in an ineligible man downfield penalty.

I think for that to be effective we need to execute regular passes more often.. Take away some pressure up front..

When they have 7-9 people in the box it gets all jumbled up front

AP also needs to be able to block and catch better.. So we can use them on third downs with him

You don't want to be predictable, that's why you only use the screen when the timing fits the use of the play.

"Mr-holland" wrote:

You don't want to be predictable, that's why you only use the screen when the timing fits the use of the play.

yep, you want to use a screen pass when the defenseive line is comitted to pass rushing.
You need the line to rush past the O line in order to make it work properly.

I can't remember many well executed screen pass all season and definitely none that had over 15 yards.
I do remember many that have blown up.
I don't think the Vikes sell the screen pass well at all.

Screen passes are all about deception, timing, and touch.
If one fails the play is screwed, which is what I've seen more than not.

Maybe the Cards are dumb enough, maybe TJ and AD/CT can get on the same page, maybe TJ can put the touch to it.

Too many maybes for me.

naw. more deep passes to BB!