Payne Durham: It Takes 11 To Make Screens Work Well
July 24th, 2025
Explains screen game success.
Last year if the Bucs had a bread-and-butter play on offense to get yards, it was the running back screen.
Only Seattle called this play more. But the Seahawks didn’t have the success the Bucs had, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt.
So yesterday at One Buc Palace after the first day of training camp, Joe spoke with Bucs tight end Payne Durham about the success of the screen plays. Was it just Bucky Irving? Was it just good blocking?
Was it the ability of the receivers to draw traffic downfield to help Bucky get in space? What?
Durham explained to Joe that for a running back screen to work as often and as well as it did for the Bucs, just about everyone on offense has shared a piece of the success.
“I think it was all 11 really buying in to make those plays successful,” Durham said. “Obviously the ballcarrier has to make people miss and do stuff in the open field.”
Durham seemed to think the overlooked element in the screen success was the offensive line because they were often tasked with hard responsibilities.
“The offensive line was getting out and running in open space,” Durham said. “A lot of times, they are in a mismatch, athletically, because they have to run down a DB or a linebacker.
“So our offensive line did a great job [on screens]. Tight ends selling the pass or blocking and the quarterback selling his eyes.
“And then you get a guy like Bucky in space, it’s really special. Anything can happen.”
So there it is. Yes, Bucky was a big part of the screen game success. So too was everyone else. For as Durham said, if the Bucs didn’t get strong execution from everyone, those screens wouldn’t have been as productive.
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July 24th, 2025 at 7:11 am
One of the best looking plays when they work.
July 24th, 2025 at 7:16 am
That’s a great point about the challenge for OL who get out of their element running in the open field trying to hit guys who are quicker and more agile.
Just another feather in the OL’s cap. Remember the late great Keith Jackson talking up the “big uglies”. The Bucs are looking very good in that department on the OL and certainly Vita and Kancey. Don’t know about their backups as much.
July 24th, 2025 at 7:23 am
And now, teams will be scheming for the screens which means there will be more one-on-one opportunities for our WRs. Baker will feed! Send Rachaad out to the right flat and throw deep to Mike along the left sideline. TD!!!!
BEAT ATLANTA!!!
July 24th, 2025 at 7:46 am
“if the Bucs didn’t get strong execution from everyone, those screens wouldn’t have been as productive.”
football in a nutshell, to be honest.
July 24th, 2025 at 8:04 am
Anyone that routinely reads these here comments knows I’m huge Sean Tucker fan. With his size and speed…watch him feast in the screen game. But…undrafted Josh Williams out of powerhouse LSU is one to watch. 5-9 /209 with 4.4 speed. “Can’t wait!” Bart Scott
July 24th, 2025 at 9:18 am
Well, dah.
July 24th, 2025 at 9:23 am
It reminds me of Lombardi’s power sweep except that the back catch’s the ball on the outside instead of toting it there.
July 25th, 2025 at 5:47 am
Durham is correct. If anyone screws up it can look like a chinese fire drill gone wrong. We have tried various versions of it but if the line, the receivers/RB, and QB don’t execute? It will look very bad. We did it well last year and our dudes executed. I’ll have more of that please.
Go Bucs!