🏈 Someone explain something to me please

[AllieBama]

I'm playing the dumb girl here...sorry guys. A lot of offenses, ours included, have used the little crossing pattern in the middle of the field and it is usually completed. I hope I described that well enough. It seems to be a last resort most of the time, but it's very effective. Why? Is it because someone loses their man, or is it because it does develop slowly? I'm mainly wondering why it's so hard to defend.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I would say that, in most cases, you're right on both counts. The crossing routes to the wide receivers (Julio caught one just like you described Saturday) take a while to develop and the defenders can lose a receiver in an underneath crossing route. Also, many times the running back will pass block and then slip out of the backfield and settle into the middle of the field as a safety valve or last resort - again, takes a little time to develop and that back isn't accounted for by the defenders.

Sometimes you may have two receivers both running crossing routes that lead their defenders into traffic that will free up one or both of the receivers. Although technically illegal, "pick" plays can be pretty successful and those, too, take time to develop.

RTR,

Tim

 

[capooth]

I believe what you are referring to is called a mesh route. It is typically a slow developing play. The basic gist is that two receivers cross over the middle getting a rub (pick), which is very effective versus man. Also, the crossing receivers have a lot of freedom to settle against zone.

 

[UAgrad93]

Tim, I think they are teaching them now to use the umpire as their "pick man". We called it a "rub" route and told the wrs to get close enough to "rub" shoulders. It does take time to develop and needs a good O line to protect long enough to spring a man.

 

[AllieBama]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the information. Never having played, I'm sometimes not sure if it's designed or lucky. In either case, it seems really difficult to defend. Arky used it a ton Saturday.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

This is actually a sharp observation. Saban loves to have an agressive, blitzing defense, but against a short route, quick passing game, it's not as effective, and having those linebackers or corners stay in at their assigned part of the field (in a zone), would mitigate this some, allowing more pressure from just the defensive line.

My strategy would be to let him stay in the pocket and force bad throws to covered receivers, at least at first. I would think that Petrino and company would be so prepared for a hard charging blitzing bama defense, that they've already made plans to do a lot of short crossing routes or curls, in order to get the ball out quickly. I wouldn't think Arkansas would attempt to run the ball much at all, what with one of their main RB's nicked up and it's not much of a running attack to begin with.

Good observation though. Chicks that dig football rock.

 

[AllieBama]

Good observation though. Chicks that dig football rock.

Thank you. I graduated from Bama, isn't "digging" football a prerequisite for admission.

 

[c5vetman]

Thank you. I graduated from Bama, isn't "digging" football a prerequisite for admission.

No, I went to bama with a few girls that didn't even know what football was.

 

[4th-and-1]

i wish my wife liked football.. saturdays would be alot more peaceful around here

 

[TerryP]

This is actually a sharp observation. Saban loves to have an agressive, blitzing defense, but against a short route, quick passing game, it's not as effective, and having those linebackers or corners stay in at their assigned part of the field (in a zone), would mitigate this some, allowing more pressure from just the defensive line.

My strategy would be to let him stay in the pocket and force bad throws to covered receivers, at least at first. I would think that Petrino and company would be so prepared for a hard charging blitzing bama defense, that they've already made plans to do a lot of short crossing routes or curls, in order to get the ball out quickly. I wouldn't think Arkansas would attempt to run the ball much at all, what with one of their main RB's nicked up and it's not much of a running attack to begin with.

Good observation though. Chicks that dig football rock.

This.

Watch our ILB on their TE's as well as our rabbit package in third down...

 

[srollins]

please explain the rabbit package, I'm ignorant about it.

 

[psychojoe]

Terry can give a much more detailed explanation, but basically it is getting our best pass rushers on the field along with the nickel or dime package in the secondary. One example would be Dareus to NT, Square and Upshaw at the ends, Hightower at Jack, Harris at Will and the rest DBs.

 

[srollins]

oh, gotcha. Its basically a formation of our best pass rushing group. I think I remember CNS making a bit of a sarcastic remark last year about Cody being fast, but not quite a "rabbit" yet, or something like that.

 

[AllieBama]

oh, gotcha. Its basically a formation of our best pass rushing group. I think I remember CNS making a bit of a sarcastic remark last year about Cody being fast, but not quite a "rabbit" yet, or something like that.

I never completely understood that quote until just now. It makes much more sense now.

 

[BamaCore]

Yeah, Cody spent much of last year trying to slim down so that he could be with the "rabbits."