Belichick tricks mirror Saban’s
After Baltimore lost to New England in Saturday’s AFC divisional playoff game, Ravens coach John Harbaugh groused about the Patriots’ offensiveline gimmickry, claiming nobody had ever seen such an eligibleineligible trick play.
Turns out the NFL’s best coach may have stolen it from college’s best coach — and his bestie — Nick Saban.
“It’s not something that anybody’s ever done before,” Harbaugh said after Saturday’s 3531 loss about a formation the Patriots used on three plays that had just four offensive linemen and a back split out declaring himself ineligible.
Belichick begged to differ, saying variants of the formation are in frequent use in the NFL, particularly on special teams.
“I think you see it every week,” Belichick said, according to the Boston Herald. “I’d venture to say I couldn’t remember a time that I haven’t seen that, having a receiver report as an ineligible player in the National Football League. I’d say that happens every week.
“We’ve seen it on offense. We see it particularly a lot on special teams, the kicking game, punting game … I’d say it happens every game on the punt team.”
The trick formation bore a striking resemblance to one Alabama used Nov. 8 against LSU.
On the very first play of overtime, an ineligible offen sive tackle (Cam Robinson) lined up in the right slot for the Crimson Tide, and backup lineman Brandon Greene lined up at left tackle, eligible because Robinson wasn’t.
The Tigers put a defender on Robinson, who took a step back at the snap and sold the subterfuge by calling for a ball he actually was ineligible to catch. On the left side, Greene rumbled past a befuddled defender for a 24yard catch to the LSU 1.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and it looks like Belichick flattered his buddy by pilfering his playbook.
“Belichick and Saban are very close. There is no doubt in my mind, based on the duplication of the play, that the Patriots got this play from Alabama,’’ wrote Peter King of TheMMQB.com.
NFL officiating czar Dean Blandino told the website the league would examine the rule, which the Patriots exploited for complete passes of 11, 14 and 16 yards.
“You’re allowed to do that,” Belichick said Monday. “I don’t really understand what the question is. If you want to talk about the rules, you should talk to the NFL rules people about that. They’ll tell you about it.”
The formation confused the Ravens, who did not have time to figure out which receiver to leave uncovered because the referee would announce the ineligible player, and quarterback Tom Brady would snap the ball seconds later.