Build your bag of tricks: 3 plays and key points to get big gains

By Keith Grabowski | Posted 10/28/2015

Kevin Kelley is known for his unique approach to drawing up explosive plays.

At Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Ark., Kelley never punts and frequently kicks onside because the statistics tell him so.

Kelley told the Washington Post earlier this year that on any given play when two players touch the ball, there is a 10 percent chance of gaining 20 yards or more. However, if three players touch the ball, the chance of gaining big yards or more almost doubles.

History also tells us that the team that has more plays of 20 yards or more in a game wins 81 percent of the time.

We refer to any play in which three or more players touch the ball as trick plays.

SEE ALSO: Trick play flooding the internet is an illegal deception

Trick plays not only have the potential for big gains but always provide excitement – good or bad – and utilizing them at the right time can provide a huge spark for an offense.

The main issue with trick plays is that like everything else, they require practice. Coaches can’t just draw them up on the sideline and expect them to work.

Most often, these plays are completely unrelated to the base offense, so how do you practice a play that most likely will only be used one time in a game? We give our players key coaching points that are critical to the success of the play. We practice those points with the players affected, and we find ways to make the rest of the play like something else we have in our offense.

Here’s three plays we use:

Hidden player

In this play made famous by Auburn University’s Gus Malzahn, deception in hiding a player is critical.

The mechanics are simple, but the timing is critical. Spending too much time allows the defense to figure out what is happening.

At practice, focus how the offense breaks the huddle, stands tall at the line of scrimmage and fakes the rest of what is happening to draw the defense’s attention.

Key coaching points:

Line stands tall and does not get into stance. Pretends to communicate line calls.

WR: Get across the field when the ball is snapped.

QB: Get the snap and give it to the ball-carrier, then carry out fake.

RB: Pretend to tie shoe in the huddle and sneak up to the line without standing up. Make sure a knee is not on the ground when taking the handoff.

LT: Do not let anyone run outside. Pin thinned if needed.

Confused quarterback

Outflank the defense with a quarterback in motion, though his motion appears to the defense like he is walking down the line giving an audible to the offensive linemen. The ball is then snapped to the running back in the pistol, who hesitates like he is surprised for a second before running to his left pitching it to the slot, who throws back to the quarterback.

Make sure the quarterback talks to the linemen and not the coaches. By addressing anyone off the field, the play can be called dead at the snap for an illegal deception – a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Keep the QB within the tackle box and eyes ahead or down to stay within the rules.

Key coaching points:

QB: Do not go in motion until everyone is set. Give the fake audible call loudly. Stay within tackle box and talk only to players on the field. Hesitate and say “what the heck” after the ball is snapped. Clear the cornerback, and run the route.

C: Snap the third time the QB speaks or says a specific word.

RB: Align a yard tighter than normal. When the snap comes, hesitate a second then run left. Dead pitch to slot. Put the ball in the air, and let him run through it.

Slot: Take pitch and stay on the run or throw to the quarterback if open.

Line: Block base 60 protection

Running back pass

We run this off of our goal line sprint out. For the receivers and backs, it is simply a sprintout play, but instead of the quarterback sprinting out, he hands the ball to the running back, who throws it.

We utilize our goal line pick technique, which can be seen here.

Key coaching points:

Line and receivers: Run Sprint Right Rub.

QB: Hand the ball to the running back and block anyone chasing from behind.

RB: Receive ball, staying flat or losing ground slightly. Throw to the player running the flat off of the rub.

We utilize screencast video of the play being run in practice with the coach giving the key coaching points for the players to review. This allows them to remember their keys and execute them on game day.

All three have proven successful in generating big plays.

Keith Grabowski has been a football coach for 26 years, currently serving as an offensive assistant and technology coordinator at Oberlin College in Ohio. He previously was a head coach at the high school level for eight years and the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Baldwin Wallace University. Grabowski serves as an advisor for several sports technology companies. He is a columnist for American Football Monthly and writes his own blog at thecoachesedge.com/blog. He's the author of "101+ Pro Style Pistol Offense Plays" and five other books available on thecoachedge.comand operates Coaches Edge Technologies. Follow him on Twitter @CoachKGrabowski.

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