The screen game again

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(10-29-2020, 09:09 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: https://www.bengals.com/news/bengals-notebook-youth-looking-at-busy-second-half-of-season-injury-update-o-lin

Nice breakdown from Lap on the Bengal's usage of the screen game, particularly against the Browns.  My question is:  Why didn't the team run more screen when they faced Baltimore?  They were blitzing more than anyone. Or against Philly when Burrow was getting pounded?  I was screaming at the TV in those games to screen them, but they just kept having Burrow sit in the pocket. 

Most notable difference between those two games? Starting RB.

I think Gio just lets you do more things because you're safe knowing he can block, everyone knows he can catch, and he's not terrible at taking a handoff up the middle. He's also excellent at using his blocks to their maximum. Just a wider variety of things you can do successfully with him in the game, which keeps the defense guessing more.

Opposed to earlier in the year when Gio had just 4 rushes through his first 5 games, so when Gio came into the game you already knew it wasn't going to be a running play and could defend accordingly.

I do think Mixon probably has more pure-running talent than Gio, but Gio is just a more complete back. Just a shame that he's not had a quality OC over the last 5 years.