38 replies to this topic

[xSICKxWITHxITx]

Daniel Cox

At this point if you haven't heard, the Falcons plan to use the screen game more in 2012.

The Falcons' offense last season was at the bottom of the league in screen plays and based on what most players said during OTAs and minicamp this offseason, that will change this coming season. Under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, the screen game will be more of a factor than in recent seasons and most players are excited about it.

We've heard from starting running back Michael Turner, who calls it a twist on what they've done in the past. Jacquizz Rodgers, who many believe has the most to gain from and contribute to the screen game says the offense has "a lot of screens in store" and he looks forward to being a part of it.

One of the running backs we haven't heard much from about the impending short-passing game is Jason Snelling. Like the other backs, he's happy there is a wrinkle in the offense that plans to get the ball in his hands in ways other than a hand off.

"It's the opportunity to get the ball in my hands," Snelling said during June's minicamp. "All the backs are working on the screen game because you want to make sure you can do it against any type of team. It doesn't matter who we play and it's only going to make the offense better. We're real excited about it and we're real excited about the direction of the whole offense."

Snelling's 26 receptions were tops among Falcons running back last season. His 44 catches in 2010 also led the running back group. In his five-year career with the Falcons, he's accumulated 108 receptions for 830 yards with five touchdowns. When the Falcons have turned to a running back out of the backfield in the passing game in recent seasons, they've looked to Snelling.

Even though he's established a rapport with quarterback Matt Ryan, Snelling said he and the other backs have been working even more on that with Ryan during this offseason.

"It's real important, working on the timing a lot," Snelling said. "We've been working on the timing a lot. It's going to come with repetition. I feel like when it's time to do it, we'll be ready."

Snelling's all-around game has made him a valuable part of the Falcons team since his emergance as a real factor on offense in 2009. He re-signed with the Falcons this offseason and he doesn't expect anything to change. His versatility is a important for the Falcons. He can be used as a fullback in addition to his role as a running back to both run and catch reliably out of the backfield. He's also a key contributor on special teams.

While the name of the play caller has changed this offseason, Snelling doesn't think his role as a do-everything type of player will change.

"I'm the type of guy that will do whatever they want me to do," he said. "That's what you have to do in this league. I've made my career doing that and none of that has changed with the coordinator."

[xSICKxWITHxITx]

I'm exited about the screen game as well. I just hope we execute it well.

[Falcanuck]

Snelling and Rodgers will be great on the screen game.

[Durrtay]

If I hear the word screen one more time I'm gonna screem. It seems like we will be a screen first, vertical second, run last offense from all the hype.

[muskokas finest ©]

I hope Jason is equally excited about being #3 on the depth chart.

[Falcanuck]

Durrtay, on 10 July 2012 - 04:14 PM, said:

If I hear the word screen one more time I'm gonna screem. It seems like we will be a screen first, vertical second, run last offense from all the hype.

No, the Falcons will be a run first, go vertical with some screens in between. The reason there is ANY hype whatsoever is because maybe 3 screens were ran under Mularkey in total.

[Tuggle2®]

Durrtay, on 10 July 2012 - 04:14 PM, said:

If I hear the word screen one more time I'm gonna screem. It seems like we will be a screen first, vertical second, run last offense from all the hype.

Last year was "explosive'' this year its "screen".

[Falconjerome]

i cannot wait to see us with the screen game this year. Last year I saw many opportunities where we could have gotten 25+ yards off of a screen play on certain teams and we never tried it once.

Edited by Falconjerome, 10 July 2012 - 04:27 PM.

[Apostle of Truth]

Tuggle2000, on 10 July 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Last year was "explosive'' this year its "screen".

  I think it might be a smoke screen for explosive .

[xSICKxWITHxITx]

Another thing to look at is all the QBs that threw for a lot of yards last season how many yards were from screens. I think Cam had over 500 yds from screens. MRs stats could of looked better these past few years with screen yds for the guys that dog his yds.

Edited by xSICKxWITHxITx, 10 July 2012 - 05:04 PM.

