The TRAIN
I know this is kind of a snowflake thread but please don't negbang me to hard.
The train play: I expect to see more of it. When I say see more of it, I think other teams will copy it. Why? It is a well designed goalline play where the advantages are keeping the defense from setting properly and having almost no time to discover the alignment. Before this plays existance I would rarely see an unsettled defensive formation.
The discussion surrounding this play is that it is "fun" but I think it was meant to diguise a typical goalline play in attempt to boost the success rate of said play; any play. Definitely worked on Saturday in the sole time it was put into use.
I admit I am a noob when it comes to dissecting plays so I may be wrong on the advantages. I don't remember in my 25 years of watching football seeing anything other type of formation that rivals it... Anyone else?
Basically posted this for discussion.
Brian's observation of the play:
People are friggin' pumped for a novelty formation you can't even snap the ball from, and it turns out that is the correct approach. Butt popped wide open as Illinois resorted to man coverage and the ultramesh route won against it.
October 24th, 2016 at 6:40 PM ^
I heard your mom was a big fan of it.
October 24th, 2016 at 6:56 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 7:18 PM ^
Yo mama's so fat, she walked in front of the TV and I missed the 6 o'clock AND the 11 o'clock news!
October 24th, 2016 at 8:41 PM ^
Yo momma is so fat, I took a picture of her last Christmas and it is still printing!
October 24th, 2016 at 9:13 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 11:10 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 7:03 PM ^
"Don't negbang too hard". Don't worry, we heard Hard-Baughll's mom will take all the negbanging one can offer.
October 24th, 2016 at 8:32 PM ^
Prefers el choo choo.
October 24th, 2016 at 10:41 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 10:48 PM ^
is carlos spicyweiner when we need him
October 24th, 2016 at 7:28 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 7:37 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 8:21 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 6:41 PM ^
Butt also popped wide open (are we not doing phrasing anymore?) because 3 defenders bit on Asiasi and no one stuck with Butt.
October 24th, 2016 at 7:17 PM ^
The commentators said it during the game and Brian said it somewhere here on mgoblog. It's not even a surprise anymore, I just enjoy every strange and entertaining bit of phrasing that follows that dude around.
October 24th, 2016 at 7:32 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 8:47 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 10:03 PM ^
But like you, I can live with that!
October 24th, 2016 at 10:12 PM ^
Eh, I'm not sure. It looks like Wheatley jumps in the way of the defender to make contact, but I think he actually is jumping OUT of the way of Butt.
October 24th, 2016 at 6:42 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 7:13 PM ^
ooohhhh
October 24th, 2016 at 7:35 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 9:35 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 6:42 PM ^
It's not a play or a formation. Both would be illegal. It's a "huddle".
October 24th, 2016 at 7:30 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 6:43 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 6:47 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 7:44 PM ^
I did not take any time in preparing the post. Please feel free to post an edited version in a reply to me and I will make sure to edit my OP and present you with credit.
Sincerely,
sdogg1m
October 24th, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 6:55 PM ^
JH puts 5 TEs (or 4 TEs and 1 TE who works as a fullback) on the field and then goes empty with three split wide to strong side. All 5 go out in the pattern. Genius.
October 24th, 2016 at 6:50 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 7:28 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 6:53 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 6:53 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 7:09 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 6:59 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 7:04 PM ^
Or the strip of bacon formation. When it comrprised of at least 5 TEs, anyway.
October 24th, 2016 at 7:07 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 9:37 PM ^
I'm thinking we see The Train used a few more times this season as a way to set up an opponent in a future game. Harbs runs the same play 2-3-4 times out of The Train and then something completely different in a big spot against OSU, B1G West Champ, or CFP opponent.
October 24th, 2016 at 7:08 PM ^
Complete novelty.
Fun for us and mindfuck for the opponent.
Harbaugh!
October 24th, 2016 at 7:12 PM ^
October 24th, 2016 at 7:14 PM ^
New England Patriots. 2 years ago the Pats copied Kiffins play that sprung open a tackle eligible receiver. I could see them copying it to create match up problems for there tight ends and interchangable slot WRs.
October 24th, 2016 at 7:15 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 7:18 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 7:34 PM ^
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October 24th, 2016 at 8:13 PM ^
Rule 9-2-2-b:
"No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents. No tactic associated with substitutes or the substitution process may be used to confuse opponents."
That was the rule associated with the notorious "intent to deceive" call. This formation has nothing to do with substitutes or the substitution process; it can be done just as easily without substituting, so it is clearly not "intent to deceive."
October 24th, 2016 at 8:12 PM ^
Double posting with intent to deceive.