OT: Penn State tipping their plays?

Submitted by MGolem on
Watching the Ryen Russillo show on ESPN News (working from home). Johnathan Vilma is his co-host for the day. Vilma said Penn State is tipping their running plays and Ohio State figured it out. He said he would not reveal what the tip was on the air until Penn State was out of the playoff picture but he did tell Russillo (off-air) and Russillo seemed to agree. Anyone aware of what that tip may be? Definitely a shame we didn't figure it out first although not sure it would have mattered considering our offensive display that night.
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Blueblood2991

November 3rd, 2017 at 3:11 PM ^

Wouldn't surprise me. After the first 5 minutes of the game, Barkley only had 24 yards rushing for the remainder of the Michigan game. Wouldn't be surprised if Don Brown figured it out as well.

If only there was a tip-off for a wheel route though. Still too soon

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switch26

November 3rd, 2017 at 6:19 PM ^

What the hell happened with Devin bush covering Barkley? They thought McCray getting torched by Florida state last year wasn't enough? All the coverage of bush being the guy to cover him leading up to the game. Then once the game starts coverage was bullshit

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Barn Animal

November 3rd, 2017 at 3:12 PM ^

I’ve noticed before that on pass plays Barkley lines up about a step in front of Mcsorely and its pretty obvious they can’t hand off out of it. Then on run plays he lines up next to McSorley so they can hand it off. I’ve defiantly noticed it but can’t confirm that it happens every time.

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The Maizer

November 3rd, 2017 at 3:20 PM ^

Wow. I think you're right. Watched maybe 12-15 plays from the below video and everytime Barkley was a step or half step in front of McSorley it was a pass. And the only passes that came when Barkley was even with McSorley were on obvious RPOs. Maybe one play in the ones I watched that broke this trend.

 

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B-Nut-GoBlue

November 4th, 2017 at 2:40 AM ^

I finally went in and watched the video and in the 2nd half I started seeing plays with Barkley lined up that half yard ahead and McSorley would hand the ball off.  I have a feeling this isn't the tell though through the first half I was really starting to believe it was that simple.

Also, I think it might be hard for the lineman and linebackers to have the depth perception to see the minor quarter/half yard difference he was lined up at to truly tip them...wondering if it has to do with the lineman (certain guys leaning or having a certain stance on run plays).

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go16blue

November 3rd, 2017 at 3:23 PM ^

My understanding is that this is actually very common in football. RBs will line up differently when they expect a handoff vs not, OL will line up differently if they are going to pass pro vs pull, etc. It's subtle but easy to spot if you look for it. I seem to remember some interviews with players on this site where defensive linemen basically say "yeah, you can tell which way your guy is going - the trouble is stopping him." And that's basically how it goes. I think it's pretty common among guys who actually play the game to know what's coming, the trouble is in stopping the plays.

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4yearsofhoke

November 3rd, 2017 at 3:33 PM ^

I used to play LB in HS and could have played college, but not D1 (so I went to UM naturally to major in school).

Another thing (you can only see on the field AND SOMETIMES on TV) is the amount of weight Olinemen are putting on the hands in a 3pt. If they are leaning forward or have knuckles with pressure = run.

Some (bad) linemen will lean the way they are pulling (guards).

If a guard is pulling they may line up a little bit behind where they usually do so.

Etc...

The RB lining up in different areas is common in football (for run and pass) but it is very hard to get your D to adjust (if they even pick up on it) because the only person who can tell where they are at is basically the corner due to perception. A good outside LB may be able to call it, but it's tough.

 

Sometimes I will go poor-mans Tony Romo and call out runs or passes if I can spot a really shitty linemen on a team who tips run/pass from their stance when watching with friends.

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Kevin13

November 3rd, 2017 at 5:02 PM ^

to read during a game by what the offense does. When I was coaching RB's I told them to do everything exactly the same way everytime they broke a huddle. Even to when they lined up to look at the defense the same way. What I mean is look from left to right to see what kind of front they were in. Sometimes a back looks right to where he is going with the ball and a defense will pickup on that.  Lots of indicators during a game, especially when on the field.

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