While the fake punt was a big play in the game, I thought a play on Pitt's previous drive was perhaps even bigger. The Panthers were facing third-and-2 at the Notre Dame 47 and still leading 14-12. Kenny Pickett took the snap from the shotgun and threw to Darrin Hall in the flat. Hall was tackled for a three-yard loss and the Panthers had to punt. Notre Dame scored on the ensuing possession.
I asked Pickett after the game if Hall was his first read on that play. Here's what he said:
"It’s five-man protection, so I got blitzed. It’s slant/flat; either I can throw hot to the slant or I can throw hot to the flat route to Darrin. In my mind, I was thinking, ‘Okay, I’ve been hitting slant, hitting slant; that guy is going to pop his feet for a second and I can hit the quick out by Darrin, the quick flat route, and he can run it and we’ll get the first.’ But they rallied to it quicker. If I had to do it again, I’d hit the slant."
I asked Pickett after the game if Hall was his first read on that play. Here's what he said:
"It’s five-man protection, so I got blitzed. It’s slant/flat; either I can throw hot to the slant or I can throw hot to the flat route to Darrin. In my mind, I was thinking, ‘Okay, I’ve been hitting slant, hitting slant; that guy is going to pop his feet for a second and I can hit the quick out by Darrin, the quick flat route, and he can run it and we’ll get the first.’ But they rallied to it quicker. If I had to do it again, I’d hit the slant."
