We need to install that pick play.

[Piggfoot]

Clemson scored two TDs on the same play.

[NuttinItUp]

If you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'

[hobhog]

Rule change coming up!

[ErieHog]

We've used it.   Its in every playbook out there, really.

[Atlhogfan1]

Rule change coming up!

Rule emphasis coming

[upperdeck_hawg]

Bama got us on the same play this year so I dont know why they are crying about it

[Atlhogfan1]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.seccountry.com/alabama/clemson-qb-deshaun-watson-says-tigers-won-national-championship-pick-play/amp?client=safari


"And all we needed was a good pick by Te. And Te picked 'em and Renfrow got inside the end zone and I just threw the ball where we could make sure he caught it. And that's what he did."

[311Hog]

We've used it.   Its in every playbook out there, really.

we get that offensive PI when we try to use it lol.  You gotta line up 5 wide empty set and call the hail mary over and over like you are playing NCAA 2000.

[Hogs958]

according to Dabo it was all done through God.

[DeltaBoy]

Clemson scored two TDs on the same play.

Noway the SEC crews would let us get away with it.

[hogsanity]

Rule emphasis coming

I was just about to post that. Every official everywhere last night was thinking the same thing. My football association has their 1st meeting for 2017 tonight, and I bet that topic comes up. Now, will it be like ineligible down field, all talk and no change?

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/wesrucker247/status/818688602351734785

[010HogFan]

really smart to call it there. Even if they call it, you can just line up and kick the FG. no harm, no foul. Great call.

[Atlhogfan1]

I was just about to post that. Every official everywhere last night was thinking the same thing. My football association has their 1st meeting for 2017 tonight, and I bet that topic comes up. Now, will it be like ineligible down field, all talk and no change?

NFL did it a couple of years ago with blocking downfield on a pass beyond line of scrimmage.  I know because it was a favorite play of my Broncos.  Peyton would get DT the ball right at the line of scrimmage and sometimes it would be just beyond on those wr screens with wr's already blocking ahead of him.  NFL decided to watch closer and it has been called multiple times last two seasons. 

[GuvHog]

It should have been called twice last night. Both times on Clemson TDs. When it wasn't called the first time,  I figured the officials just missed it but when it wasn't called the second time on that last TD, I knew the fix was in.

[sowmonella]

The NCAA needs to address the pick play and RPO plays and enforce the lineman down field rule.

[Atlhogfan1]

The NCAA needs to address the pick play and RPO plays and enforce the lineman down field rule.

What may be looked at closer are these throws behind line of scrimmage with blockers already blocking downfield.  It is of course completely legal right now.  But they may decide the offenses are getting too much of an advantage. 

[hogsanity]

What may be looked at closer are these throws behind line of scrimmage with blockers already blocking downfield.  It is of course completely legal right now.  But they may decide the offenses are getting too much of an advantage. 

That will require a rules change voted on by the rules committee, and coaches are going to be loathe to do that because they may want to sue that type of play. With the proliferation of WR screens many offense rely on being able to block downfield on passes behind the LOS.

[EastexHawg]

It was a pick play, but it is also a fact that Bama has made a living manhandling receivers at the line of scrimmage, delaying, redirecting, knocking them off their routes.  The Bama defender actually had his arms around the Clemson receiver who "picked" him before he was blocked.  Apparently that sort of contact is only okay if Bama's corners instigate it and the receivers meekly try to get away from them instead of driving straight ahead.

[EastexHawg]

I'm sure Bama fans will complain that they was robbed, but they got their share of calls...or non-calls.  How in the world does a Bama defender wind up and hit the Clemson QB in the head with a forearm without a targeting call, much less even a personal foul?  There was another targeting on Mike Williams early in the game that wasn't called.  It was obvious from the opening whistle that Bama intended to either knock Clemson's star offensive players out of the game or at least intimidate them, and the officials let them get away with it.

I'm not saying either side got the better of the officiating, just that there were two sides to the story.

[LRHawg]

What may be looked at closer are these throws behind line of scrimmage with blockers already blocking downfield.  It is of course completely legal right now.  But they may decide the offenses are getting too much of an advantage.

While I tend to agree, I doubt they do anything about this, the RPO, or pick plays. Guys offense sells and I believe the writing is on the wall for the forseable future. We need some big, tall receivers with great hands like Williams for Clemson. Bielema and Enos need to wake up and see the direction officiating is heading. I think they will.

