Screen pass timing

Setup

1. Contact level: bags. Full helmet and shoulder pads, and a coach watches every rep.
2. Offence: five linemen, a shotgun QB and a running back beside the QB on the play side (right).
3. Four scout rushers with no shields. Three defenders hold hand shields at the second level: the Mike, the Sam and the corner on the screen side.
4. Rushers stop 2 yards short of the QB. Nobody touches the passer.

How it runs

1. On the snap, everyone sells pass. Linemen pass set and give a soft punch; the RB sets as if to block.
2. Count "one thousand, two thousand". Then RG, C and RT let their rushers go and slide flat to the right, along the line, not downfield.
3. The RB slides out behind them to a spot 2 yards behind the line, near the numbers. LT and LG keep blocking the backside.
4. The QB drifts back to pull the rush up the field, then lofts the ball over it to the RB.
5. On the catch, the convoy turns up the field: RT takes the corner, RG the Sam and C the Mike, all on the shields. The RB follows them.
6. Whistle after 10 yards. Run 6–8 reps, then flip the screen to the left.

Coaching points

• The timing is everything: sell the pass for a full two-count before releasing.
• Linemen release flat and stay behind the line until the RB has the ball.
• Block the shield with hands inside and the head up. No blocks in the back: if a defender turns away, run with them and let them go.
• QB: eyes downfield first to sell it, then a soft, high throw over the rusher, not through them.
• RB: catch with the hands, tuck, then read the convoy's blocks and stay behind them.

Common mistakes

• Linemen releasing straight away, so the defence smells the screen.
• Linemen running downfield before the catch; when the throw crosses the line, that is an ineligible receiver downfield.
• QB throwing a line drive into the rusher's hands.
• RB running out ahead of the convoy and into the corner unblocked.