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As the ball is being snapped: Watch the offensive linemen. If any one of them fires forward and crosses the line of scrimmage, it's a run. If either guard (g

As the ball is being snapped: Watch the offensive linemen. If any one of them fires forward and crosses the line of scrimmage, it's a run. If either guard (guys to either side of the center) starts running to one side or the other, the play is almost certainly going that way. If the offensive linemen stand up and move backwards, it's probably a pass. The quarterback and running back do a lot of things to disguise which way the play is going, but you can almost always tell what kind of play the offense is running by watching the offensive linemen.

philwelch 15y ago
I know that's the rule, but my question is: how the hell does play-action even work? Can't the defense read the line instead of watching for a handoff?
- matwood 15y ago
  There are run plays (a draw for example) where the o-line blocks like it's a pass. They can also block like it's a run for a play action pass and still give the qb enough time to throw the ball. One thing that isn't clear on TV is just how hard it can be during a play to see just where the ball is. Linemen are huge and RBs are typically shorter guys. When the play goes off it's often hard to see exactly what is happening and the defense is reacting to cues more so than seeing right where the ball is at that time.
- danssig 15y ago
  Because in play action the linemen behave as though it were a run.
  - philwelch 15y ago
    No, that would be an ineligible receiver downfield. They have to stay behind the line of scrimmage until after the pass is completed. For a straight run they can just block forward.
    - snowwrestler 15y ago
      A lot of running plays involve one or more o-linemen pulling to overload one side or the other. Many play actions pull a lineman or two but then back-fill the pass protection with the backs or tight end. This looks like a run even though none of the o-line go downfield.
- neutronicus 15y ago
  Play-action works on two levels: 1. The linebackers and safeties forget to watch the linemen, and watch the backfield. This isn't exactly dumb, because it's easy to take a bad angle on a runningback if you're paying too much attention to the linemen. 2. The linemen take one hard step forward, but not enough to get downfield, and then pass set. One thing to remember about the NFL is that every single step matters. A linebacker doesn't have to run into the line and tackle the runningback for play-action to be effective. All he has to do is take one or two steps towards the line of scrimmage when he should be moving backwards and you can complete a pass over him.
  - dhyasama 15y ago
    Spot on. It's about deception and freezing a defender for a split second. Players at this level are very well matched physically and very few players can simply out run or overpower someone. You need to deceive defenders to get yourself that 1/2 step of space to gain an extra yard or two.

philwelch 15y ago

I know that's the rule, but my question is: how the hell does play-action even work? Can't the defense read the line instead of watching for a handoff?

matwood 15y ago
There are run plays (a draw for example) where the o-line blocks like it's a pass. They can also block like it's a run for a play action pass and still give the qb enough time to throw the ball. One thing that isn't clear on TV is just how hard it can be during a play to see just where the ball is. Linemen are huge and RBs are typically shorter guys. When the play goes off it's often hard to see exactly what is happening and the defense is reacting to cues more so than seeing right where the ball is at that time.
danssig 15y ago
Because in play action the linemen behave as though it were a run.
- philwelch 15y ago
  No, that would be an ineligible receiver downfield. They have to stay behind the line of scrimmage until after the pass is completed. For a straight run they can just block forward.
  - snowwrestler 15y ago
    A lot of running plays involve one or more o-linemen pulling to overload one side or the other. Many play actions pull a lineman or two but then back-fill the pass protection with the backs or tight end. This looks like a run even though none of the o-line go downfield.
neutronicus 15y ago
Play-action works on two levels: 1. The linebackers and safeties forget to watch the linemen, and watch the backfield. This isn't exactly dumb, because it's easy to take a bad angle on a runningback if you're paying too much attention to the linemen. 2. The linemen take one hard step forward, but not enough to get downfield, and then pass set. One thing to remember about the NFL is that every single step matters. A linebacker doesn't have to run into the line and tackle the runningback for play-action to be effective. All he has to do is take one or two steps towards the line of scrimmage when he should be moving backwards and you can complete a pass over him.
- dhyasama 15y ago
  Spot on. It's about deception and freezing a defender for a split second. Players at this level are very well matched physically and very few players can simply out run or overpower someone. You need to deceive defenders to get yourself that 1/2 step of space to gain an extra yard or two.