The Quartback Draw

      4th and Goal

      A few seconds left in the game

      Houston down

      What does the offensive guru call?-A fade to the dominating Andre Johnson?-A run with rookie sensation Steve Slaton?-A pass over the middle to big Owen Daniels? No,a quarterback draw with slow footed Matt Schaub. GREAT CALL!

     Miami, who had covered the Houston receivers like a the paparazzi at a Brittany Spears' Las Vegas weekend, made a crucial mistake. They placed their linebackers way too wide for a goal line defense. In football coaches vernacular, they were in an "unsound" defense. Understand, however, that even though the Dolphins had been all over the Texan catching corps, Johnson had made some amazing snags that were giving Miami coach Tony Sporano ulcers.So, Miami had little choice. Result-Houston Texan Quarterback Matt Schaub dropped back, showed pass, then ran straight up the middle-TOUCHDOWN!! Texans Win! Texans win!

       The offensive play call was the right call for the right defense, but for me it goes deeper than that. It is about all football players being football players. In recent times a huge majority of NFL coaches have avoided the quarterback draw and quarterback sneak for fear of getting the "face of the franchise" hurt. I ask you, what's more dangerous for a signal caller, running straight ahead and seeing what is going to hit you or standing in the pocket trying to "feel" the pressure? And in these days of wide open, no backs to pick up the blitzers, that has become even more dangerous. Just ask the quarterbacks of Mike Martz's offensive system how exposed they are when they drop back to pass.

     I love the quarterback sneak. I love the quarterback draw. In my previous career as a coach, I called them often. They were an invaluable part of the offense. Anytime that the defense placed defensive linemen on the outside shoulders of each guard, it was automatic. If there was no middle linebacker, it was automatic.  The results were always a minimum of a 3 yard gain. This also forced the defensive line in narrower, which opened up the off-tackle run game. I often even called they sneak  "on goose". This meant no snap count-just goose the center to snap the ball and follow him.

    That was real football, but it also works in video games. So, my fellow Madden addicts think about this. I play with the Colts often when I play Madden. When I do, I start the game by setting up an audible to this very play. As the defense widens to stop Joseph Addai, or to get an outside pass rush, or to get to the pass zones to stop the likes of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, I sneak it and gain 5. Then, once they catch on and stay in tight, I can use my weapons for big plays. It is not rocket science, but it works. It is boring, but as I use to tell my teams "I am a big fan of winning." As for the Texans, they are too.

     Congrats to the Houston Texans for not putting the idea of quarterback primadonna ahead of the idea of winning. Let football players be football players. With the upcoming schedule and the lack of health of other teams in their division, the Texans could be back in the playoff hunt in three weeks. Only time will tell.