OT: play action (Russ)

[Fk_Pitt]

Good breakdown here of Russ and Arthur smith running play action. I’ve been hitting this issue hard since Canada refused to run it when that was Kenny’s strong suit. Some guys just do it better and it’s what Russ is particularly good at and Fields not so much. It’s why I kept telling you guys to pump the brakes when y’all assumed Russ was going to get murdered and be ineffective behind this OL. In any event, really good stuff here.

Film Room: Russell Wilson's Effective Play-Action Is Game-Changer For Steelers' Offense

Of all the value QB Russell Wilson brought the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense-more autonomy, a prettier deep ball-the biggest asset was play-action. A staple under Arthur Smith at every stop, the Steelers have been using the heck out of it. It was a refreshing change given how consistent...

steelersdepot.com

 

[PittPharm2002]

Makes a big difference with a QB under center , and able to throw with touch.
Plus it sprung Najee for the second half again- who is entering “pay the man” territory .

 

[pittbb80]

It seems to me coaching a guy to fake a hand off should be pretty easy. It shouldn’t be a hard skill to learn yet not every Qb is as good at it as some even though it really helps slow down the defense

 

[steelcurtain55.]

It seems to me coaching a guy to fake a hand off should be pretty easy. It shouldn’t be a hard skill to learn yet not every Qb is as good at it as some even though it really helps slow down the defense

There is an art to it that takes awhile to master it. I've seen junior high QB's with better play fakes then NFL QB's because it's integral to junior high offense.

It's a shame PAP from under center isn't utilized more. It's a completely different animal to defend compared to gun PAP.

 

[PittPharm2002]

It seems to me coaching a guy to fake a hand off should be pretty easy. It shouldn’t be a hard skill to learn yet not every Qb is as good at it as some even though it really helps slow down the defense

Doesn’t work as well with Fields because of his struggle with taking snaps under center .
Plus his legs are the primary threat - so defenses aren’t going to load the box .
They just rotate a safety over the top to give help on Pickens .

 

[Fk_Pitt]

There is an art to it that takes awhile to master it. I've seen junior high QB's with better play fakes then NFL QB's because it's integral to junior high offense.

It's a shame PAP from under center isn't utilized more. It's a completely different animal to defend compared to gun PAP.

There are stories about Peyton Manning studying practice film of himself doing it. Not game film, but practice film. Lol. Dude was so meticulous and studied himself constantly. If you’re not doing it right in practice then you’re not doing it in games. Obviously we know this, but he made sure it was habit and second nature to make every fake of his look exactly the same as every actual handoff…while others run play action just to run it.

It’s how Pickens should start running his routes when he’s not the primary receiver.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

It seems to me coaching a guy to fake a hand off should be pretty easy. It shouldn’t be a hard skill to learn yet not every Qb is as good at it as some even though it really helps slow down the defense

Doesn't it involve a shorter time period to be able to survey the field? That's how I've always understood it. You're taking your eyes off the field, often turning your back completely to it, as opposed to continually being able to assess the route development. So the fake handoff is part of it, but it's also a much different perspective from, say, the shotgun.

 

[pittbb80]

Doesn't it involve a shorter time period to be able to survey the field? That's how I've always understood it. You're taking your eyes off the field, often turning your back completely to it, as opposed to continually being able to assess the route development. So the fake handoff is part of it, but it's also a much different perspective from, say, the shotgun.

Probably a good point

 

[h2p_5150]

Doesn't it involve a shorter time period to be able to survey the field? That's how I've always understood it. You're taking your eyes off the field, often turning your back completely to it, as opposed to continually being able to assess the route development. So the fake handoff is part of it, but it's also a much different perspective from, say, the shotgun.

You often are limiting yourself to one side of the field in play action, especially if you roll out. Big Ben hated it.

 

[h2p_5150]

Have to give big props to Arthur Smith for this week. Russ is not his ideal QB- he wants a guy who will rifle it over the middle of the field to the tight ends. That's not Russ, at all. But he called a game around his strengths. Russ is a very good play action passer and good in the short and deep parts of the field. So Smith called plays that offered a deep shot and a dump off.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Have to give big props to Arthur Smith for this week. Russ is not his ideal QB- he wants a guy who will rifle it over the middle of the field to the tight ends. That's not Russ, at all. But he called a game around his strengths. Russ is a very good play action passer and good in the short and deep parts of the field. So Smith called plays that offered a deep shot and a dump off.

Did Tannehill use the middle of the field? I legit don’t know the answer to that. And Najee isn’t Derrick Henry, but Tannehill was pretty darn good under Smith.

 

[ChiefJusticeMarshall]

Alex Van Pelt was a master of the play action fake. I can remember him faking out cameramen.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Have to give big props to Arthur Smith for this week. Russ is not his ideal QB- he wants a guy who will rifle it over the middle of the field to the tight ends. That's not Russ, at all. But he called a game around his strengths. Russ is a very good play action passer and good in the short and deep parts of the field. So Smith called plays that offered a deep shot and a dump off.

You're probably right, because I haven't followed Smith closely, but I thought a big part of what they did in Tennessee was either handing it off to Henry or using play action to Henry to create 1 on 1 matchups for AJ Brown, which often involved lobbing it up to him similarly to what we were doing with Pickens the other night.

 

[pittdan77]

Good breakdown here of Russ and Arthur smith running play action. I’ve been hitting this issue hard since Canada refused to run it when that was Kenny’s strong suit. Some guys just do it better and it’s what Russ is particularly good at and Fields not so much. It’s why I kept telling you guys to pump the brakes when y’all assumed Russ was going to get murdered and be ineffective behind this OL. In any event, really good stuff here.

