OT: will belichick be borrowing this offense next year....?

[eom]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ach-who-never-punts-has-another-radical-idea/

The highly successful high school coach who never punts has another radical idea

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Love seeing guys who think outside the box like this. With his players being properly coached, I can see this succeeding at the high school level. I do wonder about it at the pro level though where the athletic talent is so dominating - if it'll fail for the same reasons the option fails. But would love to see someone try it to see if these concerns are unfounded.

 

[Fencer]

I'd be concerned about injury -- which is also a concern in the option, albeit for a slightly different reason. In this case, the receiver has to be precise about tossing the ball, which might interfere with self-defense against hard hits.

 

[Patstopia]

That would definitely be fun to watch. I can see BB using this and the league making it illegal by the next game!

 

[dales804]

Interesting. I understand the not punting and onsides stuff. But lateraling the ball on completed passes simply to try and get more than two players to touch the ball, I'm not convinced of yet. You're asking for a lot of things to go right in order to not turn the ball over.

 

[Galeb]

It is an interesting viewpoint, and worth exploring. I have my doubts it will work in the NFL, but it is interesting either way.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

FWIW, I don't see Belichick using it much. Maybe a gadget play once in a while ("Pitch it! Pitch it to Randy Moss!"), but that's about it.

If there were anyone who'd be willing to turn a punter into a glorified holder, it'd be Belichick, but even he doesn't seem enamored of the idea (witness Ryan Allen getting a $2M signing bonus this year).

 

[Gronkowski123]

That would definitely be fun to watch. I can see BB using this and the league making it illegal by the next game!

john harbaugh agrees

 

[Galeb]

After giving this a little thought, there is a safer way to try to get a 3rd player to touch the ball past the LOS. There could be pass plays designed to be "tipped" to another receiver. If the ball hits the ground, it's a dead ball and won't be a turnover. This method would require a somewhat slow pass to a likely tall receiver, with the route for the intended 2nd designed to ensure that the "tipping receiver" stays within the view of the DB covering the 2nd intended receiver.

If such a play were used too often, the novelty would wear off, giving DBs a chance to cream receivers after the ball is tipped.