Photo By: Matt Winter The Towson Tiger's football stadium. The Towson Tiger's use their astroturfed field to run creative plays.
The Creation of Creative Football
By: Matt Winter
It’s third down and the Philadelphia Eagles need three yards for the first down. Donovan McNabb is lined up behind center with running back Brian Westbrook behind him. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson is lined up wide right and Michael Vick is lined up wide left.
Wait…what?
Yeah, Michael Vick, the three-time pro bowl quarterback is lined up as a wide receiver.
“Play design has evolved to the point where coaches want as much talent on the field at the same time, regardless of position,” The Towerlight’s associate sports editor Kevin Hess said.
While there is still competition among teammates and battles to win a starting spot, coaches are becoming more creative in their approach to game planning. Coaches are starting to realize that just one starter per spot may not only be holding out potential stars, but holding back the potential of teams.
Running trick plays, starting more than one quarterback or running back during a play and even using other star players as a decoy is a new trend that seems to keep popping up in the National Football League (NFL), but that is not where it started.
“I started running option plays and trick plays in Peewee football. We would run a lot of plays with multiple running backs to get people involved in the game,” said Towson University student Frank Donald, who has played football since age 12.
“I just think it’s kind of weird that the ways we would run a play when I was 12 are now working in the NFL and even at Towson for that matter. I remember having like three different quarterbacks in a game,” said Donald.
Frank was talking about the Towson quarterback situation. While both quarterbacks are not on the field at the same time, they both play a considerable amount of snaps. The competition is fierce between the quarterbacks and coach Rob Ambros has yet to pick a starter.
“It keeps [Towson] players hungry. That way they take nothing for granted and take practice seriously. They can’t take a play off or they’ll lose their jobs,” said Kevin Hess.
Neither of the quarterbacks have won a starting spot on the team for their play, so instead of just naming a starter and going with it, the Tigers have decided to use them both. This way they could possibly get the best of both players. Also, the other team does not know which quarterback to game plan for.
This philosophy has become abundant in the NFL as well.
This is opening up opportunities for teams and players that they never even imagined. The beauty of it all is that younger, more athletic players are getting the chance to live their dreams faster than ever.
“It’s allowing versatile players to find a niche in an area that didn’t exist 20, 10, even five years ago,” said MASNsports.com’s Ravens’ beat writer, Dan Kolko. “Teams, because of all the ways they can impact the offense, are viewing players like Percy Harvin and Pat White differently.”
Even the Baltimore Ravens are embracing this trend. There was multiple times last season where both the starting quarterback Joe Flacco and backup Troy Smith were on the field at the same time. One time Troy Smith even threw a long pass to Joe Flacco for a big gain.
There is no way to game plan to defend against a quarterback throwing to a quarterback. That’s why this new trend is working so well in the NFL.
The question is: how long will it last?
“I think coaches now are using more gimmick plays, but I do believe it is just a fad and will be short-lived,” said Hess. “Defenses are too smart and fast to let it keep beating them, especially at the NFL level.”
Back at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, the ball is hiked into the hands of Donovan McNabb and he drops back to pass. He looks left and fakes a pass to Michael Vick. The safety jumps to the direction of Vick leaving DeSean Jackson wide open for the first down.
Vick was a decoy on this play, but you better watch him next time he’s lined up as receiver.
