Goal Line Fade
Saw this article on ESPN and it reminded me of the most frustrating Michigan football game of all time. Come for the Tacopants throw, stay for the next play, another delight.
Discuss.
That was a horrible throw.
It's a terrible, low-percentage play unless you're throwing to Megatron or possibly Nico.
Otherwise, you only do it if you're perfectly OK settling for the FG. If you have to have the TD, it should never be a part of the play sequence. You're just burning a down.
Agree here. And even then, it's only a good play for Nico Collins against lower-to-mid level teams, where reality of superior personnel all over the field and play design get him locked up with a CB who can't handle it. Don't do it against Ohio State.
how many fades did we see to the diminutive gallon during his career? he might have even caught one.
It really does SEEM like it should be pretty simple to have a 6'6" widebody dude just take a few steps into the end zone, box a guy out, and catch a lobbed pass (or get interfered with). Obviously it isn't, but it seems like it should be.
I think the catch is that at the goal line, you can't lob the pass too much, or else other defenders will have a chance to get over and help. Even "fades" are usually pretty much bullet passes. So when you're talking about a pass that's on a line, your tall receiver only has an advantage over the shorter defender if you throw it exactly high enough that the defender can't reach it but the receiver can, which is a tiny window.
Fades arguably work better in college, where you can split a receiver out on the far side of the field and lob it more (like Michigan used to do with Desmond Howard). But even then, it seems like a relatively low-percentage play.
I'm kind of disappointed that the article doesn't discuss the origins of the play.
I don't think I ever saw a goal line fade until Anthony Carter caught several in the 1979-82 time frame. I really wonder if that was a Bo innovation, trying to figure out how to use Carter inside the 5.
EDIT: I just saw something on the internet that implied it might go back to Oklahoma's teams in the '50s, but it wasn't really a definitive statement.
That was a pretty pathetic game. Also note the five yard pass on fourth and fifteen to end the game...
I came here hoping this article was about some cool new quarantine hairstyle football players were sporting. oh well.
I generally despise pass plays that only have one option. And that includes screens.
My least favorite play in all of football. I remember yelling at the tv when CMU came back from down 35 in the 4th quarter with a series of laterals with no time remaining, only to throw the goal line fade for the 2 point conversion.
This playcall makes me viscerally angry.
The headline kind of already answers the question, right?. As OC's become more data driven on their play calls they are less apt to call low percentage plays.
Unless you've got an absolute tree with skillets for hands or Jeremy Gallon with his rocket boots, goal line fades are awful plays that almost never work and have little upside (i.e. you won't likely get a PI call either).
Does anyone know how this became such a bread and butter part of the playbook, despite the fact that every fanbase seems to hate it?
I personally can only recall a very very very very small number of times that this play didn't look like a complete tire fire.
not sure how it became part of Michigan's playbook, but in HS having the ball inside the 5 yard line was sure TD -- I was 6'5 and had no trouble out-jumping almost every single person who lined up against me. we would alternate quick hitches and fades and I don't recall not scoring on that play. problem is it only worked inside the 5
QB and WR need to practice the fade option (tm). Basically, normal fade or throw it short if the DB has great coverage.
I’m not a particularly astute x and o guy. But the sideline fade always seemed ridiculously hard to execute for most college QBs and additionally always smacked of “We clearly have no confidence in our running game.”
No! It’s the best play ever! Ask Desmond and Mo
And it’s high percentage if this coach is making the call and this WR is making the catch:
There was a time in the world when the goal line fade was a good play. Throwing a goal line fade in like, 1988, when every team was expected to pound the ball in on the ground and so you get your best receiver isolated with one guy playing keep em honest man coverage? Good play, go for it.
Once everybody and their brother knew that throwing the ball is a possibility on the goal line, it becomes the dirt worst play in the world.
I might be misremembering things, but I thought we ran that with pretty good success during the Grbac/Collins years. But that clip from the most forgettable UM/ND game in recent history was a terrible all around.
Does Florida State (2016) on the 12 yard line count? That is the play that drives me bonkers to think about and I tend to think of it as goal line fade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBDel8wSCOg
I am happy to recall ND 2011 Robinson to Roundtree from the 16 yard line. That also feels like a goal line fade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGS2ti_NQhA
I guess the above plays give the offense more room but time on the clock was also a limiting factor.
Back shoulder fade is okay, but the traditional fade is the dumbest play ever unless you have a Gronk or Nico Collins type on a short CB with no awareness.
The only time it makes sense is if you need a "we get the TD or we'll take the 3 points" type play. Like UTL 1, although that was to a short WR and was under thrown where it could've been picked off. But if you throw it where its "my guy or out of bounds"...that's okay in that scenario.
Use the taller guys to throw it to.