[muskokas finest ©]

xSICKxWITHxITx, on 10 July 2012 - 04:41 PM, said:

Another thing to look at is all the QBs that threw for a lot of yards last season how many yards were from screens. I think can had over 500 yds from screens. MRs stats could of looked better these past few years with screen yds for the guys that dog his yds.

I assume you mean Cam Newton.  A QB that is a threat to run and hard to tackle has a distinct advantage in the screen game. They are more able to draw the defense to them and buy a little extra time for the blocking to form up.

[SoCalFalconFan]

The screen game is critical, but a faulty screen pass is an easy pick six. Execution will certainly be key.

[xSICKxWITHxITx]

muskokas finest, on 10 July 2012 - 04:52 PM, said:

I assume you mean Cam Newton.  A QB that is a threat to run and hard to tackle has a distinct advantage in the screen game. They are more able to draw the defense to them and buy a little extra time for the blocking to form up.

Yeah I did my iPhone auto corrects all the time I just need to start proof reading lol. The Aints and Pats have good screen games.

Edited by xSICKxWITHxITx, 10 July 2012 - 05:07 PM.

[AtlantaFalconPokerPro]

xSICKxWITHxITx, on 10 July 2012 - 04:12 PM, said:

I'm exited about the screen game as well. I just hope we execute it well.

[FalconFanSince1970]

Fck a screen game.

Keep throwing downfield unless you're throwing slip screens to JJ or HD.

Snelling had ONE decent screen in the NFL. His best pass play was a check down against the Aints when he ran over seven sorry as tacklers. His second best play was a flair against the Ravens.

This screen bush it is really starting to pss me off.

[LADBABY]

FalconFanSince1970, on 10 July 2012 - 06:16 PM, said:

Fck a screen game.

Keep throwing downfield unless you're throwing slip screens to JJ or HD.

Snelling had ONE decent screen in the NFL. His best pass play was a check down against the Aints when he ran over seven sorry as tacklers. His second best play was a flair against the Ravens.

This screen bush it is really starting to pss me off.

Snelling is not alone. Screen has not been in the playbook under your man MM.
Hopefully, adding the screen pass in, doesn't mean we fall in love with it. Nobody
thinks of Turner in the screen game but he can get involved too.

[falcndave]

Here is the thing.  We are not going to actually run more screens.  We are just going to hype the heck out of it so teams will think we are going to run screens.

By about week 5 everyone will be on to us, so we will actually have to run our first screen in week 6.

Seriously, the reason we didn't run more screens is that Ryan had no timing at all with them. Perhaps he will get better through practice, but you have to admit you have seen some really ugly screen attempts over the last four seasons.  What we lacked in frequency, we made up for in sheer ugliness.

Ryan does many things well, throwing the screen pass isn't one of them...yet.

I will be interested to see our game plan.  We have traditionally thrown on a high percentage of first down snaps (the stats will suprise all of you who said we would go run, run, pass every series).  For that reason, 1st down may not be the best down to screen on. I see it as being more of a blitz beater in long yardage situations for us.

[falcon68]

it almost seems to me like we're talking about "the screen game" in the media too much.  maybe it's intentional. we get everybody thinking about defending the screen, but pound the ball. then when they concentrate on the run, we play action pass.  then when they start blitzing, we throw the screens over their heads.

that's how football is suppose to be.  DK doesn't have to reinvent the wheel to make our O lethal.  you add a few plays here, add a few plays there and mix in some freakin' common sense and imagination and the upper eschelon defenses in the league won't embarrass us any more. we have the talent!!

[Dem Birds]

FalconFanSince1970, on 10 July 2012 - 06:16 PM, said:

Fck a screen game.

Keep throwing downfield unless you're throwing slip screens to JJ or HD.

Snelling had ONE decent screen in the NFL. His best pass play was a check down against the Aints when he ran over seven sorry as tacklers. His second best play was a flair against the Ravens.

This screen bush it is really starting to pss me off.

Okay, guys, clearly FFS1970 is Mike Mularkey. It makes perfect ******* sense. He defends him at every turn AND he apparently hates screen passes? Who hates screen passes?!

[caver50]

A good screen pass is a thing of beauty.