Posted on 01/12/2015 10:44:35 AM PST by BenLurkin
The divisional playoff game between the Patriots and Ravens on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium featured a number of bizarre and unbelievable twists and turns. Among them was a rarely seen strategy employed by Tom Brady’s offense, one that helped the Patriots climb back to cut a 14-point deficit in half, and one that had Ravens head coach John Harbaugh furious on the sideline.
The strategy in question involved Bill Belichick’s offense employing four offensive linemen instead of the standard five on a number of plays midway through the third quarter. Running back Shane Vereen lined up off the right side of the formation, and he declared himself an ineligible receiver. In essence, Vereen had become the fifth lineman, though with considerably different duties.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.cbslocal.com ...
Belicheck or Daniels one hijacked this play straight from this years Alabama/LSU game.
Harbaugh has a bit of a beef. The defense is supposed to be notified and have a change to substitute if the offense makes a significant change in lineup or position. The Ravens were only given seconds to adjust.
That said, dude, you fell for it three times!
“The only question is whether the refs are obligated to share the ineligible receivers with the other team and to the booth, and if there is a time allotted to let opponents respond.”
It was shared and announced to the world. The second time the ref even told the Ravens NOT to cover the ineligible receiver but they still did.
We’ve all heard the refs turn on the mic for years and announce if a lineman is eligible. Here, the ball was hiked moments after the declaration to the ref.
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Perhaps Belichick knew that would most likely happen and used it to his advantage.
-— It was legal but I bet the league addresses it as it slows the game down when the refs have to announce it and give the other team time to substitute. -—
Today the Boston radio announcer said it was announced over the PA that Vereen was ineligible, and that the announcement gave the Ravens 10 seconds to adjust.
He added that the announcement also said something like, “don’t cover Vereen,” which if true would be weird.
Otherwise, this kind of “trick” play happens all the time.
The notice given to the defense was hardly adequate. The linesman stepped towards the defense and to say something, but there is no way you could say the defense was notified of the ineligible receiver.
Based on that, the Ref should have replayed the down. Why should this situation be handled any differently that announcing an eligible receiver who is wearing an interior lineman’s number?
Go Pats! Time for another ring!
You mean, like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBbKnGIfFOM
Ravens fan here as well.
I think belichick is a great coach, and i have no axe to grind with him.
that game was lost by the Ravens. harbaugh needs to STFU.
throwing that deep ball pick at the end was based on a horrible decision.
dean pees d should have recognized what was up after the first time.
hope the pats have a good run from here.
An interior lineman coming in as an eligible receiver has to be covered because he is ELIGIBLE to receive a pass. A player declared ineligible cannot receive a pass.
I noticed that Bill Bellicheat was sending Defensive Ends to try and tackle the opposing Quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
That’s not Cricket.
“I noticed that Bill Bellicheat was sending Defensive Ends to try and tackle the opposing Quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.”
Defensive ends should not be allowed behind the line of scrimmage.
The refs did announce it, just as they announce it when a 60’s/70’s player announces himself to be eligible. And the league addressed this long ago when they created a rule specifically for eligible receivers to declare themselves ineligible. It is called Rule 5.3.1. The rule does not permit defensive substitutions.
Section 3 Changes in Position REPORTING CHANGE OF POSITION
Article 1;An offensive player wearing the number of an ineligible pass receiver (50-79 and 90-99) is permitted to line up in the position of an eligible pass receiver (1-49 and 80-89), and an offensive player wearing the number of an eligible pass receiver is permitted to line up in the position of an ineligible pass receiver, provided that he immediately reports the change in his eligibility status to the Referee, who will inform the defensive team.
He must participate in such eligible or ineligible position as long as he is continuously in the game, but prior to each play he must again report his status to the Referee, who will inform the defensive team. The game clock shall not be stopped, and the ball shall not be put in play until the Referee takes his normal position.
It was just used in college a few weeks ago. It was clearly anticipated by the NFL, which has a special rule for eligible players to declare themselves ineligible.
The defense needs to figure out how to adjust to this. It doesn't require substitutions, just smarter players.
The rule is clear. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-nfl-rule-5-section-1-changes-in-position-20150111-story.html
The NFL has reiterated that the reporting requirements of the rule were met. The plays and referees followed the rules. Harbaugh was unsportsmanlike for entering the field of play, and unsportsmanlike for whining about it afterward.
It could be said, and it would be false. In order to play better than another team, you must score more points within the rules. The Patriots did so. The Ravens, by definition, did not play as well. There is no other way to interpret a defense that could not make an adjustment after the same legal device was used three times. All of the rest is unsportsmanlike whining.
That is correct. It should have been 15 yards.
It is the Raven’s typical strategy: Just throw the ball up for grabs, and have your receivers push off, tangle up, or leg lock the opposing d-back to draw an illegal contact/holding/PI. They’ve been doing it all season. This time, there wasn’t enough time to set up a “foul.” Good.
The NFL says proper notification was given. Harbaugh has no case whatsoever.
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