Iowa Should Run At Least One Flea Flicker Every Game - Here's Why?

[MelroseHawkins]

First let me preface this post by saying that I am not a huge trick play guy. A team has to have the solid pieces/units in place to have an identity and to be consistent against opponents, especially good teams.

But, I have always thought a team should run a flea flicker at least one time every game. One reason is that it is a relatively safe "trick" play. You have your QB getting the ball back to pass compared to another skill player such as a RB or WR. The main reason I feel running it at least once every game is more to the fact that if the defense knows it is coming at some point they will have to spend time scheming & practicing for it. Anytime you can get in between the ears of your opponent and make them spend time planning, scheming and preparing for it, it's a bonus as it takes away time for scheming against regular plays.

The biggest reason is that on the field, I feel it can really help keep the defense honest and help alleviate or open up other potential plays if the defense has to honor it the entire game. I mean, chit, let teams know you are going to run it at some point in a game.

The time is almost here...............GO HAWKS!

 

[99topdawg]

Really, a flea flicker is a play-action pass. The only difference is that the ball actually changes hands. Hayden used to run it right, with a pitch and then a hand off back to the QB. Then it turns into more of a halfback pass with the QB doing the actual throwing. Here is what I'm talking about at 4:30.

Iowa State vs Iowa CyHawk Series Football History (1977-2009)

Video recap of every Iowa State vs Iowa football game since the series was resumed in 1977.Footage Property of of WOI Des Moines

youtu.be

 

[Hawkfnntn]

For my money it's situationally running those flea flickers is what makes them work easier. As an OC here's how I'd like to run those. You do it right after having a successful running play of say 10 plus yards. Then you don't necessarily hurry up to the LOS but you don't let the defense sub by not subbing yourself. So you have the exact same formation and personnel. I'd like to see it ran from a heavy formation preferably where you leak out a TE or even say a 2nd RB that's in motion presnap. But if we did it with a Wetjen, Washington JR etc instead I'd have no complaints.

It's easier to fool LBs on those then DBs. So having the main target being someone that should be shaded by them is ideal. All ya gotta do is get a step or two on em

 

[Grady]

Really, a flea flicker is a play-action pass. The only difference is that the ball actually changes hands. Hayden used to run it right, with a pitch and then a hand off back to the QB. Then it turns into more of a halfback pass with the QB doing the actual throwing. Here is what I'm talking about at 4:30.

Iowa State vs Iowa CyHawk Series Football History (1977-2009)

Video recap of every Iowa State vs Iowa football game since the series was resumed in 1977.Footage Property of of WOI Des Moines

youtu.be

Man, seeing Nick Bell running at the 4:25 mark warmed my cockles!

 

[Hawkboys]

Nothing beats a perfectly fumblerooski

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Saw a pod with Kluver and Brada talking about how Iowa used to run trick plays quite a bit from special teams. They'd bust one out not necessarily every week but multiple times a season but now they don't.
When's the last time we ran anything exotic? I'm struggling to remember. I'd have thought with our O being so bad the last few that that's when you would try to sneak one past the goalie more often but we really didn't. I'll certainly be looking to see if Woods gets to call anything on special teams or not. It sure makes things more fun

 

[NorthKCHawk]

KF has turtled the last few season back to his natural risk adverse ways. Kirk 2.0 or New Kirk or whatever has come and gone. With his dopey son at the helm of a terrible offense, he was resigned to winning games 10-9 by letting the other team beat themselves.

With a veteran O and special teams, and with a D that may take a step back, perhaps KF let's his coordinators be a bit more creative with gadgets, packages, and other out of the box plays.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

KF has turtled the last few season back to his natural risk adverse ways. Kirk 2.0 or New Kirk or whatever has come and gone. With his dopey son at the helm of a terrible offense, he was resigned to winning games 10-9 by letting the other team beat themselves.

With a veteran O and special teams, and with a D that may take a step back, perhaps KF let's his coordinators be a bit more creative with gadgets, packages, and other out of the box plays.

That was Bradas thoughts on it. Kluver said that they went to the LOS with plays called but when the defense lined up they'd call it off or call a TO. He thinks that unless the D is showing the exact kind of look that they'd seen on film that they wouldn't run it. Brada pushed back on that some but it's not like he's ever been in a huddle before it's not like he'd really know anything.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Saw a pod with Kluver and Brada talking about how Iowa used to run trick plays quite a bit from special teams. They'd bust one out not necessarily every week but multiple times a season but now they don't.
When's the last time we ran anything exotic? I'm struggling to remember. I'd have thought with our O being so bad the last few that that's when you would try to sneak one past the goalie more often but we really didn't. I'll certainly be looking to see if Woods gets to call anything on special teams or not. It sure makes things more fun

And the thing is that they had a great run of success with those plays, which was kind of unprecedented. Maybe it has been a roster situation not having quite the players to attempt them, dunno.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

That was Bradas thoughts on it. Kluver said that they went to the LOS with plays called but when the defense lined up they'd call it off or call a TO. He thinks that unless the D is showing the exact kind of look that they'd seen on film that they wouldn't run it. Brada pushed back on that some but it's not like he's ever been in a huddle before it's not like he'd really know anything.

I listed to the same podcast and it was interesting. Yes, there is always a backup play to call depending on what the defense shows.