Tate Forcier Quintiple Option

Submitted by Ezeh-E on

I'm definitely not as football saavy as a decent chunk of the posters on this board, but I had an idea and felt compelled to share it.  As Tate Forcier is our #2 punter and we already used his skills to great effect last year, you know RR is dreaming up something like the following:

Any time we face forth down and anything reasonable (say, 10 yards or fewer) from our own 40 to our opponents 40, I feel we should run the Tate Forcier Quintiple Option (henceforth, TFQO).

The play would look something like this:

3 Wide-receiver set (1 WR left, 1 SR and 1 WR right), TE Right, Superback.

On the snap the TE helps the RT get outside position on the DE, then goes out 5-10 yards, and drags out.  The Slot stays in to help blocks whoever comes first (MLB, Nickel, or blitzing safety).  The WR right runs a 15-yard out.  Tate and the Superback run an option right.  Tate can either A) hit the dragging TE, B) hit the WR on the fly/15 yard out, C) run for it, D) pitch the option, or E) punt.  Granted it won't be a great punt on the run, but there won't be anyone to receive it and he should get at least 30 yards with a roll.  Left WR gets down the field to cover the punt in case a plucky safety wants it. This WR should be Cam Gordon.

Assuming a 4-2-5 defense with the right side MLB being responsible to flow to the C/D gap where Tate will be, a few things could happen.  Slot receiver picks up the MLB, and Tate reads the Nickel as to whether to run the option or hit the dragging TE.  If the corner comes up in run support, the right WR is wide open.  Worst comes to worst, Tate can either pitch to the superback who should have a full head of steam and either an SS or a CB to beat, or Tate punts if nothing's there.

Someone get me on the QC staff at UM (kidding, we all know they won't be helping to coach for a few years).  Thoughts?  I feel like Magnus should be able to tear this apart.

wigeon

June 3rd, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^

I've never designed an offensive play besides " smoke your brother with a forearm shiver, then buttonhook at the juniper", but with an untested freshman punter coming in, and this being a critical year for the program, it's actually quite a bit reassuring that we have that potential with our backup punter. 

Monocle Smile

June 3rd, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^

in case the defense says "no, you're full of shit" and goes into punt return or punt block formation, which would put about 3 dudes in Tate's face by the time he caught the long snap, making both a punt and a throw difficult at least.

And why Cam Gordon? No offense to him, but if I want a punt covered, I'd rather have a straight-line burner like Stonum or Stokes to get to the ball.

WolvinLA2

June 3rd, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^

Based on Mathlete's diary, if we have 4th and reasonable from anywhere near opponents territory, I say we just flat out go for it.  Every now and then have Forcier punt out of that formation, just to keep them a little honest.

maizenbluenc

June 3rd, 2010 at 1:23 PM ^

Tate posted on facebook that he's dating quintuplets so he has quintuple options.

Then the second thought was student pregnant with quituplets claims Tate is the father.

Maybe the TFQO is the play for Mathele's 4th down situation.

Beavis

June 3rd, 2010 at 1:31 PM ^

One problem with this play is that you have a WR doing nothing. 

From plays in games like NCAA / Madden (not "real" but "realistic"), I feel like the run / pass options have 2 receivers  going out in patterns most of the time, and very rarely - three.

I think this could be done and isn't that complicated.  However it might be best to have:

1 WR (goes out for a pass)

2 TE (one goes out for a pass, one blocks)

2 RB (one blocks, one runs the option)

That way you have 2 receivers, 1 runner, and 1 runner / punter.  This could definitely work, but I'd file it under "save it for Tate's senior year".

Buzz Your Girlfriend

June 3rd, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^

I'm waiting for someone to add a nasty rugby flanker to their team. Most people and players don't know that a lot of strategy in rugby are well within the rule books of football yet no one does them. i.e. could you imagine a 20 yard punt on first down only for the punter (rugby guy) chase it down, catch it and keep running for the endzone while everyone else is stunned? 

AAL

June 3rd, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^

Sounds good, Jonny! But look at this one I drew up in the sand!!! Seriously, it'll work! Now what we do is...

NomadicBlue

June 3rd, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^

to break a perfectly good Tate.  Why not give him a sixth option of running straight out of bounds and directly into a wall.  That might be less dangerous. 

Seriously, though.  That just too much to process in that amount of time. 

michiganfanforlife

June 3rd, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^

kind of scary that the only guy in Ann Arbor who can punt a spiral is a QB. Just a bit of pressure on the frosh coming in to take over the job. Punting is a valuable tool that I'm sure Zoltan helped some of us appreciate a bit more. There's nothing wrong with playing field position, and if we have a defense this year all will be fine. The more I think about all the possible outcomes of this season it all points to the D. If they can hold opponents to under 21 points per game, we will win most of our games. If they can't - we won't. I think it's just that simple. Keep punting it on 4th down, though. Going for it all day is for 10 year olds who play ncaa&madden.

Hannibal.

June 3rd, 2010 at 2:37 PM ^

Here's my idea for a play.  We put every single dual threat QB and player who played QB in high school on the field at the same time.  Line them up in a semi circle behind center.  The center snaps the ball and the guy who gets it has the option of keeping it or pitching it to one of the other QBs.  The next QB then has the option of keeping it or pitching it to another QB.  And so on.  I call it the N! option, where N is the number of dual threat guys on the field for the play.

Tacopants

June 3rd, 2010 at 11:29 PM ^

The only reason the triple option is called that is because you have 3 options to run the ball (FB/WB, TB, QB).  Otherwise, all pass plays would have around 12 different options depending on where the recievers go on option routes and what the qb/rb do.  I don't see any dodecaoption plays.

 

Besides the risk of having too many things blow up in that short of time, there's no way to exploit the defense.  If they play normally all the nickelback/S that's over the slot has to do is come up aggressively from the outside.  This directs the play back towards the center of the field where the defense is flowing.  Throwing is out because the TE hasn't finished the chip block, and the WR is covered by the CB underneath with an S over the top.  If they play punt formation there's no way our TE would have outside position on any defender, they will always line a gunner up outside, which makes this situation worse.

 

You've also made this formation unbalanced to the right side.  Not only do you have your TE there, you also have 2 recievers.  Counting your C as the centerline, your formation has 2 extra guys on the right side, a big tipoff that any run action will probably be directed to your strong side.

 

Finally, if Tate does punt it you will have 9-10 of your 11 guys being offensive types trying to tackle a punt returner.  Usually they'll line up reserve LBs and such on the line, and have CBs acting as gunners.  Replacing them with offensive linemen and skill players would probably lead to disaster.

 

I think this play would actually have better success by flipping your TE to the other side and going there.  Then you would have to read a slower LB that flows inside out as opposed to a CB sitting on the slot that can force the action inside.  Then.... this is your standard read option play.