Football Question: Is it common to pull lineman on short yard/goal line plays?

[vlad]

Hi,
Figured some of you are coaches and smarter at this than I...

I recall more than a few plays over the past few years where we get stuffed in these situations because we call plays where people are pulling.

Is that common practice and just aren't executing? Just curious. thanks.

 

[Kangaroo]

Depends on the team Offense philosophies etc

Denver use to under Mike Pull all the time on goal lines

Houston under Kubiak does it quite a bit

It depends on the team blocking scheme and offense so yes and no is your answer

 

[Doomsday101]

Hi,
Figured some of you are coaches and smarter at this than I...

I recall more than a few plays over the past few years where we get stuffed in these situations because we call plays where people are pulling.

Is that common practice and just aren't executing? Just curious. thanks.

My own opinion I don't care for it for the simple reason the Defense is trying to shoot the gaps to make quick penetration and are able to get through quickly when OL start pulling. I would think with the size of our line you would want to have straight ahead blocking to get a push up front and allow the RB to get in behind the big guys to push it across.

 

[Ashwynn]

I dont know how common it is, but its not uncommon at all. heck we pull columbo all the time.

If you have a decent back or a TE to seal the gap, the spot your guard pulled from will be back side anyways, should not be relevant to the out come of the play.

If you have the technique and execution down, you can pull on any defense. If you dont execute and pull, could be an interesting play.

 

[WV Cowboy]

My own opinion I don't care for it for the simple reason the Defense is trying to shoot the gaps to make quick penetration and are able to get through quickly when OL start pulling. I would think with the size of our line you would want to have straight ahead blocking to get a push up front and allow the RB to get in behind the big guys to push it across.

I'm with you, .. I was raised on the straight ahead push, maul'em, .. with the running back hitting the hole at full speed, with a FB and a TE. Everybody push somebody into the EZ.

Here we come, .. stop us.

 

[burmafrd]

On the goal line or on short yardage plays with the LBs playing up so close its a dumb thing to do. KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. Straight ahead power plays. If your line is not good enough to do that its not going to be good enough to do a lot of important things.

 

[CATCH17]

Just depends on the situation.


Football is all about different situations so there is a time and place for that play.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

The Cowboys believe you pull your biggest, fattest, slowest lineman in short yardage situation using your slowest, oldest running back.

 

[Doomsday101]

Just depends on the situation.


Football is all about different situations so there is a time and place for that play.

I agree if we are talking inside the 10 that is one thing I think if you’re talking 1 or 2 yards by the goal line I think it only invites the defense who is stacked on the line the opportunity to get quick penetration when you start pulling guards. I know on defense the line is taught to fire out low and allow the LB and safety will be crashing over the top so the OL is not going to get a clean block trying to pull.

 

[bbgun]

Bucs were on the Skins' one yard line last Sunday when the right guard pulled and knocked the ball out of Freeman's hand as he backpedaled after the snap, resulting in a turnover.

 

[Future]

I'm with you, .. I was raised on the straight ahead push, maul'em, .. with the running back hitting the hole at full speed, with a FB and a TE. Everybody push somebody into the EZ.

Here we come, .. stop us.

This.

On the goal line or on short yardage plays with the LBs playing up so close its a dumb thing to do. KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. Straight ahead power plays. If your line is not good enough to do that its not going to be good enough to do a lot of important things.

And this.

I don't know if Red will ever realize that. Actually I think we'd see a marked improvement in our OLine if we utilized this kind of run game a bit more often.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The Cowboys believe you pull your biggest, fattest, slowest lineman in short yardage situation using your slowest, oldest running back.

Sad, but true!!!!!

 

[vlad]

Thanks for the answers

 

[gimmesix]

Hi,
Figured some of you are coaches and smarter at this than I...

I recall more than a few plays over the past few years where we get stuffed in these situations because we call plays where people are pulling.

Is that common practice and just aren't executing? Just curious. thanks.

A lot of teams do it, simply because if it is done right, it clears out the hole for the running back.

You've got all three linebackers near the line of scrimmage trying to get in the hole and stop the back, so everyone blocking straight ahead each time would actually make it easier to do that. By pulling a guard into the hole to hit a lineman, it releases a blocker to hit a linebacker (or the pulling guard/tackle might be the one hitting the linebacker). Then, the fullback or a tight end should come in and clean up the hole the rest of the way.

For that to work, though, everyone has to hit their mark because the defense is attacking at the snap. This is one reason Dallas fails, but I also think it's because Dallas' running game is predictable at the goal line. The Cowboys don't use QB sneaks, rarely hand it to the fullback and don't toss it wide too often. The lack of those things gives the defense more of an edge to get off the ball quicker at the snap.

 

[Cover 2]

The Cowboys believe you pull your biggest, fattest, slowest lineman in short yardage situation using your slowest, oldest running back.

:laugh2: