Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Quarterbacking Mechanics: The Misuse of the Pump Fake


 
During film study, a specific play jumped out to me in the Oklahoma TCU game from 2015. This play summed up the entire game for TCU, a day of missed opportunities. 


But before we get into the actual play, we need to watch a play from earlier in the game. Oklahoma defensive back Zack Sanchez payed attention during film sessions the week before. He jumps a slant route to a single receiver formation. See the video link below:



TCU counters by running a SLUGGO (slant-and-go) to the single receiver side later in the game. The play call was brilliant. Sanchez, the same corner that made the interception, bites on the slant route. The result, however, was not as great. See the video below:



TCU’s quarterback uses a shoulder pump fake before he throws the SLUGGO. Enter one of my personal pet peeves of quarterback mechanics: using a pump fake to throw the ball to the same side of the field that the pump fake was made on!!!!!!!!!!   If you watch the video closely, you can see the corner jump the slant route BEFORE the quarterback makes his pump fake. The only thing the pump fake does, is ensures that the safety will make his way over to that side of the field. If the ball is thrown on time without the pump fake, TCU has a big play. If the quarterback is a half second later than he already was, the ball is intercepted.


On a lighter note, enjoy this video of three ridiculously timed, successive jump cuts 

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