Tennessee Titans show off screen game vs Green Bay Packers
By Will Lomas
Tennessee Titans showed a little of what is to come on Thursday.
The Tennessee Titans promised to use the screen game more this year and so far that haven’t disappointed.
On Thursday against the Green Bay Packers, the Titans showed no less than 8 screen plays. Most were unique and the others were wrinkles on other screens they had shown. It was really very interesting to see after years of the same old nonsense here.
Everything from Marcus Mariota’s touchdown pass to 3rd and LONG plays with the third team offense, screens were a factor for the entire game. Here is a look at the different variations.
1.
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This is a pretty standard quick screen to the WR. You could call it a pick play if you want but the idea is the same. Two “blockers” in front, the only difference is that both receivers pause for a second before going into their routes so that the pick play is legal.
What I like most about this is that Jonnu Smith (who is the tight end on the right side) is that his route takes him outside to make sure that there is room for the outside receiver to run underneath. Then after, the route breaks back inside, which means that if that defender (#29 I think) breaks hard on the screen then Smith will be wide open for the easy TD.
Great play design.
2.
This is the nice middle middle screen that is the staple of most teams. The center and left guard get out in front and lead a path for Akrum Wadley. The issue is that neither of the offensive linemen really have the awareness to block or else this would be a huge gain.
I like Wadley, but I would love to see what this play looks like with Derrick Henry given that much space to build up speed and momentum.
3.
This is bad quality so I apologize, but this is what I see. Two WRs on each side, with a quick screen to the boundary WR away from the TE.
After the catch, the LT, C, RG all end up lead blocking. It is a tighter play that doesn’t have as much space but if the left tackle can get out with the first team then a natural seam opens up between the center and tackle.
4.
This play is really all made by Batson (#17) and Corey Levin (#61). Batson does a great job sorting through trafic and Levin has a terrific block at the second level on the inside linebacker which really opens up a run to the sideline if Batson was just a hair faster.
With every offensive lineman pulling to block down field except for the right tackle, all it takes is a great block from the center and it gives the receiver a two way go between the outside and turning this into a tunnel screen.
5.
This is a similar play to the last screen, the only difference is that the tight end is motioned to the side where the screen is getting thrown, giving the screen another blocker.
It doesn’t really work because the receiver has to feel the defense and realize that he has two options: Run hard outside between the numbers and the boundary or plant his foot and cut back inside as hard as he can. As soon as he stops his feet the play dies.
6.
This is the slowest developing screen of the bunch. Really relies on drawing the defenders in as much as you can before dumping the ball over the defenders. Dawkins does a great job here seeing space and bursting upfield as fast as he can to build speed and get free yards.
7.
Another RB screen that breaks to the outside. The difference in this from the last one is that the formation is different. Where the last play was from a tighter formation, this one has three separate receivers lining up outside the number to open up space.
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Like the last screen, the G/C/G all end up out in front. If they get some blocks the this is another big play. That awareness will come in time, but for now there are going to be some plays left on the field.
So that is a quick lesson in some of the different screens that the Titans will use. Passes to the boundary WR, RB, slot receiver, and eventually the tight end will all be featured in this offense and it only took one preseason game for the screen game to already be more complex and effective than at any point in the last decade for the Titans.
Matt LaFleur is showing us that he isn’t all talk and that he is making real changes to the offense. Now we are going to see how that progresses over the next few weeks.