Allen's play action technique - 2 points

[macnmotion]

Setting aside the fact that the play action worked last week because of the great play calling mix and successful run game, I saw two things when Allen ran play action that really set it apart. Watch the TD play to Tommy Doyle and you'll see both of these:

 

1) Unlike many QBs running the play action, Allen did not hold the ball out to the RBs with both hands. He held it out with his left hand only, keeping his right hand free. When he began to curl around to his right after faking the handoff the ball was completely blocked by his body, and his empty throwing hand sent a signal to the D that the ball had been handed off.

 

2) Allen took the ball very deep (a 9 yard drop at the apex of his curl-around) and very fast into the backfield, leaving him a ton of time before any Defensive spies would have a chance to reach and pressure him. This left all options open to him -- passing if his target was open, looking for a secondary target, running himself or throwing the ball away. On the Doyle TD, the nearest defenders were 6 yards away from him when he threw the ball.

 

If the Bills can sell the run this weekend, I believe Allen's technique on the play action will open up some big plays for the Bills. Thoughts?

Edited January 20, 2022 by macnmotion

[chris heff]

I am a big fan of play action.

[hemma]

He is slick.  

He has found yet one more thing (ball fakes) to improve and already is off the charts good.

[NewEra]

14 minutes ago, chris heff said:

I am a big fan of play action.

Amen.  I’m so thankful that we’ve been able to discover a run game. 

[The Wiz]

KC is the nfl worst against play action passes from what I've seen/heard.

Edited January 20, 2022 by The Wiz

[TPS]

Yeah, I don't think I ever noticed this technique before and was wondering if it was new for him?  I never thought he did a good job of faking it before, but now the way he hides it can be very deceptive.  Glad you brought this up.

[Augie]

11 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Amen.  I’m so thankful that we’ve been able to discover a run game. 

 

Yep, and it only works if you can actually run the ball. I’m not sure if I’m more excited about Josh’s last Perfect Game or our recent ability to run the ball. Without question, they are closely related! 

 

Peak at the right time, baby! 

[UConn James]

3 hours ago, TPS said:

Yeah, I don't think I ever noticed this technique before and was wondering if it was new for him?  I never thought he did a good job of faking it before, but now the way he hides it can be very deceptive.  Glad you brought this up.

I’ve never seen Josh sell fakes like he did last week, specifically the one noted in OP’s point 1. That and smoothing out his meshpoint motion was something I was hoping he would work on over the off-season with Palmer. For the whole of the regular season, it didn’t look any better.
 

I guess he saved it for the playoffs and it was masterful. Let’s hope it can be included in his bag o’ tricks with more frequency.

[Shaw66]

4 hours ago, macnmotion said:

Setting aside the fact that the play action worked last week because of the great play calling mix and successful run game, I saw two things when Allen ran play action that really set it apart. Watch the TD play to Tommy Doyle and you'll see both of these:

 

1) Unlike many QBs running the play action, Allen did not hold the ball out to the RBs with both hands. He held it out with his left hand only, keeping his right hand free. When he began to curl around to his right after faking the handoff the ball was completely blocked by his body, and his empty throwing hand sent a signal to the D that the ball had been handed off.

 

2) Allen took the ball very deep (a 9 yard drop at the apex of his curl-around) and very fast into the backfield, leaving him a ton of time before any Defensive spies would have a chance to reach and pressure him. This left all options open to him -- passing if his target was open, looking for a secondary target, running himself or throwing the ball away. On the Doyle TD, the nearest defenders were 6 yards away from him when he threw the ball.

 

If the Bills can sell the run this weekend, I believe Allen's technique on the play action will open up some big plays for the Bills. Thoughts?

Thanks for bringing this up.  I agree.  

 

Now, that obvious two-handed hand-off is also in his repertoire.   I don't know why teams do it that way, but Allen does it.  Anyway, you're right that on the Doyle TD he didn't do it that way.   I've notice him bury the ball in his belly on other handoffs.   It's very deceptive when he has his back turned to the line of scrimmage.  It's all coaching and how he responds to it.  He's taught to do it, and he does it very effectively. 

 

I didn't think about the deep drop, but you're right about that, too.   It's an effective complement to the fake - no d lineman is going to follow him all the way back there without seeing the ball.  

 

Allen's little skills keep growing.

