The Bucs And Screen Passes
June 2nd, 2024
Feed him screen passes.
Joe is a huge believer that if a team is having success with something, then it should keep going to that well over and over until a defense proves it can stop it.
So it seems from the thinktank “Football Insights” that the Bucs were pretty good racking up YAC running screen passes.
These analysts/statheads documented each screen pass in the NFL last year. And Bucs receivers averaged over nine yards of YAC on screens.
Joe is pretty sure every team would take nine yards of YAC on a screen, so long as the guy catching the screen isn’t way back from the line of scrimmage. Only a handful of teams got better YAC in 2023.
Interestingly, on non-screen passes, the Bucs averaged just under five yards of YAC. That may not sound like much but it was one of the best YACs in the NFL on non-screen passes. Only six teams had more.
Joe has a hunch that a bunch of the credit for YAC yards on screens goes to Rachaad White. Joe isn’t much of a fan of White as a runner. As a pass catcher out of the backfield, White is simply dynamite.
Joe would rather see White get way more touches catching the ball than getting handoffs. White is a real weapon in the passing game. Only an opposing team’s punt returner would love White as a running back.
How much will the Bucs lean on screen passes this season with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen? If Joe were Coen, Joe would keep going back to that well until the Bucs show they’ve lost the magic touch there.
YAC per Reception with vs without screens. Titans averaged the 2nd-most YAC with screens and the least without them. pic.twitter.com/Q5Xq8AGnyP
— Football Insights đ (@fball_insights) May 31, 2024
June 2nd, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Very interesting Joe.
June 2nd, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Iâm all for the screen game
June 2nd, 2024 at 1:13 pm
I still think a great idea would be 2-back sets. Either run, or split 1 or both out for empty. Yes, more screens. More sweeps.
Let’s GO Coen – get creative please!
June 2nd, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Can White or Irving throw the ball? When the defense hangs up on a screen that’s a good time for a flea flicker or a RB pass.
June 2nd, 2024 at 2:23 pm
I sure do hope that Cohen scraps the millions of WR bubble screens⌠At times, it felt like that was 90% of our pass plays at UK.
June 2nd, 2024 at 2:58 pm
I’m surprised the Bucs are just above average. Average NFL YAC for screens is 9.3 yds and the Bucs are at 9.7 yds, so it’s not we’re the 49ers with McCaffery (12.2) or the Titans with Derrick Henry (11.8).
June 2nd, 2024 at 3:26 pm
I think Bucky Irving will be good in the screen game also
June 2nd, 2024 at 4:40 pm
Can Baker run an effective screen? He’s a short QB and I’d think it would be better if you could see over pass rushers.
June 2nd, 2024 at 5:48 pm
âI sure do hope that Cohen scraps the millions of WR bubble screensâŚâ
Why? Godwin has been feasting on those since 2019, Canales even ran a jet sweep off the back of it with motion and Chris scored on that play @Buffalo
June 2nd, 2024 at 5:53 pm
“Fred McNeil Says:
June 2nd, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Can White or Irving throw the ball?”
