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 Thursday, September 30
Ricky Watters' I right weak rip screen left
 
By Sean Salisbury
ESPN.com

 

<img src="hhttp://espn.go.com/i/nfl/playbook99/wk4_oaksea_1.jpg" width=400 height=480 border=0>

About the play: If you have a passing philosophy like Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren does, defenses will try to take away the downfield throw. This allows Seattle to throw the screen pass, and Holmgren has a player in Ricky Watters who understands how to set up blocks and has great timing. The screen is nothing more than an extension of a run and should be a high-percentage play.

Keys to the play: Watters must stay to the tight-end side as long as he can before he crosses the formation to receive the screen to the left. Quarterback Jon Kitna has to sell the pass to the right in order to get the secondary and the linebackers to flow to the offense's right.

When to expect it: This play is good on first down or third down and long. It is important that you try to call this screen when the defense is not playing hard man-to-man coverage. The linebacker will follow Watters in man-to-man, making it more difficult for the offensive line to make the block. If the Seahawks are facing zone coverage, then the linemen have better angles on their blocks. A successful screen makes defenses tentative. The receivers must sell the deep route, and the line must disguise the screen before getting into the open field.

Critical players: The offensive linemen can't get grabbed on the way out, and the fullback must run and clear out the weak-side linebacker.

Defensive strategy: The Raiders must read keys and keep their eyes on Watters. Some backs will give the play away with their eyes -- by looking where they need to end up or by changing the way they run after the ball is snapped. A more tentative approach by the back can give away the play. Plus, it helps to have linebackers who can run.



 


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