Toughest Plays to Defend

[PaladinFan]

A few years ago Sports Illustrated (I think) did a piece on the toughest plays to defend in the NFL. Those were the years when the Denver Broncos were running roughshod over everyone, and the panel came to the conclusion that the Broncos down hill stretch play with Terrell Davis cutting back against the defense was simply the toughest play to defend against in the NFL.

As we approach the season, I wanted to know the opinions of those of us that follow FCS football, what are the toughest single plays (not offenses -- plays) to defense.

[PaladinFan]

Just to kick this off, I had two come to mind.

First is Wofford's quick trap with Eric Britenstein. The kid is a powerful runner with fantastic field vision. He's not a burner, but the play happens so quickly he is past the linebackers before they know he has the ball. This single play, IMO, keeps the Wofford offense going and opens up their entire playbook. Found a good example of the play at the 3:25 mark here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWXTQz3uI6Q

Another play that came to mind was Furman's play action seam route to TE Colin Anderson. Furman likes to pound it between the tackles, but gains huge yardage by play faking the power run and finding their athletic tightend down the middle of the field. I really have yet to see a team defense this play with any regularity. It would not be a stretch to say that Furman will spend half the game setting up this one play. Here's a good example at the 0:14 mark against a good UTC defense: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDbPYMQwN-0&list=PLA861A2FD6BE4C4BC&index=18&feature=plpp_video

[TheRevSFA]

The Annexation of Puerto Rico...

[NoDak 4 Ever]

apparently this one.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjVl53fu-WY

[Sam_Kats]

And that was the game - VOMIT

[AppAlum2003]

I'd say the toughest play, without a doubt, to defend is The Annexation of Puerto Rico.

[ElonFirefighter]

The one where the band runs onto the field


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fZCCAqoSwY

[cbarrier90]

Whatever this is...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bDbnn4wRIQ

[TheRevSFA]

I'd say the toughest play, without a doubt, to defend is The Annexation of Puerto Rico.

Already stated good sir, but I agree with you

[Apphole]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAycXbA2ZhE&feature=related

[Sam_Kats]

Those 8 yd TRICK PLAYS will kill ya

[asucrutch23]

For App State it always seems to be the punt/kick return.... xsmhx xsmhx xbangx xbangx



Oh yeah and any play including Matt Szczur...

[ElonFirefighter]

Got to love the trick plays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixsXkrBV80A

[AppAlum2003]

Already stated good sir, but I agree with you

Dangit... I even had it typed up sitting here and then got distracted talking to someone and woulda had it submitted before you. You win this round.

[crusader11]

On a more serious note, when called at the right time, a bootleg is incredibly difficult to defend for a defense. Defenses that over-pursue are definitely susceptible to having this play kill them moreso than other.

Run right, run right....bootleg left.

[KNUTS]

The Annexation of Puerto Rico...

I was thinking the Oopty Oop... Especially with Tweeter lined up one on one

[jmufan999]

Wow, an interesting thread topic and like 3 responses that take it seriously. Curious.

1. Play action HB screen pass. Bolded because I know someone will skim over the word "screen". Can obviously be run out of tons of formations but seems to be effective on many levels. The Saints run it to absolute perfection.

2. QB Throwback: Don't know a better way of describing this. UR used this in the National Championship game with Eric Ward. If I remember correctly, Ward threw what equates to a lateral to the WR to the right, then rolled out to the left flat and caught a wide open TD pass. That play works nearly every time. You obviously have to have several components in place to make it work.

3. Fade pass: Again, you need certain components. But I can only imagine Ramses Barden or Brian Quick running this while in FCS. Hard to picture anyone stopping that play with guys that big if it's executed near the goal line.

[813Jag]

for Southern any kind of mis-direction will get good yardage. Of course a quick slant will hurt em too.

[fatmonarch]

The ones that odu had the most trouble with last year were any triple option play and screen passes. I guess I should throw in defending a 4th and 29 with the game on the line in there for good measure.

[asucrutch23]

These are some infamous kick returns against us off the top of my head as examples:

A.J. Jimerson (Eastern Washington) - 2007 playoffs
Scotty McGee (JMU) - 2008 regular season xbawlingx

And a couple videos for all you Eagles fans in the audience:


Jayson Foster xbawlingx


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5oMdLkZU0M


Darreion Robinson


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlJI9fOUKxo

[PaladinFan]

Playing high school football in South Georgia, one of the most effective plays in the book was "on two." Didn't much matter what the play was, but if the quarterback called "go! go!" it was a guaranteed five yards.

[Uncle Rico's Clan]

I was thinking the Oopty Oop... Especially with Tweeter lined up one on one

Any set with five wide is just unfair. Seriously, who, especially people in West Texas, could imagine such a thing?

[HailSzczur]

For App State it always seems to be the punt/kick return.... xsmhx xsmhx xbangx xbangx

Oh yeah and any play including Matt Szczur...

Beat me to the punch. The wildcat is not exactly rocket science, and after about a year or so of its revival most teams seemed to have it figured it. But for some reason it was very rare that Szczur got stopped for less than 5 yards. For Nova that play, or maybe some screen plays to Westbrook were the toughest to defend. We would sit in the stands at the games and every time #4 was under center would scream at the top of our lungs "HE'S GETTING THE BALL, HES GONNA RUN STRAIGHT DOWN YOUR THROATS". By his senior year you would see teams designating 1 or 2 players (back up QBs, walk ons, whatever) to watch him, and they would be jumping up and down screaming their heads off whenever we broke huddle to run that play. I give a lot of the credit to Ben Ijalana up front just clearing some unbelievable running lanes for him

[HailSzczur]

I also remember how tough it was to defend Ricky Santos's play action pass. That dude had an unbelievable fake hand off and just held the ball perfectly behind his back like a magician.

[MplsBison]

In a modern offense, the play action fake is the toughest thing for a defense to defend. They will bite - that's a given. Just a matter of if they can react fast enough to their mistake and limit the damage.

I like run-action passes as well as pass-action screens, myself. Well executed, they're guaranteed first downs. Nothing else in football is as consistent.

[seantaylor]

GSU's rocket sweep after gashing the dive for a couple consecutive plays

[Milktruck74]

the Fumble-ruskie or "there is something wrong with the ball" play....both are illegal plays, but CNN shows a highlight (or Lowlight) of some ignorant officiating crew letting a middle school kid score on that play at least once a season.

[Milktruck74]

I saw one once where the "punter" underhanded the ball in an attempt to get a Pass interference on the unsuspecting wingman. It worked for a 15 yards.the next play the QB coughed up the ball, which was picked up in the air and it was run back for a TD.