Zac's use of shotgun.

[WeezyBengal]

(04-19-2022, 08:57 AM)KillerGoose Wrote: I understand the conventional logic behind this - it makes sense. I believed it as well, but it just doesn't work that way. Play-action just flat out works, no matter what. Those LBs always have to respect the run. Maybe in college you will see more freelancing, but in the NFL, you can't afford to do that. You have to keep in mind that these guys, back-ups and all, are NFL caliber running backs. So, if the LBs stop respecting the run, Samaje Perine is now running wild on you. Take the below screenshot...



This is a screenshot from the 2000 defensive playbook for the Indianapolis Colts. This section is detailing run fits. When those backers read run, they are playing run, regardless of if you are the worst rushing team or the best. It really benefits a team to run play-action more because of this. It just works, regardless of whether or not your run game is good. And yes, the run game this past season was well below average in most measures, the most disappointing of which being short yardage situations. I fully expect that to improve this season. 

Play action doesn't work when you have guys hitting your QB as he's faking a handoff to the running back.