White has no history of passing in a game yet so it’s hard to say at this point…
In Irving’s college career he’s 2 – 3 for 36 yards and 1 touchdown….so maybe
June 2nd, 2024 at 6:36 pm
Dude. It was part of a bigger picture. Snap the ball with 3-seconds left⌠Get up, pitch the ball to the ref, walk slowly back to the huddle, look over to the sidelines, 2-3 guys come in as 2-3 come off. Alright, well, letâs âhuddle upâ now, with 22-seconds left on the play clock, tic, tic, tic⌠Okay, letâs break the huddle with 16-seconds left, & walk up to the line of scrimmage. Line-up⌠Wait, wait, wait, hard count, wait⌠4-seconds left, tic, tic, wait for it, wait for it, & SNAP with just 1-second left. Then, ANOTHER âWR-screenâ for a loss. Rinse & repeat. Then, midweek⌠Itâs âI Know It, I Know It, Weâve Gotta Speed Things Up With More Tempo, I Know It, I Know Weâre THE WORST (slowest) Team In The Nation On Average Number Of Plays Ran Per Game, & Weâre Making Immediate Changes, So Youâll See A Different Team Out There This Week, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah.â Thennnn, itâs just more of the same exact thing all over again, EVERY week⌠No Changes. No Different. Just rinse & repeat. Over and over again. You CANâT just walk up and wait to snap the ball with 1-4 seconds left every damm time. The OLine gets tired in their stance, & you allow the Defense to pin their ears back and jump the snap all day long⌠Then, just blindly turn and sling it out to the sidelines to a WR behind the line of scrimmage. Itâs EVERY TIME. Itâs Insanity. Just way too predictable. Weâve gotta get Baker in a rhythm EARLY, & then hit âem with a âquick-hittinâ run game. Baker is kind of a âquick-twitchâ temp/rhythm guy⌠He is not at his very best playing a boring, stagnant, slow paced, wait to snap the ball with 4-1 seconds left on the play clock. Just like last season with how he played for the first 2 and a half to 3 quarters. Both, the Bucs & Cats Offense was SO brutal to watch for the most part last year⌠They were mirror images. The random bubble screen is fine, but you canât run-it 18-TIMES a game, especially blindly to the sidelines. It rarely worked with the speed in THE SEC⌠Itâs NOT working in the NFL. Theyâre just too fast⌠Youâre looking at a loss or a pick-6 on the majority. Iâm all about an âinsideâ screen against an aggressive pass rush, but absolutely NOT just snapping the ball and blindly slinging it over to the sidelines, for no good reason.
June 3rd, 2024 at 1:40 am
Why don’t we have Palmer run some WR screens? If he’s got a faster acceleration than Cheetah Hill, he should easily dominate screens, right?
June 3rd, 2024 at 7:22 am
” Iâm all about an âinsideâ screen against an aggressive pass rush, but absolutely NOT just snapping the ball and blindly slinging it over to the sidelines, for no good reason.”
No team blindly snaps the ball and just throws it to a guy, that’s not how screen plays work in general there’s usually some type of misdirect or motion to ensure the plays viability before the snap.
“Baker is kind of a âquick-twitchâ temp/rhythm guy⌔
You’re mistaking quick twitch with “meh” mechanics, the twitch is the violence in Mayfields’ delivery because his base is inconsistent and he’s got the rhythm of a falling plinko chip
June 3rd, 2024 at 10:17 am
I think the reason White is so effective in the screen game, especially YAC is because he’s so good in space. I think his ability as a runner will improve if the O-line gives him some wiggle room and opens some holes. I’ve never been really as critical on White’s ability to run as I have been on the play calling and run blocking. Improve both of those areas and I think he’s gonna be a 1,000 yard rusher with ease. Nearly got there last year.
June 3rd, 2024 at 11:33 am
Also, two areas I was worried about when we didn’t keep Lenny were the screen game and ball security (zero fumble Lenny) and White has been quite good at both.
June 3rd, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Nope. Itâs snap the ball, turn, and immediately sling it out to a WR and heâs tackled for a 2yd loss⌠Over & Over Again, To No End. Itâs pointless, & risky. You can see it coming from a mile away⌠Itâs always outside to a receiver running outside in motion or maybe to the inside receiver just standing there, OR to the outside receiver just standing there, after some other âsmoke & mirrorâ motion movement. Itâs immediate.
June 3rd, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Now that we have General Barton at center instead of the The Marshmallow Man Hainsey, we should be great.
I guarantee we average over 4.0 YPC this year.
Thanks to General Barton.
I heard Hainsey will get cut.
Brederson, Sua and Klein have taken his spot.
Sorry for the Hainsey boys out there.
June 4th, 2024 at 7:16 am
Not sure I would call what the Bucs were doing, screen passes. At least most of them were something in between.
Go Bucs!