How would you handle the Patriot's eligibles/ineligibles?

[Reaneypark]

If you understand how the formations work, you wouldn't need to worry about the numbers. An eligible number is ineligible if he's covered by another player on the end of the formation.

 

[HawkFan72]

I am not that good with the x and o's but couldnt you pretty much ignore the ineligible as a player and rush, leave him out there unguarded? especially in a empty formation.

In theory, yes you could just leave him unguarded. But you run the risk of messing up once when he actually is eligible and leaving him wide open for a TD. If you're going to leave someone unguarded, you better be sure they are ineligible...and that's what has been hard for teams to confirm.

 

[hawknation2015]

I was watching our 2012 game against patriots the other day on NFL replay.
There was a small clip in it where Pete is asking the referee to give our defense enough time to adjust to the changes.

I am sure he will remind the officials the same before this game...

There is nothing in the rules about allowing the defense enough time to adjust to reportings of eligible receivers. That was John Harbaugh's complaint last week – that his defense didn't have time to adjust – but he got shot down by the referees. (In fact, he got a penalty for arguing too strongly.)

.

Nothing, huh?

"While in the process of a substitution (or simulated substitution), the offense is prohibited from rushing quickly to the line of scrimmage and snapping the ball in an obvious attempt to cause a defensive foul (i.e., too many men on the field). If, in the judgment of the officials, this occurs, the following procedure will apply:

(a) The Umpire will stand over the ball until the Referee deems that the defense has had a reasonable
time to complete its substitutions.

(b) If a play takes place and a defensive foul for too many players on the field results, no penalties will be
enforced, except for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct, and the down will be replayed. At
this time, the Referee will notify the head coach that any further use of this tactic will result in a penalty
for unsportsmanlike conduct."

 

[homerun1970]

I am not that good with the x and o's but couldnt you pretty much ignore the ineligible as a player and rush, leave him out there unguarded? especially in a empty formation.

In theory, yes you could just leave him unguarded. But you run the risk of messing up once when he actually is eligible and leaving him wide open for a TD. If you're going to leave someone unguarded, you better be sure they are ineligible...and that's what has been hard for teams to confirm.

If the refs do their job properly the team should know who is ineligible. That would open a man advantage for a defense that already matches up well with the Pats. If the refs allow time to substitute as is in the rules Pete and this defense should own them on that trick.

 

[Boycie]

Somehow I see us making this backfire on the patty-cakes, we'll see. but our D is not to e trifled with.

The fact that this has been used last week by the Pats will take the surprise out of it, and Pete will have the guys prepared. Our D is one of the most, if not the most cerebral units in the league, and each guy will know what his job is and execute.

 

[gowazzu02]

On the Vareen ineligable trick play. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of putting Irvin or Avril on the Exposed side of the line. Brady has a quick release so he may get the ball off,, Or he might not. But either way He will get blown up by our free rusher..... I highly doubt BB does that twice if this happens.