Unconquered

I'll bite :) I like the Option Reverse Pass.

Line up at 4 wide with 1 RB. At snap, QB and RB run a option (i'll say strong side) and slot WR cuts back and runs in opposite direction towards QB. QB can either run the option play, hand it off to the WR, fake it to WR and continue regular play or make it into an option pass. If QB hands to WR, the WR will pass down field or complete the reverse.

It is predicated on an over aggressive defense biting on the option or percieved run play. It also beats up a team that is cheating up to cover an option. Something like this is risky since it takes extra time to develop and with so many moving parts and split decisions, there is alot of chances for something to go terribly wrong. I imagine a play like this in the 3rd or 4th quarter with a relatively comfortable lead. I imagine it would work maybe 5% of the time though, depending on the quality of the D.

My favorite has to be the ol statue of liberty play, probably because of the shear ridiculousness of it. Traditionally (when I was a kid) qb took the snap and pulled back like he was going to throw and either a wideout or the rb would snatch it from his throwing hand from behind... then cut up field.

The most famous version I've seen was during that epic boise state/ou bowl game. But on that one I'm pretty sure the ball was in the non throwing hand and given to rb via a behind the back. Ep-ic.

As far as when to call it, I say that while there are plenty technical reasons, such as over pursuit by the d, or them being lulled by repition, the real time to call them is when your balls have reached proper size and steel-like density. And never before. Just ask Bobby, he'll tell ya.

And while we're at it, here's a play I think we should run: fake wr screen.

We all know how fond our boy is of the "bubble" screen. And it can be pretty darn effective. However, if we run it a lot dbs tend to start trying to jump the route. I always thought it would be good to pump fake the screen, then have one of the lead blocking wrs slide behind the dbs and throw to him.

Seems like if done correctly it would leave only a safety to beat.

The fake spike. Dan Marino torched the Jets with it for a game winning TD with less than a min left. Beautiful!

The reason I like it is because it works a decent percentage of the time. Always with no timeouts and less than a minute left in the 4th and down by a TD or less. If it doesn't work there is no harm because clock stops with 3-4 secs less than it would have with the spike. All the lineman, RB, and WR's except for the one guy going for catch stand straight up and walk around like there is nothing going on and the ball was spiked. The whole defense is like "WTF, doh!". Hahahaah suck it Jets...

The "flat", is the area outside the end of the line of scrimmage on either side, running from about 10 yards behind the line to roughly the same in front. Least that's my understanding, there are probably others here that can give a more technospeak answer.

BTW, you're not the only one that benefits from this topic. Even after some 55 years of playing and observing the game of tackle football, I glean nuggets from some of the responses. Sometimes its just different terminology from my playing days, and sometimes it's 'cause the game changes all the time, with new stuff going on.

One thing - the strategy coaches use is of high interest to me. I like to read other - more knowledgeable poster like Canolee, etc. hold forth on stuff.

I have a soft spot for the flea flicker since it worked so well in Tecmo Bowl.

The one Jimbo ran a few years ago where everyone was looking at our receivers and Antone made the pitch back and slipped out on the weak side for a huge gain was a thing of beauty.

Wasn't bad but they way you described it I think the dolphins could have sold it a little better and would need to in today's college games where trickeration is more common.

Moving slow was part of the rouse.

Only the greatest trick play of all time....

The Annexation of Puerto Rico...fast forward to 6:20

The throwback pass is my favorite trick play, for sentimental reasons. My earliest football memory is sitting in the Big House at Michigan watching Charlie Ward and Casey Weldon perfectly execute this play.

I've had a lot of success with trick plays. My favorite is one that we got from Chris Hatcher when he was at Georgia Southern. We just call it "Jaws". Technically it would be Doubles Left Hap Stretch Left Reverse Pitch Back Pass. So you can understand why we just call it Jaws.

We line up in Doubles, motion the right slot over to both kick out/protect against a trailer on the reverse man and to also get the secondary to roll their coverage to trips. Then run stretch/outside zone left and he flips it to the left slot on a reverse. The QB just drifts back and to the right after the handoff. The reverse man attacks the end man on the LOS and pitches it to the QB like an option. The right WR gets lost inside during all of the misdirection and then gets on a corner route. The left WR runs a lazy post. The QB has a run pass option. Usually the right WR is the open man because that corner comes up to play the reverse.

Wrong ball coach! Haha...