Question on running plays

[ctpatsfan77]

If you watch this video:

Can't Miss Play: Gaffney TD Catch

Here's my question: does Gaffney know that the ball is coming to him right there, and not, say, four yards earlier, or four yards further, or is he supposed to track the ball?

 

[billdog3484]

im sure it was just some sort of a fade route. he knew the ball should have been in that spot. so after he beat his defender he probably looked for the ball in that general vicinity. perfect pass by cassel and perfect reaction and catch by gaffney. thats how they draw that up.

 

[PittPatriot]

im sure it was just some sort of a fade route. he knew the ball should have been in that spot. so after he beat his defender he probably looked for the ball in that general vicinity. perfect pass by cassel and perfect reaction and catch by gaffney. thats how they draw that up.

Cassel threw the ball when Jabs was at the 10yd line with Lowery IN FRONT OF HIM. The play ended up running more like a post than a fade - how does the QB or WR know where to throw and where the ball will end up?
Why didn't/couldn't have Cassel gunned it short and Jabs breaks off this route, letting Lowerly run a few steps ahead?

I have never played 'real' football on a team so I don't know the nuances of the game as well as my Patsfans colleagues...can anyone educate me on this?

 

[JoePats]

Lowery wasn't looking at Cassel; he was looking at Gaffney. So Cassel can throw the ball where he wants and let Gaff adjust. If they wanted to do the back-shoulder stop route, they probably could have done that too.

 

[TripleOption]

im sure it was just some sort of a fade route. he knew the ball should have been in that spot. so after he beat his defender he probably looked for the ball in that general vicinity. perfect pass by cassel and perfect reaction and catch by gaffney. thats how they draw that up.

Not a Fade; looked more like a Go or Take Off. He beat him outside and was up the numbers. When you run the Fade you should fake hard inside and then bust it outside. The QB will put it up with air under it to your outside shoulder. That was too much of a dart. There wasn't any discernable post snap read. Seems like a case of "I can beat him, just get it to me."

 

[Bertil]

I thought this thread was about RUNNING plays (as opposed to passing plays). My bad.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I thought this thread was about RUNNING plays (as opposed to passing plays). My bad.

Sorry 'bout that. In retrospect, I realized that I could have phrased that better.