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.

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LGenius

September 6th, 2017 at 8:14 PM ^

It is almost verbatim what you wrote in your post below. 

"He then communicates the audible to the line, who adjusts their protection scheme accordingly. Speight then typically will communicate the new play to he receivers via hand signals. "

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Lawyer12

September 6th, 2017 at 7:28 PM ^

Typically he will have a set of pre-planned audibles that are designed to defeat specific coverages and blitz packages. He then communicates the audible to the line, who adjusts their protection scheme accordingly. Speight then typically will communicate the new play to he receivers via hand signals. Harbaugh will sometimes also have two plays called in the huddle and if the QB wants the seconds play he "kills" the first play and the offense then automatically runs the second play.

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Space Coyote

September 6th, 2017 at 7:52 PM ^

Big thing here is that it wasn't just a protection change or setting the protection or killing a play to move to the second call. It was a change to a designed audible. If a run was the original call, which is likely, you can't change to a pass but the have an OL blocking down field or a RB running into your drop or a TE not sealing his side of the LOS or a WR blocking. Everyone needs to know that yes, this is what we are changing to, not just a few guys, but everyone.

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1WhoStayed

September 6th, 2017 at 10:08 PM ^

It's not like he realized the receiver was wide open and still air mailed it. That would be much scarier. He knew where he was going and the outside shoulder was the target. Didn't realize and/or adjust in time. If he had, what a different light we'd be shining on his performance! Calling an audible which leads to a wide open receiver and a TD would have been a sweet slice of redemption. Instead, it was a piece of !@#$%%$# on top of $#%@=)&!!!

Looking forward to similar scenarios unfolding for 6 points against OSU on 11/25, PSU in Happy Valley and F@$# U on October 7th.

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Bluetotheday

September 6th, 2017 at 10:53 PM ^

I feel it was run/stretch. If I recall, he first audibled to the backs, and then the line Most importantly, he recognized this coverage immediately...that is top notch prep, and should help soften people's concerns about speight as a qb. Readings defensive is very important, and gives a high probability of execution

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Lawyer12

September 6th, 2017 at 8:06 PM ^

The QB also has the ability in most systems to modify the lines blocking scheme (as in the video above where Cam is using "ringo" to adjust the line right.). This does not necessarily modify the play, but allows protection for the play already called.

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UMfan21

September 6th, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^

it didnt seem very shorthand. thats what drew my attention. i would have thought they would hVe a faster audible name to catch Florida off guard. once he started audibling that long, they could have dropped coverage and given him a different look. maybe its just me, it just felt like eternity for him to call the play

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lhglrkwg

September 6th, 2017 at 8:07 PM ^

because it would change the Speight narrative a lot. Making that call at the line and hitting the definitive, dagger TD changes it from Speight being the weakspot, to "Speight the General settles in late. Leads Michigan to decisive victory in opener"

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MichiganStudent

September 6th, 2017 at 10:13 PM ^

True but I think he's got the hard part down. I'm confident in Speight and think he can improve on his execution this season. I actually expect big things and thing the blogospheres negativity will look silly come seasons end.

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CablBlue

September 6th, 2017 at 9:52 PM ^

Mentioned this on another thread but does anyone think his motion to the sideline was meant to imply that he wasn't going to come out for OKorn? I'm not sure I'm buying the "he wanted to go for two" since he was clearly fired up and celebrating the touchdown. The universal sign for wanting to go for two is the two finger salute. I saw this more as "this is my job and I'm not getting subbed out" gesture.

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