I have to say I love baby Schotty's trick/gimmick plays. Is anyone other than myself waiting for Brad Smith to surprise everyone and throw the ball. I feel like him lining up in the shotgun formation and running is getting old.
Smith running on 3rd and 1 needs to be used less frequently. I wouldn't be surprised if we tried what Pitt did in the playoffs @ Cincy with a rollout to one side followed by a toss back to Chad on the far sideline behind the LOS, then another toss downfield.
I was thinking of a great gimmic play. It is situational. The ideal time is nearing the end of the first half. Say we have the ball with about 15 seconds left on the clock and the ball is on our 35. The team lines up to take a knee. Leon Washington is protecting the right or left side depending. Everyone is in that arc like alignment. The defense looks like they will relax accepting that we will take the knee. Chad gets the snap and Washington blows right past the DE on a route. Chad lofts it for Washigton and there is nobody covering. All the Corners and Safeties were up near the line preparing for the knee. With Washington's speed and the time it would take to react, Leon would be going for 6. I thnk this would work. Sort of a modified fake spike play, but I like the odds of it working.
I personally hate gimmick plays when they are done repeatedly over and over again it becomes very predictable.(Kind of like Herm's 3rd and 12 run up the middle).Its good if it works but by now every time they see B Smith in on third down's they know what’s coming. If they are trying to build in confusion to defenses by suddenly allowing him to pass down field then that may be effective, but taking the ball out of Chad’s hands is the wrong move to me we barely have any rhythm on offense as it is. They need to infuse him into the passing game he's got a lot of athletic ability and its being wasted on these frequent gadget plays ,Don’t get me wrong I am pleased when its a first down but its taking away from our overall growth!
It works when it isn't expected... but they've used them too much, and it isn't fooling anybody anymore. I love them, but let Brad throw a pass, and change it up.
I'm thinking no. I dont think you would let a guy who hasnt thrown a pass all year throw one in the bggest game of the year. We win, we're in decent shape. We lose, it might be over.
For a trick play to be a trick it actually has to be unexpected. The handoffs by Brad Smith to Leon are not "tricking" anyone. The defense is ready for a run and does not believe that there is going to be a pass. So, it is not a "trick" play. Having Brad run the ball from the quarterback position would not be considered a trick play either. It is simply talent of Brad and the Oline versus the defense. The "trick" plays haven't produced that much this season. Recently, I suggested rotating QB's because of Chad's performance. I came to that conclusion because of the 90 total yards passing in the fourth quarter. Well, I was wrong. Looking over the game Chad's only major problem was accuracy under pressure. They rushed five quite often. Chad should have been able to dump the ball in a more confident and relaxed manner. The plays and personnel didn't seem up to that task. Trick plays would not have remedied the situation. Dwight missed what should have been an easy catch for him. Chad's interceptions where caused by a tip and a strong rush. Leon played very well. But, that was mostly because of a passing threat. Baker came through with a hard catch at a bad time. And, even though the officials made a bad call he played well when it counted. The defense played good also. It was not a rollover by any stretch. The game was lost because of bad luck, some bad plays, some mistakes, and a bad call. Trick plays wouldn't have changed anything. As far as "trick plays". Brad Smith throwing the ball would fit that category just because it is unexpected. A downfield catch and handoff from Coles to Cotchery or to Smith would be awesome. Punting on plays that are 20+ yards, ahead, and third down would be interesting. (90 yard punts) Dropping a D lineman to the center of the box and blitzing from the outsides on a pass play could be very interesting. Using a D lineman or O lineman as a tight end, pulling and an against the grain run style block on a rollout could be interesting also. Not really a trick play, but probably unexpected would be to drop the 3-4. The defense is pretty good. But, playing like a well oiled machine in the 4 and 5 front would probably be best. Working together to create gaps in the protection is always better then relying on individual zones of activity. The next two games are going to completely rely on perfect zealous Defensive play and mistake free Offense. Of course I could be wrong.