It was a pick play, but it is also a fact that Bama has made a living manhandling receivers at the line of scrimmage, delaying, redirecting, knocking them off their routes.  The Bama defender actually had his arms around the Clemson receiver who "picked" him before he was blocked.  Apparently that sort of contact is only okay if Bama's corners instigate it and the receivers meekly try to get away from them instead of driving straight ahead.

Exactly. Bama had already grabbed Williams going into the end zone to take the PI and avoid giving up the TD. the pick play was the perfect play call because it would only back them up for a field goal if called, and stop the clock on an incomplete pass. The truth is, both sides were taking smart gambles but Clemson made the plays to win.

[King Kong]

We've used it.   Its in every playbook out there, really.

Yep

[zebradynasty]

They only copying what they have seen in the NFL. BOTH college and NFL need to review the rule and make it a point of emphasis. The ones Clemson ran last night were some of the most blatant I've seen all year on either level. Refs didn't call it so...As long as teams think they can get away with it they will and should continue to do it. I will say this with the Hogs getting some larger WR's next year it should be perfect play for us. Heck if they let us get away with it like Clemson ran it you could run it with 3 midgets at WR!

[Atlhogfan1]

While I tend to agree, I doubt they do anything about this, the RPO, or pick plays. Guys offense sells and I believe the writing is on the wall for the forseable future. We need some big, tall receivers with great hands like Williams for Clemson. Bielema and Enos need to wake up and see the direction officiating is heading. I think they will.

Lack of RPO qbs :  One of my soapboxes with Arkansas football the last several years. 

[nwahogfan1]

according to Dabo it was all done through God.

And your point is?  Isn't it refreshing to hear a Coach and some of his players on the highest stage give Credit to God.   Or do you want to leave God completely out of it?  You know what God will leave you all alone if that is what you want.  It is everyone's choice but it will get really lonely.

[3kgthog]

Saban has already made the call to those he knows with the ability to change it. You can guarantee that.

[010HogFan]

It should have been called twice last night. Both times on Clemson TDs. When it wasn't called the first time,  I figured the officials just missed it but when it wasn't called the second time on that last TD, I knew the fix was in.

Ehh...not a fix...just bad refs. They missed a lot of stuff on both sides

[code red]

Clemson scored two TDs on the same play.

We need a true dual threat Q first.

[ricepig]

We've used it.   Its in every playbook out there, really.

Sprinkle was called for it at least once this year, maybe more. We cross our TE's and use one as a pick.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/SECCountryBama/status/818819953822470145

"I flashed back to last year when they scored, we scored, and they scored, and we ran out of time," Watson said. "I saw the two minutes, one second on the clock, and I just smiled. I knew they left too much time on the clock."

Watson, 36-of-56 passing for 420 yards and three touchdowns along with 21 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown, said he recognized exactly what Alabama's defense was going to do.

"I just kind of slowed down the moment and smiled to myself, because I knew we were inside the 5, and I knew they would play straight cover-zero man (coverage)," Watson said. "I knew if (Artavis Scott) makes his block and gets the pick, Renfrow would get in the end zone."

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has expressed complete confidence in Watson throughout the season, and he said he knew he would get it done in the closing moments.

"We were playing to win, we were putting it in Number 4s hands," Swinney said. "He's the best player in the country. If anyone doubts that, it's ridiculous.

"He didn't lose out on the Heisman, the Heisman lost out on him. They lost out on an opportunity to be attached to him forever," he said. "This was his Heisman tonight, and this is what he came to Clemson to do. He's been an unbelievable player, leader and ambassador, and he's set the bar for everyone coming through."

Watson graduated in three years.

[zebradynasty]

Lack of RPO qbs :  One of my soapboxes with Arkansas football the last several years.

We should have several (at least 4) WR's in the 6-2 200lbs plus range next year.

[Tortfeasor]

First, we need to realize situations when defenses are likely to blitz and call for quick throws instead of long developing plays. We didn't throw the slant but a handful of times this year. Clemson got the ball out quick last night in those situations.

[jneal56]

Clemson scored two TDs on the same play.

As stated by others on here, it is in every play book and we have ran it. We got flagged on it and I am surprised Clemson didn't get the flag on that last TD. The one before the receiver did a really good job of pretending like he was running a route. The game winner, the receiver was blocking the whole time without any sense of pretending to run a route. I don't have a dog in last nights game but I know we got called for less than that.

