c5vetman said:
I knew they were looking to get the play call, but why does it have to be the whole team? Why can't the qb look over, get the call, and make the call at the LOS? It just makes them look incompetent (and the way they're playing only makes it worse).
It's very annoying, and I feel like it's only destined for failure, at least the way they're doing it. Fla doesn't do that, nor do any of the other successful spread offenses that I've seen. It wastes time and leads to confusion, it's like calling an audible on every single play.
But...I hope they continue to do it exactly like they are now!
The linemen are receiving not only the play call but the blocking scheme as well. Being communicated directly from the sideline means the QB will not have to tell them both the play and scheme. In many offenses an OLman, usually the Center, will make the scheme call on his own. Auburn, like many teams, is removing this variable from a player-call to a coach-call.
You are right in that it is in essence an audible on every play. In fact, it really is a 'check with me' style system.
On this theme, I really wish football would get away from this level of coach control over everything. I wish the rule was that coaches could not send in plays to players in any form (signals or by sending in a play with a substitute) - both offense and defense. Make the coaches TEACH the game during the week and allow the players to PLAY the game they were taught in practice or between series. But with multi-million dollar contracts on the line, I can see where a coach would not be comfortable yielding that level of control on gameday.
This is the old QB in me coming out. I called so many audibles that after two games the coaches told me that I might as well call the plays myself. And we entered the State Championship undefeated so something worked out well there. On a humorous note, I one time called three successive FB draws on the idea that we had not run that play in over a month and one time would be unexpected, two times never imagined, and three times impossible. Each successive play gained a little more yardage. On the fourth play I call a fake FB draw and a screen to the HB. I think 15 defensive players hit the FB (some probably came off the sideline to join in) and the HB could have walked in literally to score. Our coach was rolling in laughter when I hit the sideline.
