The Game That Defined the Season!

Ronnie Brown lines up at QB on the goal line, Ricky Williams is at the slot position, Pennington is one of the receivers, and the defense is in an eagle front.

Williams motions to the right, David Martin will block the Wheel LB (Backside LB), and the backside guard will pull to imitate the weak-side power.

Why does the play work?

Well, Brown will make the decision based off of the safety and mainly that outside linebacker. If both safety and linebacker bite, this will give Williams a wide-open sideline.

Everyone is accounted for blocking wise except for that LB’er. On this specific play, the Linebacker followed Ricky, thus leaving the safety to make a critical decision.

He hesitates, Ronnie keeps the ball, and the guard pulls around to block the hesitant safety leaving the C gap wide open.

Touchdown No. 1

The same exact play as before, just different down and distances. This time Ricky will take the hand off. The defense is now playing a 3-4 look.

Why does this play work?

Ricky will motion to the right just like he did on the prior play. The only difference is that now he will take the hand off and follow his two key blocks on the edge; the receiver and David Martin must block the corner back and play side linebacker.

The play works because the Offensive Line (Guards and Tackles) will show a quick pass setup to pause the linebackers and then attack the second level at an angle.

David Martin will go immediately to block the farthest outside linebacker as he is the most dangerous threat to making the play.

The tackle will show pass then attack the next(nearest linebacker), the guard will follow suit but will end up cutting the end; the center leaves at the snap of the ball to seal off the next backer or safety, and so on and so forth thus leaving Ricky Williams open for a 28 yard rumble down the field.

This play, lined up the exact same way, will go in the opposite direction. Ricky will motion to the right but David Martin will move to the left.

The Patriots are lined up in a 4-3, Sam (+b gap) and Wheel (-c gap) Linebackers down.

Why does the play work?

Ronnie Brown will again fake it to Ricky Williams and the Offensive Line will show an aggressive play action to the right all while Martin and Brown go to the left.

Now Brown must read the Triangle (Backside Linebacker, Corner and Safety).

The safety bites on the play action and rolls to his left, leaving the Corner and the LB’er to make the play. If The Line Backer follows in too steeply trying to tackle Ricky Williams from behind, he will loose sight of his first job which is to keep containment, thus leaving the cornerback vulnerable to the option.

A pitch to the inside to Martin or maybe a QB keeper straight up down sideline for six...decisions, decisions.

Luckily for him, the Line Backer does his job, keeps contain, and forces Martin to block him.

Now Ronnie has nowhere to go, right?

Wrong.

The backside Tight End has a "Go" route, so if the corner bites (as he did) this leaves the tight end wide open in the touchdown for six, because both safeties are now on the opposite side of the field feeling sorry for themselves for falling for the play fake.

The defense lines up in a pro 4-3 defense with both linebackers down. This play was the straw that broke the Camel’s back in the Fourth Quarter.

It is the same exact play as the first picture I showed you. The exact same play and the very same formation...The wildcat.

Why does this play work?

Simple.

Again, everything works out as it did on the goal line leaving the Safety to make a decision. He hesitates again trying to figure out who has the ball and Ronnie Brown blows right past him for six.

This was against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10 of the regular season in 2008.

A 51 yard touchdown.

The dolphins are in the Wildcat-Two tight end formation (of course!), and the defense is in a traditional 4-3 with the wheel (backside linebacker) down and the safety creeping to linebacker level.

Why does this play work?

It worked because of the way it had worked successfully before...by forcing one defender to decide between two offensive players.

The offense lined up in a two back set with Ricky lining up on the left. Ronnie Brown and the opposite backer went left, and Ricky went to the right. At that moment, Ronnie has to make a decision to pitch or go.

Again, the linebacker/End follows his job detail by keeping containment but this leaves the middle of the left hash mark wide open.

The D-End chooses to stay on the QB and the rest is History.

All in all that one game forced mass confusion throughout the entire season for the opposing defenses. A basic option plan that may take 30 minutes to draw up was nothing but "Organized Chaos" that struck concern in the hearts of many defenses.

Of Course there are several hundred plays that were great this past season, but those four in the Dolphin's first win of the season opened the door for everything else.

One formation...Many opportunities.

That's my nickel with a three-cent rebate. Take care.