 

One thing I've noticed Rodgers and someone else do is after the fake, as they are dropping back with their backs to the line of scrimmage, they look over their should and follow the running back with their eyes, making it look like they're interested in how the play will turn out.   That's what Allen will add next.  

 

 

[HappyDays]

Allen also does sleight of hand magic tricks as a hobby. He has probably practiced the play action fake to death. It's one of those tiny details that turn great athletes into all time great athletes.

[YattaOkasan]

Allen is a magician at hiding the ball. 
 

play action does not need good running to be successful. See how well we did last year in play action and how much we did it as proof. 

[billybrew1]

I think Brian Daboll and Josh Allen have the chefs DC grasping for anything but coming up with nothing but air...

[Gugny]

29 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Allen also does sleight of hand magic tricks as a hobby. He has probably practiced the play action fake to death. It's one of those tiny details that turn great athletes into all time great athletes.

 

Agreed.  I'd love to see a PManning-esque pump fake added to the arsenal.  A superior pump fake is a killer.

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Great observations OP; I’d also just like to add that I’ve always been impressed with the sheer length of time Allen is able to keep the fake in place at the RB’s bread basket level, while Allen is reading his keys/selling the fake—it forces the D to commit one way or the other, and gives Allen another split second lead time in letting the pass routes develop. It’s another small but vital detail imho. As a former wannabe QB in an earlier life, I can attest firsthand on the coaching points of emphasis involved with play action, and actually giving it sufficient time in the RB’s (almost) grasp is easier said than done, but Allen has excelled at it. 

[Big Blitz]

7 hours ago, macnmotion said:

Setting aside the fact that the play action worked last week because of the great play calling mix and successful run game, I saw two things when Allen ran play action that really set it apart. Watch the TD play to Tommy Doyle and you'll see both of these:

 

1) Unlike many QBs running the play action, Allen did not hold the ball out to the RBs with both hands. He held it out with his left hand only, keeping his right hand free. When he began to curl around to his right after faking the handoff the ball was completely blocked by his body, and his empty throwing hand sent a signal to the D that the ball had been handed off.

 

2) Allen took the ball very deep (a 9 yard drop at the apex of his curl-around) and very fast into the backfield, leaving him a ton of time before any Defensive spies would have a chance to reach and pressure him. This left all options open to him -- passing if his target was open, looking for a secondary target, running himself or throwing the ball away. On the Doyle TD, the nearest defenders were 6 yards away from him when he threw the ball.

 

If the Bills can sell the run this weekend, I believe Allen's technique on the play action will open up some big plays for the Bills. Thoughts?

 

 

Agree and it's why I think you're going to see Spags Blitz a ton and go cover zero daring us to beat them 1 on 1.  

 

They're going to attack they aren't going to sit back and let Allen pick them apart.  They're going to want him to get rid of the ball quick.

 

 

Couple things to back them off...

 

We have to make them pay - an early deep shot well help.

 

Can still be effective running - you find one crease you can be gone.

 

Max protect.  Give me our now healthy WRs one one with their DBs.  

 

A screen game I bet we've been saving for the Spags D.   

[K-9]

It’s the magician in him. Literally.

[macnmotion]

2 hours ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Great observations OP; I’d also just like to add that I’ve always been impressed with the sheer length of time Allen is able to keep the fake in place at the RB’s bread basket level, while Allen is reading his keys/selling the fake—it forces the D to commit one way or the other, and gives Allen another split second lead time in letting the pass routes develop. It’s another small but vital detail imho. As a former wannabe QB in an earlier life, I can attest firsthand on the coaching points of emphasis involved with play action, and actually giving it sufficient time in the RB’s (almost) grasp is easier said than done, but Allen has excelled at it. 

and not only did he give it sufficiant time in one (almost) RB's grasp, but on the Tommy Doyle touchdown play he sold it with both backs.

[John Adams]

They need to consistently generate about 80 yards a game in non-Josh runs to make this a massive weapon. Glad they are doing finally able to deliver. 

 

I have always loved Josh under center. So much better for the running backs and harder for the defense to guess what is happening.  

Edited January 20, 2022 by John Adams

[GunnerBill]

People laugh about measuring Quarterbacks' hands. But it is a thing.

[eball]

I’m looking forward to more “burnt toast” Sorensen and Mathieu’s exasperated hands in the air Sunday night.