Rams Accused of Lining Up Quickly to Manipulate Communications...and no one cares...

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

IIRC in the Brady/King interview from Montana after SB51, Brady talked about getting set early in the play clock allowed Josh to give him extra tidbits on what the D was showing before communication was shut off. I don't think it's unique for any team to make full use of that radio time, even after the play is called in. This Rams stuff isn't news, IMO.

Regards,
Chris

 

[tasmlab]

I thought lining up quickly was considered good football? Brady has been doing it since the Cosby show was still on the air.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

There is nothing wrong with this. In fact it’s smart.

 

[maineman209]

Well, the only way this can work is if the offense doesn't substitute and has the ability to run a lot of different looks and plays out of the same personnel. Apparently, the Rams offense does have that ability.

To pull this off also probably requires that the offense employ some form of abbreviated play-calling terminology in order to be able to get audibles called in within the 15-second communication window. So, it seems safe to assume that the Rams have this as well.

The Pats line up quickly without substituting quite often. The difference is that Brady, with his experience, isn't likely to need McD in his ear calling audibles like Goff does with McVay (although, that's not to say that it never happens with McD).

Anyway, since sideline-to-helmet communication is automatically cut off by the officials, it's difficult to see how any rules are being broken by the Rams.

I suppose that (IF this becomes an issue), the competition committee might address with a rule that cuts off communications as soon as the team "lines up", but then they'll need to specify what "lines up" means (Center over the ball?). This wouldn't hurt experienced QBs, but might remove what could be a valuable development tool for newbie QBs.

The alternatives to this approach, though, would all seem to effectively "ban" the hurry-up offense - and THAT would be a really stupid thing for the NFL to do.

 

[maineman209]

BTW - does anyone think that McVay is not a lock for for Coach-of-the-Year at this point?

 

[Ring 6]

How could anyone have any problem with this?
It’s 100% legal, fine and smart.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

The Pats line up quickly without substituting quite often. The difference is that Brady, with his experience, isn't likely to need McD in his ear calling audibles like Goff does with McVay (although, that's not to say that it never happens with McD).

As someone points up upthread, in Brady's post-SB51 interview with (ugh) Peter King, Brady says they will line up quickly at times to allow McD to give Brady at-the-line advice before the radio shuts off.

 

[Koma]

This "controversy" reminds me of a quote I read a couple of weeks ago:

“It was kind of a look that we were waiting for. It’s something that they’ve done all year. I don’t know why, but for this game they changed it up and it was a first time thing for them so obviously it didn’t work. It is what it is I guess.

“What they showed on film was a 100-percenter. If they do what they do, I think it would have been an easy TD for me.”

The quote is from a Seahawks player talking about the failed fake FG they ran against the Falcons. Imagine the reaction if an opposing player said that after playing the Patriots.

As a lot of people have said, what the Rams are doing is smart and 100% legal. Then again, the ineligible receiver plays, having kickoffs land just short of the goal line, and signing players who have been released and pass through waivers are all legal also, but we've seen negative reactions about all of those.

The short answer is, it doesn't matter so much what is being done, but who is doing it.[/quote]

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

That's about as groundbreaking as saying they discovered how to use a forward pass to move the ball. The writer must be aware that every team uses the com system until its cut off, and before that invention they probably just yelled from the sidelines.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I'm not sure why this is being considered new or controversial. Accused?

This has always been one of the two biggest advantages of running the no huddle.

One: the D can't substitute so they get tired and you can exploit mismatches, especially with versatile personnel.

Two: The communication with the OC stays on until the play clock is at 15 sec. so you have an extra pair of eyes to help with the pre-snap read.

same as it ever was...

 

[JMC00]

I mean I don't see anything really illegal about it given that the rule is communications are cut off with 15 seconds left on the playclock. Unless they are somehow circumventing that it's legal.

It just makes Jared Goff look really bad... The fact that he needs his coach to make the audibles for him

 

[Soliel]

I wish people would stop saying it’s 100 percent legal. What does that matter?

Footballs have to stay at 13 psi even in cold weather and no one can tape anything from anywhere or else freak

As I said. Ian is a goon

 

[ALP]

in the NFL the crime doesn't matter as much as the accused

its becoming similar in politics

unfortunately we're trending that way as a society, were we let our biases get the best of us, instead of reality/facts

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

How long have they been doing this? Did they do this in SB 34 vs the Titans? We don't know and we shouldn't have to wonder.

******

 

[farn]

THEY are stupid to let this out. Now, opponents can line up differently in the first 10s & then shift around 12s.

 

[Wheelman]

You know what, I was recently wondering why offenses don't do that after reading the usual nonsense from Patriots haters how the communication doesn't cut off after 15 seconds so they tell Brady where to throw it from up top. So it got me thinking, do what McVay is doing. Why don't teams with crappy QB's do that?

What a coincidence! Maybe I should get hired as a HC or something, eh?

 

[maineman209]

I mean I don't see anything really illegal about it given that the rule is communications are cut off with 15 seconds left on the playclock. Unless they are somehow circumventing that it's legal.

It just makes Jared Goff look really bad... The fact that he needs his coach to make the audibles for him

I didn't see where the article implied that McVay calls in ALL the audibles.

Goff is in only his second season and he had some seriously crappy coaching as a rookie. This year, he's getting better coaching, apparently including some on-the-fly assistance with audibles (occasionally, not on every play) and maybe with some pre-snap reads. Seems likely to help him develop faster - as opposed to throwing him to the wolves and watching him fail. Not sure how this is making him "look bad".

 

[SammyBlueCat]

It is clear to all that at least one of their coaches reads our forum and is attempting to take my methods to heart.

 

[maineman209]

That's about as groundbreaking as saying they discovered how to use a forward pass to move the ball. The writer must be aware that every team uses the com system until its cut off, and before that invention they probably just yelled from the sidelines.

Or used hand signals - you know, the kind that can be taped (but only by those "cheating Patriots", because all other teams are staffed exclusively with righteous, upstanding league citizens who would never do anything to eff with the "integrity of the game").

 

[maineman209]

It is clear to all that at least one of their coaches reads our forum and is attempting to take my methods to heart.

Would that make him a copycat?