The greatest football fake of the year didn't come from the mind of Bill Belichick or out of the Boise State Broncos playbook. It came from a middle school coach in Corpus Christi, Texas, and his eighth-grade quarterback. During Saturday's middle school championship game against rival Wynn Seale, the Driscoll Middle School team pulled off one of the best trick plays you'll ever see. Late in the third quarter, with Driscoll down 6-0, the Wynn Seale defense was called for a 5-yard penalty which led to a respotting of the ball. Before the next snap, quarterback Jason Garza loudly told the center that the refs were marking off 5 more yards.
That was my first thought as well. I get that its clever and all, but just seems plain cheap. Its like the team couldn't win playing fair, so they resort to these plays instead.
I love the fake field goals and punts and legitimate deceptions, but bush league is probably the best description of these gimmicks.
These plays are no less legitimate than any other play, they may be gimmicky but they're completely legal and it's up to the defense to know that. I know that SeeBass went off about these types of plays in the funny picture thread, and while I get his point and respect it, I've got a pretty similar resume to his in the game and don't have a problem with these plays at all. Once the ref sets the ball and the center gets over it any movement of it means things are live. We drilled stupid little things like this in practice, even just in one on one type drills, so that you went at any movement of that ball. One thing I do agree with is that the guy taking the ball here is setup for injury if anyone actually figures it out and blows him up, but I guess that's the risk to the reward of an easy score.
These plays are no less legitimate than any other play, they may be gimmicky but they're completely legal and it's up to the defense to know that. I know that SeeBass went off about these types of plays in the funny picture thread, and while I get his point and respect it, I've got a pretty similar resume to his in the game and don't have a problem with these plays at all. Once the ref sets the ball and the center gets over it any movement of it means things are live. We drilled stupid little things like this in practice, even just in one on one type drills, so that you went at any movement of that ball. One thing I do agree with is that the guy taking the ball here is setup for injury if anyone actually figures it out and blows him up, but I guess that's the risk to the reward of an easy score.
I guess it just seems like a situation where they can't score normally so they resort to this kind of thing instead.
I guess it just seems like a situation where they can't score normally so they resort to this kind of thing instead.
I have no idea, but even if it is I don't have a problem with that. You need to be aware on defense, and if you're not things like this will happen. I don't see this as anything different than a fake punt. You expect the typical routine play to happen and stop paying attention to your responsibilities and the ball winds up in the endzone. It's a more over the top trick play, and more subversive, but it's still about the defense not being focused on their responsibilities.
I have no idea, but even if it is I don't have a problem with that. You need to be aware on defense, and if you're not things like this will happen. I don't see this as anything different than a fake punt. You expect the typical routine play to happen and stop paying attention to your responsibilities and the ball winds up in the endzone. It's a more over the top trick play, and more subversive, but it's still about the defense not being focused on their responsibilities.
To me it is greatly different than a fake punt - this play simulates a dead ball situation where kids are presumably taught not to hit.
It reminds me of the old pitcher/first baseman have a conference wherein the pitcher sneaks the ball to the first baseman who tags out the runner when he leads off.
Anything you can do within the rules works in my books!
Last edited by Sidney Crosby's Hat; 11-11-2010 at 02:07 AM.
To me it is greatly different than a fake punt - this play simulates a dead ball situation where kids are presumably taught not to hit.
Well then they were taught poorly. The ball is set, the referee steps away, the center moves the ball. That's a live ball situation, and the defense should know it. The fact that one involves a typical snap and one is just handing the ball to the QB doesn't change anything.
I get why people have an issue with it, but the defense should know better than to fall for things like this.
Best touchdown ever?