Film Room: Russell Wilson's Effective Play-Action Is Game-Changer For Steelers' Offense

Of all the value QB Russell Wilson brought the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense-more autonomy, a prettier deep ball-the biggest asset was play-action. A staple under Arthur Smith at every stop, the Steelers have been using the heck out of it. It was a refreshing change given how consistent...

steelersdepot.com

I'll reserve the right to call Wilson a bust when he isn't playing a team that is used to rolling over. He wasn't good for a good portion of that game.

That said, play action is the sort of thing that gives your O-line a chance. Especially on early down passing plays. Takes much longer to get a clear read. You just can't be as predictable as Canada was in the NFL. Everyone is just too good and you're not going to bully anyone.

 

[HopeandChangeforAntoons]

Play action may reduce the field if the QB bootlegs, but from a straight drop not really. The biggest drawback is the QB turning his back, taking his eyes off the defense, then having to turn and read. But it has to be setup and executed effectively. It is sort of like an offspeed pitch, where throwing slower would seem to be a disadvantage to the pitcher. But if he can use his fastball to set it up from same arm angle, delivery, etc he can take advantage of the hitters aggressiveness.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I'll reserve the right to call Wilson a bust when he isn't playing a team that is used to rolling over. He wasn't good for a good portion of that game.

That said, play action is the sort of thing that gives your O-line a chance. Especially on early down passing plays. Takes much longer to get a clear read. You just can't be as predictable as Canada was in the NFL. Everyone is just too good and you're not going to bully anyone.

Canada was overmatched and out of his league. Arthur Smith, to me, is a middling NFL OC. So just that move alone makes the offense better. That was a given.

And yeah, I’m not overreacting on Russ. It’s one game. And who you play in your first two games matters. So even after Monday I’ll reserve judgement. But Russ’s experience and play action ability, which is a great fit for Smith, gave me hope, even though the naysayers from Denver didn’t expect much out of the guy and that narrative took off like a virus…you can’t help but believe at least some of it…even though it may/may not be true.

 

[HopeandChangeforAntoons]

I watched the Lions at Vikings game Sunday and it was like night and day from watching the Steelers the last few years, including this one. Art Smith obviously changed things up with Russ and it was much better once he got rolling. The big difference from past few weeks to Sunday night was the playmakers. Pickens won multiple contested throws. Freiremuth stretched out to make a really nice catch. Big question is whether they can repeat that.

 

[Upg bobcat]

There are stories about Peyton Manning studying practice film of himself doing it. Not game film, but practice film. Lol. Dude was so meticulous and studied himself constantly. If you’re not doing it right in practice then you’re not doing it in games.

I played many years ago, but in college, my team watched our practice film everyday (with our position groups and position coaches), not just of 11 on 11 scrimmage, but also on 1v1 passing, 7v7 passing drills, inside run, etc. I can even sometimes remember watching some practice film in high school, although that was somewhat rare. I don't think there is anything that unusual about watching practice film.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I played many years ago, but in college, my team watched our practice film everyday (with our position groups and position coaches), not just of 11 on 11 scrimmage, but also on 1v1 passing, 7v7 passing drills, inside run, etc. I can even sometimes remember watching some practice film in high school, although that was somewhat rare. I don't think there is anything that unusual about watching practice film.

I just think there’s something to be said about studying the nuances of your game. And maybe play action abilities and route running abilities are more than nuances…but it’s no surprise that a guy who is known for watching more film than anyone was also know for disguising things in a superior way.

 

[pittdan77]

I just think there’s something to be said about studying the nuances of your game. And maybe play action abilities and route running abilities are more than nuances…but it’s no surprise that a guy who is known for watching more film than anyone was also know for disguising things in a superior way.

Knowing everything about how your route runners are moving and in what situations they tend to be open is everything. The best QB's I played with knew where everyone was going on every play. Right down to what the correct blocking assignment should be for each OL-man.

 

[taxingmatters]

I pump the brakes on Russ until the NFL sees how he with Pickens fits into Smith's offense and they have tiime to react and counter. Nice second half on Sunday, but lots of season to go. Fields running abilty is a tougher thing for defenses to gameplan against.

 

[PittPharm2002]

I pump the brakes on Russ until the NFL sees how he with Pickens fits into Smith's offense and they have tiime to react and counter. Nice second half on Sunday, but lots of season to go. Fields running abilty is a tougher thing for defenses to gameplan against.

Scoring 30+ shows maybe fields legs isn’t the magic elixir to a successful offense

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

Fields running abilty is a tougher thing for defenses to gameplan against.

Not if he can't throw the ball better. Running QBs who struggle to throw the ball aren't hard to game plan against.

 

[PT Panther Fan]

Alex Van Pelt was a master of the play action fake. I can remember him faking out cameramen.

Agreed. AVP was better at play action than anyone I’ve ever seen. Not only did he often fool the cameramen, he froze entire defenses. That made pass blocking easier and would help his receivers to get separation. I think his play action ability was one reason for his success. I suppose there are reasons not to do it as mentioned above, but when done right, it can really open up a passing attack.

 

[steelcurtain55.]

Doesn't it involve a shorter time period to be able to survey the field? That's how I've always understood it. You're taking your eyes off the field, often turning your back completely to it, as opposed to continually being able to assess the route development. So the fake handoff is part of it, but it's also a much different perspective from, say, the shotgun.

PAP typically doesn't require full field reads. It's usually an if/then throw.

Boots are just flood routes where you're making progressions at different levels.