[HognitiveDissonance]

We've used it.   Its in every playbook out there, really.

This. Every team in the country has a play similar to this.
You run a route where receivers cross hoping for the defenders to get confused or collide with each other, therefore freeing a receiver. Brilliant call, actually.
There's nothing illegal about it. It's all in how you 'sell' it.
If you go up there and tackle the defender, or hold him, it's holding. If you simply go up and sell the block, it's perfectly fine. On the first one, the Clemson WR executed it perfectly; he ran up, made the block, turned around, and had his hands up as if to receive a pass.
On the second one, as someone said, the defender was actually holding onto the receiver, which is interference.
It's no different than throwing a ball away. Everyone knows the QB is ditching the ball to avoid a sack, but it's 'sold' by having a WR in the general area, therefore not grounding. All in the sell.

[Atlhogfan1]

After the first pick play TD, Bama could have decided to switch or "hand off" on receivers with outside DB staying outside and switching to the inside receiver coming outside.  Probably would have fooled Clemson had Bama's DBs been able to successfully do it. 

[HognitiveDissonance]

This also brought me back to 1997.
Late in the game, Arkansas receivers ran a crossing route downfield with Anthony Lucas and Anthony Eubanks. The defenders rubbed into one another, Eubanks broke open and Clint Stoerner hit him for a long, late, game-winning score.
Later in the year I was talking to an Alabama fan who was whining 'yea, but Arkansas ran a pick play'...implying they cheated.

[hogsanity]

They only copying what they have seen in the NFL. BOTH college and NFL need to review the rule and make it a point of emphasis. The ones Clemson ran last night were some of the most blatant I've seen all year on either level. Refs didn't call it so...As long as teams think they can get away with it they will and should continue to do it. I will say this with the Hogs getting some larger WR's next year it should be perfect play for us. Heck if they let us get away with it like Clemson ran it you could run it with 3 midgets at WR!

you see OPI called alot in the NFL on pick plays.

[Atlhogfan1]

This. Every team in the country has a play similar to this.
You run a route where receivers cross hoping for the defenders to get confused or collide with each other, therefore freeing a receiver. Brilliant call, actually.
There's nothing illegal about it. It's all in how you 'sell' it.
If you go up there and tackle the defender, or hold him, it's holding. If you simply go up and sell the block, it's perfectly fine. On the first one, the Clemson WR executed it perfectly; he ran up, made the block, turned around, and had his hands up as if to receive a pass.
On the second one, as someone said, the defender was actually holding onto the receiver, which is interference.
It's no different than throwing a ball away. Everyone knows the QB is ditching the ball to avoid a sack, but it's 'sold' by having a WR in the general area, therefore not grounding. All in the sell.

That is somewhat contradictory in bold.

You cannot go up and block beyond a yard and not intend to run a route.  That would be obvious offensive pass interference.  The Clemson wr's were not running routes.  But they did enough to cast doubt obviously(the late turnaround and raising of hands on pick one and the stumbling on pick two) under the currently very subjective rules.

[HognitiveDissonance]

That is somewhat contradictory in bold.

You cannot go up and block beyond a yard and not intend to run a route.  That would be obvious offensive pass interference.  The Clemson wr's were not running routes.  But they did enough to cast doubt obviously(the late turnaround and raising of hands on pick one and the stumbling on pick two) under the currently very subjective rules.

Yes, it's gray on both sides.
With all the contact and the physical way Alabama plays coverage, it's hard to tell who's initiating the most contact, the WR or the DB.

[AirWarren]

I love how everyday I log onto here and he new hottest coach, hottest coordinator, or new hottest play MUST BE INSTALLED at Arkansas to win. It's comical.

The pick play has been around for decades. Good grief people.

[Jim Harris]

We've used it.   Its in every playbook out there, really.

Danny Ford used it with Kay Stephenson as his OC. Houston Nutt used it. Bobby Petrino used it. Jim Chaney used it. Dan Enos uses it. WR rubs and turns to catch the ball, even if it's thrown to the wide open other slot man, it is perfectly legal. What I'm shocked with is the number of people who seem to have just seen it for the first time. Do some of y'all even watch football?

