Where did one of the most hated men in the National Football League come up with the idea to use four offensive linemen and declare his pass-catching running back an ineligible receiver? From one of the most hated men in college football, of course.
Bill Belichick and Nick Saban are good friends. In his latest column for TheMMQB.com, Peter King reminds us that Alabama ran an identical play on Nov. 8 against LSU to the one the Patriots ran against the Baltimore Ravens.
On Nov. 8, on the first snap of overtime against LSU, Alabama lined up four offensive linemen in their usual spots but with a tackle, Cam Robinson, split out wide right, having declared himself to the referee an ineligible receiver before the snap, with a wide receiver to the right of him. A backup lineman, Brandon Greene, was in the left tackle slot, but he was actually an eligible receiver because Robinson, wide right, was not. At the snap of the ball, Robinson stepped back from the line and held his hands up for the ball, continuing the ruse. Greene lumbered up the left seam, and quarterback Blake Sims hit him with a pass. Gain of 24, to the LSU one-yard line.
Coincidence? King doesn’t think so.
“Belichick and Saban are very close. There is no doubt in my mind, based on the duplication of the play, that the Patriots got this play from Alabama,” King wrote. “…The New England play could not have been more of a carbon copy if Alabama coach Nick Saban or his offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin, had flown to New England last week to help offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels install it.
The Patriots used the formation three times, and each time they completed passes of more than 10 yards. John Harbaugh was livid with the officials for allowing it and/or not giving the Ravens enough time to react to it, but officiating head Dean Blandino said after the game that New England did nothing illegal.
As it turns out, Tom Brady is right with what he said about the Ravens complaining.
If you’re a Patriots fan and are of the same school of thought as King, you should be thanking the Tide for keeping your season alive.
H/T Pro Football Talk
Photo: Dave Cisar/Twitter
