Screen Passes Aren't

[gstelmack]

I think this may be the most nitpicky thing I've ever complained about on 2k7, and I may even be wrong. And it sure isn't killing my enjoyment of the game. But what the heck:

Screen passes involve blockers in front, correct? And if the blockers are past the line of scrimmage, that's a penalty, correct? So screen passes always have to be thrown behind the line of scrimmage, correct?

So why are so many FOF2k7 screen passes caught one or two yards down the field? I'll get things like:

QB throws a screen pass to FB
Play is good for 8 yards
FB gained 7 yards after the catch

I understand the occasional WR screen might work, 'cause the blockers are receivers and thus allowed to be downfield, but I see a fair percentage of screen passes caught beyond the line of scrimmage.

[eckman]

Linemen can be a yard or two past the line"neutral zone". There is a grey area they let them get away with.

[Synovia]

Eckman, its 3 yards, actually, and its not a grey area, its part of the rules. And the blockers really dont need to be infront of the reciever, they just need to be in front of him before he starts going up field.

IE a reciever could catch the ball 5 yards downfield, and then wait for the screening lineman to catch him before taking off.

[BrianD]

Eckman, its 3 yards, actually, and its not a grey area, its part of the rules. And the blockers really dont need to be infront of the reciever, they just need to be in front of him before he starts going up field.

IE a reciever could catch the ball 5 yards downfield, and then wait for the screening lineman to catch him before taking off.

Unless I am mistaken, it is only 3 yards if it is a continuation of a block that started within 1 yard from the neutral zone. Linemen aren't just allowed to run 3 yards downfield and wait to start blocking. And if a receiver catches a ball 5 yards ahead of his line, he will probably be caught by a defender before the line catches up.

[cuervo72]

I had a thread somewhat related to this somewhere (maybe IHOF or FOFL). What I'd noticed in 2k4 too is that I would have say, seven screens in my box score (I usually don't throw many, but there were a couple specific games where I did), but my RB/FB were combined only targeted for say, three passes for the game. I don't know if this is the same in 2k7, but if you're using screens to feed your RB, that doesn't always happen.

[gstelmack]

Yeah, I know that my TE catches a fair number of screens, and you get a couple of WR screens as well.

Just surprised at the number that seem to be thrown beyond the line of scrimmage, that's all.

[Raiders Army]

If it's thrown behind the line of scrimmage, isn't it a lateral instead of a pass?

Edit--ignore me. drinking. Wasn't thinking of the QB dropping back and throwing it forward but behind the line of scrimmage.