When watching an American Football game in person, or on TV, you might lose track of which offensive player has the ball. Sometimes it looks like the running back has the ball and begins running, but then a pass takes place. Sometimes even the TV camera crew follows the wrong person on the play since they think a running back has the ball. This tricky play is known as play action.
What is a Play Action in Football?
A play-action pass is a play designed to look like a running play. The sequence begins with the quarterback receiving the snap from shotgun formation or under center. Immediately following the snap, the offensive linemen engage the defense in the line of scrimmage as if they are blocking for a run play. At the same time, the quarterback drops back and fakes a handoff to a running back. The quarterback then hands the ball off to another running back. It is also often referred to as a pass option play.
Why is it Called Play Action?
A defensive player will play a bit of zone coverage while a running back or receiver runs an option play. Once the defensive lineman is ready to play the zone, however, they typically have a different look in their eyes compared to the play they were originally set to play, and will switch to prevent the run. By doing so, they leave holes in their coverage allowing a receiver to sneak by.
Who Invented the Play Action Play?
The play started when NFL referee Walt Coleman and the league decided to allow NFL coaches to use the play to draw offside penalties. Coleman realized that he could use the play to draw up illegal defenses that could be picked up by the officials. As part of the rule change, it was also decided that the play was not to be called if the ball was snapped while the running back was still down.
The forward pass was an important addition to the game of football by changing the rules of the game. This made the passing of the ball more realistic. This innovation also allowed players to receive the ball and make a play while running and dodging other players.
When did the First Play Action Play Happen?
Many coaches have built their entire offense around the play-action pass. The play itself was built to be a way for offenses to run fake hand-offs and pass plays without actually handing the ball off to the running back. Some of the best quarterbacks to run the play are Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Both have been great quarterbacks for a number of years and both are considered by many football fans to be amongst the best quarterbacks ever.
How Many Points Can You Score on a Play Action Play?
If the quarterback successfully escapes the pressure and finds a wide receiver for a quick pass, the return to the line of scrimmage on the other side of the field can be a problem for the defense. This is because the player responsible for defending the backfield has to cover two different players, and the defense’s coverage is generally designed to stop the other team’s run game. As a result, the quarterback often gains about 14 to 15 yards and the play usually ends in a touchdown. Sometimes, the quarterback may opt to hand off to a running back, which can be more effective.
The NFL playoffs are already underway. They are exciting because they are the end of the regular season, but they are also exciting because they are the beginning of next season where the best of the best compete for a Super Bowl title. The playoffs are also exciting because they are the first chance football fans get to watch the best offense in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs play against the best defense in the NFL, the Denver Broncos. Let’s get to the most important matchup so far.
The Atlanta Falcons face off against the Kansas City Chiefs. If the Falcons can beat the Chiefs, they will beat anyone. If the Chiefs beat the Falcons, they will be the number one seed in the playoffs.
What Makes a Play Action Pass more Successful?
The goal this week was to improve on last week’s execution and move the ball down the field quicker and with more precision, which was evident based on the final scores. We took away the short pass and instead decided that the offense would gain better matchups by utilizing the option routes.
The snap is also important for determining whether the quarterback should hand the ball off or look for a receiver downfield. If a quarterback is looking for a receiver, his first priority is to get the ball into the receiver’s hands. If he does not, he must turn his back to the defense and drop back into the pocket. Asking the quarterback to fake handoff a ball carrier for this purpose is a negative signal to the quarterback. If he is asked to fake handoff a ball carrier for this purpose, the quarterback should not look for a receiver downfield.
Conclusion About Play Action Passing in Football
The successful fake hand-off can help the receivers maintain possession of the football and get first downs after the play when the defense takes a few steps towards the quarterback, but they are often quick passes that are not very effective. Still, the offense’s scheme can be helpful and be able to help set things up for the play at hand.
