they get it off of a pick w/ a ref....how ironic
Apparently, this commentary is from a Pats fan (perhaps on this MB somewhere):
I didn't see any of that game but pick plays are an integrel part of any passing attack when dealing with man coverage. The only way the picks (RUBS) will ever be flagged is is the player setting the pick blatently runs into the man defender. Even those are rarely called.
Every team in the league executes rubs against man coverage, including the Chargers (and the Pats). The Jags hit a couple of key red zone throws in the play-off game at Gillette last year by picking Junior Seau. The Pats hit a huge third down conversion against the Chargers in the play-offs last year when Gaffney picked Weddle which allowed Faulk to get open for the conversion. Two years ago, the Pats executed one of the best picks I've seen against the Jets. Two receivers Watson & (I think it was Thomas) crossed underneath from opposite directions at exaxtly the same depth. At the last second, Thomas rubbed off of Watson to gain about a yard of depth. This forced the man defender on Watson to run into Thomas and the defender on him freeing up Watson who spit out the other end for a big gain. It was a thing of beauty.
The key is to 1. Just get in the defender's way and force him to run around the picker (and the defender over him) or 2. Don't deliver a blow to the defender, just "RUB" under him (make glancing contact as you fight through your route) as if you were running a real route. You'll get away with it every time.
The Steelers make rubbing a huge part of their offensive package. The bunch sets they use so often were designed to set up rubs to get receivers open against man defenders. That's one of the Bunch formations biggest strengths.
Using the Umpire as a picker on crossing routes is nothing new. Brady has hit receivers who have used the umps as a shield for years. Corey Dillon used to set up safeties by using the ump as an extra blocker when the opportunity was there. All part of the game.
