The Lions Playbook Ep. 5: The Screen Game

Wide Receiver Screen

While they both use the title “screen”, the dynamic of the WR screen is different than the standard screen from the backfield. There are a few variants to the WR screen and the Lions utilize all of them in their playbook. First, we will take a look at a screen to the outside receiver.

The read for the quarterback pre snap is how close the defensive back is to the LoS. Ideally, the corner playing the target receiver is off the line of scrimmage, as a press man corner is too close to risk the throw.

Screen plays usually utilize a two wide receiver set. The outside receiver gets the pass. The slot receiver will run to block the corner covering the target receiver, and the tight end or tackle on that side will bail in protection at the snap and run to block the defender who was lined up to cover the slot receiver.

Watch this 2nd and 20 conversion by the Lions against Washington. RT Riley Reiff does an excellent job and getting down the field and making a key block to get Tate one on one with a safety for the first down.

While the corner was pressed up on Tate pre-snap, Tate make a step down field to get the corner in his back pedal, and comes back to the football to make the grab.

Here’s a good angle on a screen run later to the left in the same game.. Notice how the linemen create a huge lane for Tate to run through.