Weird and Wonderful aka The Return of the Trick Play
by CJ Sanchez
27/9/2008
 
Ok, so say you’re a DB for one of the best teams in the NFL and all of a sudden you see the oppositions QB heading over to the WR spot. You look around at your teammates who are all hastily trying to figure out what the heck is going on. You haven’t seen this kind of wildcat lineup since college but you figure hey, it’s not like Chad Pennington is going to burn you deep, so you just line up opposite him and hope that whatever route he runs, you can stop him from getting the ball. And then, before you know it, RB Ronnie Brown has the ball from a direct snap and instead of handing it off or throwing it he goes straight up the middle, burning your team for 62 yards and a touchdown.
 
And then it hits you – you’re being outplayed by the Miami Dolphins. How in the name of all things holy did this happen?
 
Everything about the Dolphins play on Sunday was world class. From the immaculate play calling to the imaginative game plan, there wasn’t a single element that could be criticised. The defence were a brick wall, holding some of the league’s best receivers to unimpressive gains and pressuring Matt Cassel into making poor decisions. The playcalling, partnered with the clicking of the O-line and the return to form of Brown, was devastating. At several points during the game, it appeared that the roles of these two teams had been reversed and it was New England who looked out of sorts whilst Miami marched down the field at will.
 
Was this just a bad day for the Patriots? I don’t think so. This was coaching at its pinnacle. It was the novice chesspro out thinking the grandmaster. And it was exhilarating to watch, whether you were a Phin fan or not.
 
I’ve never been one to subscribe to the notion that a team is in some way poorer then another if it uses trick plays. And what a ridiculous school of thought that is. Gadget plays are football at its very core. They are one team outsmarting another, which is the very essence of every single game in the NFL. We all know that the gap between the best and worst teams in this league is very small. Week after week it is the chess match of play against play that decides each result. To say that a successful trick play shows weakness in a team shows a lack of understanding about the very nature of the game.
 
In the early stages of Superbowl XL, the Steelers were in trouble. The Seahawks were dominating on defence and Pittsburgh hadn’t yet managed a single first down. At this point Bill Cowher called on his offensive co-ordinator for an end around or gadget play ‘to get something moving’ and at the very least, get them a first down. The play in question ended up being a reverse to Hines Ward which was very successful and not only got the men of steel a first down, but also gave them the momentum they needed to win the game. Later, another trick play (a pass downfield from WR Antwan Randle El) would score them the game winning touchdown.
 
That win wasn’t down to good fortune or player superiority; it was down to good coaching.
 
Gadget plays are no different to the smoke and mirrors that good QB’s like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady use when they line up under centre. They are designed to confuse a normally sound defence and to force them into making costly errors of judgement. They’re also a heck of a lot of fun to watch, which is why the Pro Bowl is littered with them. Fans love to see a bit of trickery here and there, especially when it leads to a game changing score.
 
Whether the Dolphins will opt to use that ‘Wildcat’ offense again remains to be seen, but the point is they used it at the right time and the right place. And that’s what football is all about - calling the right play at the right time. There’s no point throwing out risky plays game after game as opposing defences would learn and be ready for them, but use them when they’re least expected and they can be the cornerstone of a good gameplan.
 
Don’t tell me successfully executing an unexpected onside kick in a playoff game is lucky or that using a ‘Statue of Liberty’ play on a game winning two point conversion is bad football. It’s the exact opposite. In short, it’s football at its best.