The Harrison Bailey as WR Play

#1
DiderotsGhost

DiderotsGhost

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#1
Apologies if there's been a thread on this already, but ... anyone have any idea what we were doing on that 4th down play when Harrison Bailey lined up at WR?

I had the sound down on the TV, but I think Florida called a timeout, we called a different play, and converted. But still quite curious what the rationale was for lining up Bailey at WR.
 
#2
#2
DiderotsGhost said:
Apologies if there's been a thread on this already, but ... anyone have any idea what we were doing on that 4th down play when Harrison Bailey lined up at WR?

I had the sound down on the TV, but I think Florida called a timeout, we called a different play, and converted. But still quite curious what the rationale was for lining up Bailey at WR.
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A lot of times in wildcat packages the QB stays on the field as a WR. I’d guess to keep extra coverage to the strong side so that everyone can’t just crash the box and contain the edges because it leaves the option for a double pass deep open with a qb in the game. All that to say, I didn’t see the play
 
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#4
#4
DiderotsGhost said:
Apologies if there's been a thread on this already, but ... anyone have any idea what we were doing on that 4th down play when Harrison Bailey lined up at WR?

I had the sound down on the TV, but I think Florida called a timeout, we called a different play, and converted. But still quite curious what the rationale was for lining up Bailey at WR.
Click to expand...

Looked like wildcat to me. Yeah, I watched part of this one.
 
#5
#5
ftsandersvol said:
Not that we ever would, but leaving the QB on the field in a wildcat formation opens up the possibility for some really creative plays.
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I actually can’t remember any team doing anything more out of the wildcat than the player receiving the direct snap throwing it running it or handing it off. It may have to do with you run it 1 time see how they defend it, and if for some reason their game plan is to leave the QB unguarded then you use that creativity but just no one I can remember does it.
 
#6
#6
TNnative said:
Looked like wildcat to me. Yeah, I watched part of this one.
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Yeah, might've been wildcat. I had the sound turned down and the camera guys focused on Bailey, so couldn't tell what was going on elsewhere; wasn't sure if we had Eric Gray back at QB or Brian Maurer (which could've made sense in the scenario).
 
#9
#9
I thought they were going to do the old Belichick / Brady QB reverse double throw.

Whoever takes the snap, fakes a hand off, throw, or run, but rolls to one side pulling the defensive front. Then laterals cross field to the QB and he throws to mam deep without any pressure.
 
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#10
#10
Otis1105 said:
I actually can’t remember any team doing anything more out of the wildcat than the player receiving the direct snap throwing it running it or handing it off. It may have to do with you run it 1 time see how they defend it, and if for some reason their game plan is to leave the QB unguarded then you use that creativity but just no one I can remember does it.
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I just watched 5 mins of highlights and saw 1 play where Felix Jones got the ball sprinted right handed it off to romo who was reversing left then romo flipped it back to Felix down the field. That was the most creative use of the Qb. The other one was the same play for the Steelers but the reverse was faked to Big Ben and Emmanuel sanders kept it on the end around
 
#11
#11
Otis1105 said:
I actually can’t remember any team doing anything more out of the wildcat than the player receiving the direct snap throwing it running it or handing it off. It may have to do with you run it 1 time see how they defend it, and if for some reason their game plan is to leave the QB unguarded then you use that creativity but just no one I can remember does it.
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That’s why I missed my calling.

I can’t remember which team it was, but a couple of years ago I saw a college team keep two QBs in the backfield. One was right handed, and one was left handed. The defense never knew which one was going to take the snap.
 
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#14
#14
Otis1105 said:
I actually can’t remember any team doing anything more out of the wildcat than the player receiving the direct snap throwing it running it or handing it off. It may have to do with you run it 1 time see how they defend it, and if for some reason their game plan is to leave the QB unguarded then you use that creativity but just no one I can remember does it.
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Also if you’re running hurry-up it precludes you having to allow the defense to substitute.
 
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#16
#16
Nothing too tricky going on.

Defensive coaches sub in their personnel packages based on the the offensive personnel that runs on the field each play. By taking the QB out of the game, the defense immediately would recognize the next play to be some kind of wildcat and therefore adjust to a heavy run stopping front. Leave him on the field and they're not substituting a nickle for an extra DL or LB. In other words, splitting HB out at WR allows the defense less time to prepare for "wildcat" than if he exited the field.

(I'll add this: I don't like how long it takes us to get a play in Chaney's offense. We rarely huddle, but usually we spend the entire play clock looking at the sideline, which in a way negates trying to confuse the defense with personnel)

The younger guys using binoculars in the booths are usually the one's tasked with quickly identifying the 5 eligibles relaying that to the sideline so they can sub as quickly as possible.

This is by the way the exact reason the TE position is still an important offensive position.
 
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#17
#17
You do it to keep the other team from noticing a change in your personnel. If we took the qb out to run wildcat, the other team would know it’s coming and could put in more LBs/dL to play run. By not changing personnel, you keep them in a base D against a run heavy package
 
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#18
#18
keenobserver said:
Nothing too tricky going on.

Defensive coaches sub in their personnel packages based on the the offensive personnel that runs on the field each play. By taking the QB out of the game, the defense immediately would recognize the next play to be some kind of wildcat and therefore adjust to a heavy run stopping front. Leave him on the field and they're not substituting a nickle for an extra DL or LB.

The younger guys using binoculars in the booths are usually the one's tasked with quickly identifying the 5 eligibles relaying that to the sideline so they can sub as quickly as possible.

This is by the way the exact reason the TE position is still an important offensive position.
Click to expand...

Beat me to it
 
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#19
#19
Thanks, folks.
I wish we had some sticky threads with some basic X & O's explained as well.
 
#21
#21
Leaving the QB on the field in a wildcat is a usual occurrence. Last year Missouri torched us with a QB at WR for a TD. Dunkin Doody called the play.
 
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