Coaching Question: Speight's check at the line

Submitted by UMfan21 on

I'm curious if any coaches or former players can educate me on the process Speight went through to change protections on that play where we nearly had a TD.  I only played a few years and our QBs were not allowed to make those changes at the line, so it's foreign to me.

 

I realize he saw Cover 0 so he wanted to check into a different play.  The actual process of changing protection took several seconds and seemed much more intense than I would have imagined.   Is it not as simple as calling a different play?  Did he have to communicate with more than his 5 linemen? 

I'm just really curious about the exact details of how a QB changes protection at the line, who he instructs to do what, and in general what the process looks/sounds like if anyone has insights.

MGoBoard
Football

Jtre1212

September 6th, 2017 at 8:18 PM ^

Every offense is different but generally if a pass play was called in the huddle he doesn't need to change the projection or speak to the lineman. He can just see the coverage look the the receivers and give them a different route. If a run play was called and he wanted to audible he will yell out a "kill" word. It could be anything, but it lets the line know that the current play is now dead. in a huddle play calls can be very long but when you're audibling the play name is very short or it's a number and color. (Depends on the team but where I played the color was run/pass and the number was the play.) That way he can relay the new play quickly to everyone before the snap and everyone is on the same page. Hope that helps.

Joined: 02/15/2016

MGoPoints: 561

Term

September 6th, 2017 at 11:48 PM ^

Also possible: could have been a package call in the huddle (a run play to either side, or a pass, depending on coverage)... With a built in audible designed specifically for the defense Florida ended up showing. Given what opposing coaches have said about the staff, this wouldn't surprise me one bit

Joined: 01/05/2012

MGoPoints: 832

Carcajou

September 7th, 2017 at 3:02 AM ^

To answer your question, if he changes the play (or kept on the play called), he also wanted to confirm or call the protection to the line, as well as the backs and TEs (on a 0 look he's expecting blitz, so he wants to make sure he's protected to get the play off). In that case, he knew who he was going to one-on-one, so there was no point in any backs or TEs releasing, they needed to protect.

Joined: 02/26/2009

MGoPoints: 5796

Mongo

September 7th, 2017 at 9:22 AM ^

He was wagging his finger at all the doubters ... "I can throw the 60 yard deep ball with a 300lb Gator in my grill, so let's Go !". He was way too amped and then started taking risks. That throw into triple coverage to Crawford on a crossing route was not a good decision, certainly not one Harbaugh would have made as a QB. That damaged his confidence as it ended in a pick-6. Then he follows that up with a very poor overthrow to Perry that ends in another pick-6. Dude was way too amped and now is f-ing pissed at himself. Thus, Harbaugh sat him down to cool off. This happening to Speight in game one is not all bad and will provide some incredible teaching moments for Harbaugh. If Wilton now turns to play within his talents and the system, great things could happen for the team as our defense is elite. Watch out world. Go Blue !

Joined: 06/25/2016

MGoPoints: 9585