[HognitiveDissonance]

Danny Ford used it with Kay Stephenson as his OC. Houston Nutt used it. Bobby Petrino used it. Jim Chaney used it. Dan Enos uses it. WR rubs and turns to catch the ball, even if it's thrown to the wide open other slot man, it is perfectly legal. What I'm shocked with is the number of people who seem to have just seen it for the first time. Do some of y'all even watch football?

Yes, that was the year I was referring to above, the 1997 Arkansas-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa.
I believe that was the only year Kay Stephenson was at Arkansas.

[Jim Harris]

Saban has already made the call to those he knows with the ability to change it. You can guarantee that.

Kinda like Coach K calling those he knows with the ability to put more emphasis on hand-checking after the 1994 basketball championship game?

[hogsanity]

Saban has already made the call to those he knows with the ability to change it. You can guarantee that.

How'd that work out for him when he complained about no huddle hurry up tempo stuff. The rules makers do not care about what Saban thinks about a particular rule. They are there to promote offense because offense puts fannies in the seats, and eyeballs on the tv screens both of which mean more $$$$$$$$$$$.

[passinghog]

After the first pick play TD, Bama could have decided to switch or "hand off" on receivers with outside DB staying outside and switching to the inside receiver coming outside.  Probably would have fooled Clemson had Bama's DBs been able to successfully do it.

There's no "could have " about it, that is exactly how you're supposed to handle that play at the goal line. If you rely on grabbing or being able to misdirect receivers at the goal line, you're playing into the offense's hands.

[Atlhogfan1]

Danny Ford used it with Kay Stephenson as his OC. Houston Nutt used it. Bobby Petrino used it. Jim Chaney used it. Dan Enos uses it. WR rubs and turns to catch the ball, even if it's thrown to the wide open other slot man, it is perfectly legal. What I'm shocked with is the number of people who seem to have just seen it for the first time. Do some of y'all even watch football?

Not seen for the first time.  It depends on how it is executed if it is perfectly legal or illegal or at least how much immediate doubt can be cast for an official not to call it.  In college, the doubt provided doesn't have to be much. 

[311Hog]

And your point is?  Isn't it refreshing to hear a Coach and some of his players on the highest stage give Credit to God.   Or do you want to leave God completely out of it?  You know what God will leave you all alone if that is what you want.  It is everyone's choice but it will get really lonely.

Have you not be listening?  all players and coaches say this.  I would rather people stop thinking God cares about the outcome of a football game....

[NuttinItUp]

It should have been called twice last night. Both times on Clemson TDs. When it wasn't called the first time,  I figured the officials just missed it but when it wasn't called the second time on that last TD, I knew the fix was in.

Big 12 refs...

[311Hog]

Also as soon as i heard the refs were from the Big 12-2  i knew Bama would not get the best calls. Big 12 does not play defense and does not like defense.  Did bama benefit from some calls ? sure in the grand scheme it was probably more even then not, but on the really important plays IE the pick plays  what are you suppose to do?

I just really dislike this phase of football i guess.  I see lining up in shotgun 5 wide down after down after down, fishing for the PI call or the rub/pick route, screen, Fast QB run play as pathetic football.  it is football for dummies i just listed 90% of Clemson's play book in a single sentence.  That is how they fit it all onto a hand full of poster boards.

[HognitiveDissonance]

Also as soon as i heard the refs were from the Big 12-2  i knew Bama would not get the best calls. Big 12 does not play defense and does not like defense.  Did bama benefit from some calls ? sure in the grand scheme it was probably more even then not, but on the really important plays IE the pick plays  what are you suppose to do?

I just really dislike this phase of football i guess.  I see lining up in shotgun 5 wide down after down after down, fishing for the PI call or the rub/pick route, screen, Fast QB run play as pathetic football.  it is football for dummies i just listed 90% of Clemson's play book in a single sentence.  That is how they fit it all onto a hand full of poster boards.

Let's take this further, since we're talking about how football should be played.
The game of football...as we know it...should not even exist.
People are just now, in the last five years, becoming more enlightened.
The human body is just not made to collide with others in this manner.
The game should never have been created; it's way too physical, almost barbaric.
Same goes for boxing.
I love watching football as much as the next guy, but I've become more enlightnend myself.
Wouldn't surprise me if the physical game we know today is a lot different in 25 years. It *needs* to become more like flag football.

I'm not being sarcastic either. I really believe this.
I would not let my kid play football. There are plenty of other, safer sports like basketball, golf, track, swimming, etc