Utah Trick Play Where Only 2 Players Do Much
Full disclosure before I publish this blog about the Utah Utes two quarterback trick play. I don’t know any of the coaches on the Utah staff so this conversation is 100% fictional. However, I am pretty certain that at some point a conversation similar to this went down…
Utah Offensive Coordinator Kevin McGivin walks into the Utah offensive staff meeting and let’s the coaches know he is installing a new trick play. Immediately, some of the staff groan and the rest grab their notepads to make sure they can teach whatever complex play they are about to learn for the first time.
Offensive Line Coach: “Okay Kevin, lay it on me, what are my guys going to have to do? Some weird formation or some play where my five guys have to protect for 8 seconds while we try to throw some double pass off of a reverse?
Utah Offensive Coordinator Kevin McGivin: “Nope. All your guys have to do is find a double team on the line of scrimmage. Kind of like Duo but not even that physical. Tight Ends do the same thing.”
Receivers Coach: “Okay then, what do we have? Please don’t tell me we are going to have one of our receivers throw the ball again. We all remember how that trick play went the last time.”
Utah Offensive Coordinator Kevin McGivin: “Nope. Just two receivers in the game. Your front side receiver runs a post to attract the corner and Safety to that side. Your backside receiver outside releases and runs a fade.”
Running Backs Coach: “Oh man, that must mean our running backs have something hard to learn this week? You know he’s only a redshirt freshman right?”
Utah Offensive Coordinator Kevin McGivin: “Nope again. In fact, your guys are not in the game on this play. The personnel is going to be two Tight Ends, two Wideouts and two Quarterbacks.”
As Offensive Coordinator Kevin McGivin draws the new Utah trick play up every one in the staff meeting smiles and even relaxes a little.
Click on the play diagram to watch Saban break this play down. My ears perked up when I heard him say “I’ve never seen this play before.”
On ESPN’s College Game Day this past weekend, Nick Saban and Rece Davis highlighted the Utah offense. The focus was on the number of creative ways Utah is making life hard on the defenses they face by using two quarterbacks. This Utah trick play was part of the discussion.
My ears perked up when I heard Saban say “I’ve never seen this play before.” “How do you coach the defensive players to play this play?”
So when you combine that defensive perspective with the simplicity of the offensive play, you have something that your high school offense can execute. Here at FirstDown PlayBook we have even drawn up two quarterback plays for flag football as well.
Once again, good Offensive Coordinators are complicated for the defense and simple for the offense. This Utah trick play is just one more great example.
