What Would You Do?

[Johnp2 21]

A gentleman in the basketball forum presented a "what would you do?" post depicting a specific scenario---and I feel it is a good way to spark conversation so thought I would steal (I mean, borrow) his bit. ;-)

Feel free to provide your own scenarios as it might help generate new ideas.

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Situation:

You have no timeouts

Your team is down by one point

You have the ball on your own 10 yard line

Seven seconds left in the game

What would you do?

I think I would probably call a bootleg (our strongest passing play) and throw to our primary receiver in the end zone (running on an out route). If he does not catch it we should still have a few second left. This would probably get the defense thinking we are committed to the pass, and playing back. I would then run a fake reverse, pitching it left to my RB who fakes the reverse to the receiver coming in the opposite direction and hope he can turn the corner.

[Charlie 2]

Johnp2,

I like where this thread is going. Although I like the end of game senerio, one play left to try and score, I am more curious on fourth and short situations that seem to present themselves so often in games. What do you coaches tend to call in that situations?

Do you go with a quick handoff and have the quarterback run it, do you hand it off or go with misdirection?

[rushbuster70 16]

Ive been in that position before lol...2 games back to back and we DIDNT score lol...

If i had to do it all over again obviously i would call a different play.but i have a set of plays specific for 10 yards & in for the goalline that are MONEYYY!!!

[Johnp2 21]

Johnp2,

I like where this thread is going. Although I like the end of game senerio, one play left to try and score, I am more curious on fourth and short situations that seem to present themselves so often in games. What do you coaches tend to call in that situations?

Do you go with a quick handoff and have the quarterback run it, do you hand it off or go with misdirection?

We'd have to define short. If it is a few inches, then I'd simply give it to the RB right up the middle---anything else and we end up out-smarting ourselves as we know. Assume it is 4th and 2 yards. In prior seasons I would run a good short-yardage play called "Double-Cross". It's a running play where I have two receivers about five away from each side of the center. On hut, the QB drops back a foot and extends the ball forward. The WRs run toward each other (parallel to the LOS). At the last second one goes to the outside while the other takes it. It's hard to explain but the ball is handed off the second they cross, so the defense does not know who has the ball. It's based 100% on timing. We spend a lot of time on it (sometimes I wonder if the time spent on it is worth what you get from the play, but that is another topic). The advantages however, in this situation is that the ball is handed off close to the LOS. Additionally, if you are playing a disciplined defense who stays in their zones, they don't really have time to react as there is usually that delay until they know how has the ball (unless they just guess correctly).

This past season the Center fake-reverse was our best short-yardage play. However, in a fourth and 2, I'd instruct my center to go upfield the second he sees a hole and fore-go the fake reverse. We actually faced this situation this season, and I was SO proud of our center as he saw a huge hole after running about three yards and he scored a TD. It was the first time I gave him the option of bailing on the fake-reverse if saw a hole so it worked out well.

[Orange 26]

In the first scenario with one play left and the whole field to go, I'd probably do what I like best, run the receivers long and throw a delayed swing out pass to my best ball carrier. That gives me the highest % completion and I like to give my kids the ball in the open field. My kids are almost at the age where I'd want to chuck it downfield long but right now that would most likely be a pick, incompletion or a reception and flag pull right away. I suppose if I felt like my QB could throw it into the endzone I'd give it a shot but from my 10, that's 40+ yards. Well, 40 would get you to the goal line if you threw it from the los, that's not something our QB can do right now.

Scenario 2 with short yardage I like receivers running short crosses (picks) over the middle and/ or my QB rolling out hard. FYI, under 5 yards from the gaol/midfield we're in a no-run zone so that's not even an option.

[AsianChexMix 0]

Easy one here! Line up twins right and have RB behind QB. QB hikes the ball and with his throwing hand pretend to throw it to the receivers but QB actually has ball in the other hand...RB handoff and TD easy. Yes sir...Statue of Liberty! We did this twice and BOTH times we ran it in for a TD. That's what I'd do. If not, I'd just run a play with misdirection but I love Statue of Liberty!

[Johnp2 21]

Glad to see this thread coming back to life. I DO want to apologize though, as the situation I meant was that you were on your OPPONENTS 10 yard line (not your own). My son can throw the ball, but I don't think he will EVER be able to hit the receiver in the end zone that far. ;-) Sorry for the confusion... with that said, same scenario, but you are on your opponent's 10 yard line....

[Orange 26]

Glad to see this thread coming back to life. I DO want to apologize though, as the situation I meant was that you were on your OPPONENTS 10 yard line (not your own). My son can throw the ball, but I don't think he will EVER be able to hit the receiver in the end zone that far. ;-) Sorry for the confusion... with that said, same scenario, but you are on your opponent's 10 yard line....

Lol, yea that would be a far pass for a youth QB. At the opponents 10 would be a much different story. I'd definitely throw it into the endzone. The actual play really depends on what the defense is doing or has done up to that point but regardless its going into the endzone win or lose. I think generally I like the QB rolling hard and having a couple of guys to hit, one at the goal, one at the back of the endzone and maybe one trying to find a space in between. That would be against a straight across zone or even 3-1-1. Against a 2-1-2 I'd have the QB look to the outside and then hit the slot receiver dead over the middle at the goal line. Against man, I'd run some kind of wash/ pick and hope my guy breaks free.

[cabot giants 0]

Well, I have been in a similar situation...Championship game we just scored a touchdown and time is out. We have the option to go for 1 from the 5 yard line and tie (no run zone) or 2 to win from the 12. We left it up to the kids to choose what they wanted and of course they chose to go for the win. We ran a fake reverse pass to the QB where our QB snuck out in a shallow slant as soon as he made the first handoff. The first runner handed the ball off to a receiver on the reverse who threw a short pass to the QB after the defense all came up to stop the run. It worked perfectly except his flag got pulled inches from the goal line. We lost but the play is in our playbook now and has scored many touchdowns over the past two seasons. We use it in all of our reverses and give the option to the RB to either run or pass based on what the defense does. Great topic even though it brings back rough memories.

[Johnp2 21]

That's a great story. I like the way you left it up to the players as to what to do. I myself have done that quite a few times (but never to that magnitude). Hopefully the parents supported you in your decision to allow them to decide.

[YMCA Coach 1]

Great topic!

We actually had a situation two seasons ago where we got the ball back on a 4th down - I called timeout to stop the clock, we had 3 seconds left. I started to write up a play when the QB threw out a suggestion (double reverse throw to the QB), then my #2 QB - and best WR - put out one as well (hook & ladder). So with their help (no kidding!) we drew up both plays together.

8 on 8. Our formation was with two backs, split back set, WR's wide to the right and left, o-linemen to the right and left of center. The QB took the snap and immediately ran to his right. The WR to the right came in and took the reverse, the QB kept running. The left side RB took two steps left, then came back across the middle, taking the handoff from the WR. RB with the ball, ran hard right, but handed the ball to the other RB, who threw to the QB - who had continued deep, and ran about a 12 yard comeback. When he caught it, he turned and flipped it to the RB who'd taken the handoff, who was now sprinting down the sidelines. I couldn't believe that it worked that well, that they executed three exchanges flawlessly, ran their routes perfectly. We didn't score, as they caught the RB about 5 yards shy of the goal line, but we were cheering as though we had! I've put it in the playbook and tried it twice since, but without nearly the success of that first time.

So to answer the topic, I try to adapt an existing play to the situation if I can, but if it doesn't seem to fit, I'll draw one up on the spot and we'll roll the dice. The kids have fun with that anyway!

[RedBaron 1]

I would most likely run the Statue, as well. We have ran it 6 times, I believe and scored on 4, had a 60 plus yard run on 1 and the other time they had a 7-8 year old moment and forgot what they were doing.

We run it with the QB dropping back, as if to pass and holding the ball up in the "cocked" position. We have all but the sole RB go out. The RB hold for a 2-3 second count, depending on how aggressive the anticipated rush is, then takes it out of the QB's hands.

The last two times, the timing has been awesome. The RB took it right off the hand as the QB's flag was being grasped, but had nto been pulled out.

[Johnp2 21]

I'll tell you what--the Statue if Liberty--when exectuted correctly, can be extremely dangerous---this is a great call on your part, Red Baron! You are correct about timing.

I like the way you keep the QB's arm cocked, as opposed with trying to do some fancy fake pass.

The NUMBER ONE rule to beating an offense, IMO, is to ensure that the second you get the defense fooled, make sure you are going full-speed, which is what this version of the Statue allows.

This is one play we have down and ALWAYS gain big yardage on. It's also been a great play for us to beat the blitz. We've spent a lot of time on hiding it, and having two versions: quick, and long. This is dependant on how far we feel the defense is thinking we will throw. There is not a better moment in coaching, than to run this play--hearing the opposing coaches scream "Pass--Pass!" only to have your player snatch it from the QB with nothing but air in front of him, hearing parents of your team scream, "Great playing calling, coach!" ;-)

[RedBaron 1]

Every time we have ran it, it has been from our own 5 yard line, which is where our change of posessions starts, except INTs.

The last time we ran it, I caught a glimpse of the other coach doing one of those "What are going to do" poses.

I don't think it can get any more deflating that giving up a 1 play, 65 yard drive right at the half.

[GeorgeC 1]

We use left and right end-arounds quite a bit. They work pretty well, as we've got our fastest kids there. Won't the statue of liberty play look pretty much like just another version of the end-around? What advantage would there be of adding the complication?

[RedBaron 1]

We use left and right end-arounds quite a bit. They work pretty well, as we've got our fastest kids there. Won't the statue of liberty play look pretty much like just another version of the end-around? What advantage would there be of adding the complication?

It will depend on a few things, as far as what it looks like. We really sell the pass fake. We have the QB drop back and cock his arm like he is going to pass, which gets the secondary concerned about the players running routes. It also gets the guys upfront looking around for receviers.

We have the RB standing right behind the QB. I honestly think some people forget he is there or can't see him once the QB drops back.

I guess the big difference would be where the runner starts from, as opposed to having someone come from the end of the formation. I think cocking the arm might sell the pass a little mroe, as well.

WHat I really like about it is there is no one running across the formation to possibly alert the "d" to an end around.

It is really good against the blitz, as well. If you can time it and get the "handoff" right as the rusher gets there, you can take that one or sometimes two defensive guys out of the defensive equation.

If they send two guys and your back gets to the otuside it only leaves the one safety or linebacker (depending on the defensive formation) for him to beat.

[Johnp2 21]

Selling the pass is key, as was mentioned. The whole idea is once the defense believes, and reacts to the pass, you have a player getting the ball going full-throttle in the opposite direction.

We actually do run it for a slot receiver about 7-10 yards out. During the game I'll have that player run a wheel route (going behind the QB) a few times so it does not alert the team when they see him running down the LOS when we execute it.

As you have seen, it can be deadly against the blitz. We usually move our slot in about 3-4 yards away, and let the blitzers hold up the QB's flag(s), wondering why the ball-carrier is streaking down the sideline. Heh-heh.

Ironically, I've wanted to come up with a Fake Statue of Liberty, but it always works so well it's been hard for me to come up with a way to make the defense think we are running it....other than telling them.