FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Tell a non-midfielder he is part of the game plan to throw a pass, or he will catch a pass from someone other than QB, and the fun is just beginning head.
“For us, it’s a backyard game,” veteran New England Patriots receiver Nelson Agholor speak. “It takes us back to our roots – just throw it around. We enjoy it.”
Such funs are happening more frequently across the NFL over the past few seasons, with Agholor and his Patriots calling them out as much as anyone else.
Patriotic Recipient Jakobi Meyers is 2 out of 2 for 45 yards this season and the recipient of the bronze Kendrick Bourne threw a 25-yard TD pass – to Agholor.
Of course, Meyers hit two touchdown passes into the 2020 season, and former Patriots player Julian Edelman retired with the most impressive passing stats: 7/8 for 179 yards, two TDs and stats. 158.3.
But this trend extends beyond the Patriots.
Through Week 12 of the NFL season, the non-midfielders have attempted 26 passes this season, completed 13, and are on track to attempt 37 passes, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
In 2020, the non-QBs attempted 44 passes. But the year before that, they had tried to pass 33 times, and the year before that it was 31.
Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is 2 to 3 for 35 yards this season.
“I’m really excited. I try not to show it too much [but] I love every pitch,” he said. I just love mingling, especially with a slick playstyle. I definitely miss the days in Little League when I played quarterback, ran around, threw it on the run, so it definitely brings me back to that. “
Dallas Cowboys receiver Cedrick Wilson leads all non-QBs in yards passed this season, going 2v2 for 57 yards. He credits offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for his success.
“I feel like when Kellen draws plays, he knows it’s going to be open. As for the decision to call those kinds of plays, it involves many considerations,” Wilson said.
Practice makes perfect
In New England, the first thing attack coordinator Josh McDaniels pointed out was that they weren’t hoaxes.
“They might be a little bit different in terms of scheme, but I often tell guys that we’ll rep them in practice long enough – sometimes for weeks – that neither of us feel like cheats. ,” he said.
Kendrick Bourne & Nelson Agholor (25 yards TD)
NS #Patriots call a route crossing the WR terminus from Bourne to Agholor. The trick allows Agholor to be behind Bryce Hall #37 (5.0 yds difference) for a high probability TD.
🔹 Probability of completion: 64.6%#NYJvsNE | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/sWmFCaTMkD
– Next Generation Statistics (@NextGenStats) October 24, 2021
“That’s the biggest thing for me; if I don’t feel confident in the plan or the actual execution of the plan, [and] If the players don’t feel confident in what they’re being asked to do, then I don’t think it’s really a safe thing to use. “
In Minnesota, under attack coordinator Klint Kubiak, Jefferson describes a similar approach.
“I and [receiver] Adam [Thielen] throw a soccer ball every day. It’s all about practicing it, seeing it, making sure everyone is on the same page,” he said. And [then] When it comes to the game, I’m confident enough to play the game, to make the throws. “
Kubiak can’t remember the first time he considered letting Jefferson throw a pass during a game, but said, “I know Justin played some high school quarterbacks, and just saw him before practicing throwing it’s around, it looks pretty natural.”
In New England, when testing different possibilities, McDaniels added that he also assesses the reactions of the players when things don’t go well in practice, thereby making a decision as to whether they will be able to play. perform those plays or not.
Once those hurdles are ironed out, it will fit in with the game plan and coach Bill Belichick said the McDaniels seem to have a knack for attacking timing.
“Josh has done a great job of coordinating play to capitalize on the agility of the defence, whether it’s chasing or running, or whatever happens,” Belichick said. “Sometimes some of those plays are designed to really bring people up [near the line of scrimmage], and then go after them. “
McDaniels shared more insight into his thought process.
“You can’t blindly run them in front of every defence, that doesn’t work. You have to know what you’re looking for and there’s got to be a reason behind it; like why we’re leading the game against he said.
“Some teams are better off running in the opposite direction and some teams are not. Some teams are better off running head-to-head… so if you have a team that you feel has a chance then you get the one. look there and the interface is what’s beneficial when using a play, [you] try to gain advantage that way. “
McDaniels also credits his assistants for their input.
“I don’t go into my office and play the ad nauseam hoax every week. Some [the plays] come from everywhere [and] They all have a say in what the game plan is,” he said. And for me, what’s important is whether that idea makes sense and whether the defense we’re playing gives us a chance based on how they’re playing and the program they use to make it. it works.
“And then there’s the trust in the players, and having them repeat enough times in reality. I always tell them if your heart rate starts to go up and we call this, maybe we do. have not done enough in practice.”
center David Andrews, in his seventh season with the Patriots, added: “We work on a lot of things, so when we call them, it’s not that big of a deal. We’ve spent a lot. time and effort for them.”
Once a QB, always a QB
A common thread among the NFL’s top QB losers this season is their résumés – the Cowboys ‘Wilson and Patriots’ Meyers each referred to their primary quarterback as quarterback.
Wilson played QB in high school before transferring to the recording studio at Coffeyville Community College.
Cedrick Wilson delivered a DIME. #DallasCowboys @ cedwilson95
: #DALvsMIN on NBC
: https://t.co/vo1pze9aC5 pic.twitter.com/CAyD2w0rzJ– NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2021
“I’m playing baseball and I’m tired of pitching baseballs and footballs,” said shortstop player Wilson.
Teammate Amari Cooper found Wilson relying on some of those old skills.
“He’s got some good technique. It doesn’t surprise me with what he can do, swing that ball around,” Cooper said.
Meanwhile, Meyers was a quarterback for Arabia Mountain High School (Georgia), and was recruited to NC State in that position, before transferring to receive as a freshman in the red shirt.
That experience matters when coaches consider the risk-reward dynamics of play.
“You want to trust the person with the ball, so if something goes wrong, you don’t flip the ball over. If it doesn’t, you just throw it away and go back in line, run another play,” Belichick said.
“You look for a player who can make good and precise decisions – former college quarterback, or who at least has some experience seeing if the receiver is covered or he’s open. That’s not it. It only happens once. You don’t want to just throw it up there to get it, but if the game design works and the players are open, you want someone to be able to put it on them.”
More and more teams are looking for those players and calling those plays.
NFL Nation reporters Todd Archer and Courtney Cronin contributed to this report.
