2023 Season

Play of the (other) Day: ‘Pribula Package’ vs Maryland

Copyright Tommy Gilligan - USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to ‘creativity’ in football, beauty isn’t in the eye of the beholder but rather in the end result of the trick play

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You know, creativity is a funny thing.

As an offensive coordinator when it “works” but doesn’t (See: KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s perfecetly-schemed 2nd quarter incompletion on Saturday) you’re an overpaid doofus in the Cro-Magnon minds of a frothing, irascible (Word of the Day calendar entry: December 14, 2021) fanbase.

But when the rabbit you pull from your team-issued ballcap “doesn’t work” yet somehow bunny hops along a twisted, unintended, round-about route and serendipitously (April 24, 2019)  winds up at the desired destination – thanks to your QB’s quick-thinking, spot-on Steve Nash impersonation — you’re  suddenlythe bearded belle of the ball worthy of ALL the Twitter/X flowers, adoration, gold-star stickers, and get first pick from the toy box during indoor recess!

Don’t believe me? Buckle up:

Did we lose you? No? Whew. Welcome back.

Anyway, although this play definitely didn’t follow the script Penn State OC Mike Yurcich intended, the bones of this visually complicated call are extremely common and often used in this type of an offense. And despite the added (and arguably unnecessary window dressing) this is a concept Drew Allar is comfortable running, evidently, as he makes it all the way back to his fourth read (4th!) for the touchdown.

OK, so everyone knows what a naked bootleg or keeper is, right? For those in the class who raised their hands, consult the diagram below:  Run action one way, play action fake, roll out the other way to a flood concept.

Really, That’s all this play was! Well, with some added flavor, of course.

Before we examine the sprinkles atop this trick-play sundae, it’s important to understand the intent of this concept. In the low red-zone, man-to-man coverage is almost a given. Thus, offensive coordinators have been trying to scheme up wide open fullbacks and tight ends in the flat via bootleg since the beginning of time. Line the TE up on the left, fake run action left, send the TE out the other side and force a linebacker (who is itching to fly forward and stuff a downhill run) to hit the brakes and keep pace with him all the way to the pylon —  new-age Goal Line Offense 101.

Now, the window dressing. Two-quarterback personnel packages are a pretty new wrinkle in CFB. Kansas initially introduced and popularized them last year and carried it into 2023. Here’s an example of the Jayhawks running a 2 QB concept with similar DNA to what Yurcich dialed up vs. Maryland.

If nothing else, 2 QB sub-packages create immediate confusion for defenses. Do they treat the non-behind-center QB like an extra WR, RB, or what? Rewatch the play and focus on Maryland’s second-level defenders – they’re visibly puzzled from the jump.

 

At the snap, 9-Beau Pribula runs left before pitching back to 15-Allar. Everything from this point on plays out exactly like a naked bootleg. A second after receiving the pitch, think of this moment as being the point where Allar would begin to turn the corner after his play-action fake on a traditional bootleg. Instead of a classic run fake, the Pribula sweep serves as substitute eye candy to distract and confuse the defense.

Allar’s first read is 1-KLS, who runs some form of a goal line comeback. Drew doesn’t like it, so he moves down to the slide route, 44-Tyler Warren. Remember the pre snap confusion? It worked! Actually, it worked too well because two defenders run with Warren into the flat – an obvious miscommunication/bust.

Now, Allar’s eyes move to the “over” route. 3-Dante Cephas can’t quite create enough separation, and with the edge defender bearing down, it’s time for Allar to play streetball. I’m sure some of you were screaming at the TV to throw it to Pribula, but I am going to make the (un)official declaration that he was not a part of the read, and he executed his job by making the safety run with him.

The 4th read on naked keepers is usually a “late” flat — a TE who helps seal the edge and then sits in the vacated area a few yards outside of the box. The late flat route usually sucks against man coverage because, well, it’s pretty easy to cover a guy standing almost completely still. BUT REMEMBER, two defenders ran with Tyler Warren! And one of those guys was responsible for covering 84-Theo Johnson, the late flat!

Boom! Allar cycles through 1, 2, 3, 4 efficiently, shot-puts an ugly ball to Theo for six, and Mike Yurcich is a genius.

November 5, 2023by FTB Shane