While watching the block on Wesley and the punt (thanks bcs buster for the link and approximate time stamp) I inadvertantly watched the second least successful new play from the new Robert Anae offense 2.0. While it pales in comparison to the ineffectiveness of the short yardage rugby pitch to Lasike, that little counter/sprint draw play has been highly ineffective. There is always a defender on the backside staying home and waiting for the cut back.

I actually really wonder why it doesn't work. Typically a counter play that is only run occasionally will gash the D if the look of the play looks exactly like one of the bread and butter plays the O is running over and over. All I can think is the the defense is already reading JWill to pick up their run/pass read and so they don't fall for it. Maybe it's the situation in which we use the play. RA seems to call it on 2nd and long or 3rd and Long and the D coaches are likely looking for "screens and draws".

I wonder if we ran it on 1st down after a big gainer if it would work. (That's the situation I recall Chow calling the old draw trap play very effectively back in the day). Or...is there just something about how we line up or how we look to the D that just doesn't sell the sprint out pass play.

If anyone who knows X's and O's has some insight on this, I would like to hear it.