The Browns and the screen pass - 04/14/13 03:36 PM
I'll take up Versatile's challenge of more football talk and less pro/anti front office politics. Not because I know a lot of X's and O's but I'm up for learning.
My question...The Browns are bad both executing the screen pass and defending the screen pass. As I was typing that last sentence the question crossed my mind; is that a coincidence? But, my main question is how can the new defense better defend this play? (I'm talking outside screen, the middle screen would seem to need a different counter attack). I'm concerned because the new attack philosophy would seem to make the defense even more vulnerable to it.
Here's what I think I know. The OL wants to draw a hard upfield rush so the three DL and at least one of the LB's (ILB ?) will get too deep into the backfield.The OLB on the play side will need to try to defeat a double team and the other inside backer will need to come inside out quickly before the back gets going. If I were running this play against Cleveland I would run it away from both Haden and Ward. In last year's scheme I think they usually line up on the same side of the field. The most effective defense would seem to be if the Safety could read the screen early and come down hard before the convoy gets set up. In any event the CB and Safety will have to be able to penetrate the convoy of OL to turn the direction of the ball carrier inside where help should be coming.
If the defense is in a package that has Winn, possibly Bryant or maybe even Taylor at the DE then maybe they are able to add pursuit from behind. I think the play is most likely to be stopped by a combination of S/ILB/CB/OLB.
Respectfully I ask that we keep the focus on play execution. Thoughts?
My question...The Browns are bad both executing the screen pass and defending the screen pass. As I was typing that last sentence the question crossed my mind; is that a coincidence? But, my main question is how can the new defense better defend this play? (I'm talking outside screen, the middle screen would seem to need a different counter attack). I'm concerned because the new attack philosophy would seem to make the defense even more vulnerable to it.
Here's what I think I know. The OL wants to draw a hard upfield rush so the three DL and at least one of the LB's (ILB ?) will get too deep into the backfield.The OLB on the play side will need to try to defeat a double team and the other inside backer will need to come inside out quickly before the back gets going. If I were running this play against Cleveland I would run it away from both Haden and Ward. In last year's scheme I think they usually line up on the same side of the field. The most effective defense would seem to be if the Safety could read the screen early and come down hard before the convoy gets set up. In any event the CB and Safety will have to be able to penetrate the convoy of OL to turn the direction of the ball carrier inside where help should be coming.
If the defense is in a package that has Winn, possibly Bryant or maybe even Taylor at the DE then maybe they are able to add pursuit from behind. I think the play is most likely to be stopped by a combination of S/ILB/CB/OLB.
Respectfully I ask that we keep the focus on play execution. Thoughts?