NFL

Wow. Glad I didn't bother now.

A screen pass is when the quarterback drops back to pass as if its a standard passing play.

The running back stays in the backfield with the quarterback and pretends that he is going to help block the pass rushers.

The offensive linemen also pretend they are doing standard blocking on the defensive pass rushers.

But the offensive linemen and running back actually only feign blocking and actually let the rushers pass by them.

Once all of the defensive linemen have passed the offensive line and running back faking blocks, the quarterback lobs the ball to the running back who now has all 5 offensive linemen creating a blocking screen for him against the backside flank of the defense.

Sometimes its a wide receiver who just hovers at the line of scrimmage rather than running a pass route downfield.

Screen passes can be EXTREMELY effective because of the numbers mismatch. But the timing has to be perfect. If the QB throws the ball too soon, the defense will swallow up the pass catcher. If the QB waits too long to throw the ball he will be sacked by 4 or 5 guys at once. 

Some great examples.

My pleasure.

When it works well, the screen pass is one of the most exciting of all plays. But all 11 players have to be in perfect sync.

I love a good screen pass! Unless it's against the Bears and then it's really annoying.

Yes.

Under normal circumstances, there is an event called the "combine" which is a week long gathering of all 32 teams and the top 100-200 college draft prospects in Indianapolis.

The players undergo full physical examinations - including MRIs of any past injury areas. They measure every part of their body. Arm length, hand size, wing span, etc. They undergo IQ type of testing. They have psychological exams. They participate in fake press conferences where they are asked both football questions and controversial personal questions to see if they blow their cool.

They undergo a series of physical tests. Sprints, agility drills, strength drills. QBs have their throwing skills tested for both velocity, accuracy. Deep throws. Long throws. Receivers are tested for running routes, catching passes.

They attend meetings where they receive advise of choosing an agent (if they dont already have one), how to manage sudden wealth (some will be instant millionaires after being drafted after living their lives to that point in poverty), how to be wary of predatory young women looking for a relationship with a young millionaire or slick hustlers looking to scam you out of your money on phony investments.

Teams can also request private interviews with players.

But because of COVID-19 the Combine was cancelled for 2021.

So instead teams did scouting at the Senior Bowl (see above posts from last week) or they just arrange private workouts.

With a player like Trevor Lawrence its a given he is going to be drafted by Jacksonville so he probably wont be granting other private workouts.

But every other player is pretty much game for all teams to have in for a meeting and workout.

An off season surgery is concerning but not unusual. It depends what it is. If its a simple scope to clean out some cartilage in a knee, shoulder, or elbow its seen as nothing more than a visit to the dental hygienist for a deep cleaning of plaque.  

The new season starts first week of September.

But there are a lot of other things in the lead up.

The draft is in April. Most teams have a week long or 10 day rookie orientation camp right after that.

Then normally a 2 week spring camp with both rookies and veterans to set the agenda for that season.

Then players are usually off from structured team activities until mid-July when they begin training camp and then play 4 warm-up friendlies against other teams from late July to late August.

However players have access to the team training facilities all year and many go in throughout the year to work out, train on their own, have physical therapy sessions to rehab past injuries or recovery from surgery.

The team medical and training staff will know exactly what he can and cannot do.

When it comes time for more physical practice sessions he will probably wear some sort of protective support harness on his injured non throwing shoulder.

Non throwing shoulder injuries are pretty common with quarterbacks as they instinctively turn their body so that shoulder takes the big hits and protect the throwing shoulder.

COVID-19 changed all this type of annual schedule in 2020 so 2021 remains to be seen.

Who is that is spiking the ball? What's the play?