Screens, Delays, and Draws

Photo by Stephen Dunn Getty Images

Screens, delays, and draws are run in conjunction with the normal passing attack that an offensive team might use during a game. Each of these three types of plays begins with the entire offensive team executing as they would on a normal pass play. The real success of these plays results from the defensive team thinking and reacting as they would for a regular drop-back pass.

There are basically two types of screen passes which the running back will be asked to learn. The first type is called a "slow screen" and as the name indicates, it is a pass that takes a few seconds to develop.

Drill: Slow Screen

The first thing that the running back needs to understand about running a slow screen is that he must sell the defensive players that he is staying in the backfield to help pass I protect for the quarterback.

Only one back should execute the screen during the drill. The coach should indicate on which side the screen will be thrown. On the command "Hut" from the coach, the running back should step in and up as he would if he were preparing to pass block.

As the running back sets up to the inside, he should mentally count "a thousand one, a thousand two, a thousand three," and then move up to the line of scrimmage before releasing out toward the sideline. If, in a game, the running back sees that there is a linebacker blitzing on his side that is not accounted for or is unblocked by one of the offensive blockers, then he must make certain to hit the linebacker and momentarily slow his rush to the quarterback before releasing to the outside.

This delay by the running back, prior to releasing out to the sideline, is necessary so that the offensive linemen have time initially to block the defensive men, and then to release to the outside to form a wall for the running back who is to catch the screen. One of the worst things that the running back can do is to release to the outside too quickly and end up waiting for the pass without the offensive linemen there to block for him.

When executing a "slow screen," the running back should expect to receive, the ball over his shoulder farthest from the line of scrimmage. As he makes" reception, it is a good idea for him to shout "Go" to the offensive linemen who are preparing to block for him. This call will alert the offensive linemen that he has the ball and is running up the field.

The second type of screen that a running back will be asked to run is called a "speed screen" and it differs from the slow screen in the action of the running back. Instead of stepping in and up and delaying before releasing to the outside, the running back turns and immediately runs to the sideline.

Drill: Speed Screen

On the command of Hut, the running back runs to the outside to a point halfway between where he lined up before the play began and the sideline. When the running back reaches this point he must stop, turn back toward the quarterback, and be prepared to receive the ball.

The speed screen not only differs from the slow screen in the instant release of the running back, but also in the fact that the offensive linemen are not leading the play, but are coming out to block after the running back has set up to make the reception.

When teaching this type of screen pass it is good to alert the running back that he may find, after he has made the catch, that he has to start toward his blocker before turning to run up the field. This slight initial movement to the inside usually will allow the blockers to be in much better position to execute their blocks on the defensive players.

Drill: Delay Pass

Another type of running back pass is a delay pass. The drill should be run the same way and the running back should be instructed to set up as he would if he were going to run a slow screen to is side. Again the running back should mentally count to himself, a thousand one, a thousand two, a thousand three, before releasing on his pattern. Success on this type of pass will occur only if the defensive players drop back into pass coverage, thinking that the running back is staying in to help with the pass protection.

Once the running back has delayed, he then must try to release between the blocks of his offensive guard and tackle. During a game, the inside area may be completely congested and the running back may be forced linemen.

With either release, once he crosses the line of scrimmage, the running back must adjust his path to the center of the field and immediately turn his head, look for the ball, and be prepared to make the reception. Usually, on this type of pass, the reception will be made three to four yards past the line of scrimmage, giving the running back time to make the catch, secure the ball, and turn to run up the field before the defensive men arrive to make the tackle.

The last play of the special running back pass plays is the "draw" play. This really is a running play and not a pass play, but because of the fact that the offensive team begins as they would on a drop back pass play, most coaches teach the "draw" as part of the pass offense.

When running the draw play, the running back, on the coach's command of "Hut," should take a long, quick, lateral step to the inside with his inside foot. It is important that he not step up and in, but instead he must make certain that his step is directly lateral. When his inside foot makes contact, the running back should quickly slide his outside foot to the inside so that he ends up in a comfortable, balanced stance with his feet only slightly wider than his hips and his knees flexed.

As the quarterback begins his pass drop, the running back should keep his head up, focusing his eyes on the offensive line and observing how the blocking is developing. At the same time he should get his hands and arms into position as he would if he were taking a handoff on a dive play to his side.

It is not necessary for the running back to look for the handoff; the quarterback has the complete responsibility of placing the ball into the running back's stomach as he moves past him on his pass drop. The main responsibility of the running back is to be set up in the proper location and to get himself in the correct position to take the handoff. Once he has secured the ball, the running back must immediately start up the field, running to any hole that he has seen open up.

"Play Football The NFL Way" is the first Instructional Manual for Football Players and Coaches ever published by the NFL. It is the ultimate position-by-position guide of techniques and drills for Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Author Tom Bass is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For a personalized autographed copy of "Play Football the NFL Way," plus information on Coach Bass Sport Maps--the new Official NFL Licensed Football Guides to watching, enjoying and understanding all the action on the field, for all fans--please visit www.CoachBass.com.

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Copyright © Thomas L. Bass 2006. All rights reserved.