Trick Play

Michigan Flea Flicker

Josh Gattis was just given the Broyles Award as College Football’s top Assistant Coach. Michigan has had a great year and I have been impressed with the sequencing of offensive play calls and the creativity of their trick plays. Their Flea Flicker series has led to some big plays in crucial situations. The ability to execute these plays has given them important swings in momentum.

  • Formation Unbalanced

  • TE/Wing Trey

  • Jet Motion from the Boundary WR

  • Flea Flicker Max Protection

  • Post/Wheel the Field

  • Bunch into the Boundary

  • Jet Motion

  • Flea Flicker (Center Pull 6-Man Protection)

  • Post/Wheel + Crosser

Flea Flickers are obviously categorized as trick plays, but if repped properly they can become an intensification of your Play Action Passing Game. If you see Flea Flicker as Play Action, it allows you to layer in Passing Concepts like “Yankee” and not just use it to take a deep shot. Purdue coach Jeff Brohm uses Flea Flicker so consistently that he throws Screens off of it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michigan add in another wrinkle off Flea Flicker in the playoffs.

Checkdown Double Pass

Back in 1993 Florida State and Notre Dame had an epic showdown in South Bend. It was the only loss of the season for a dominant Florida State team. At the time they were running an unprecedented offense known as the “Fast Break Offense” which operated from the Shotgun and helped pave the way for the Modern Spread Offense. Led by Charlie Ward, the offense was nearly unstoppable. This play in particular is such a great design. RB Swing Checkdown (Lateral), Double Pass before the Flat Defender can close to the RB.

  • Shallow Cross Spacing

    • Slot Under

    • WR Curl (& Go)

    • RB Swing to the Flat

  • Lateral to the RB

  • WR Curl & Go

1993 Florida State - Ace Rt. Checkdown Double Pass.png

I always wonder why more coaches don’t use Checkdown Double Passes vs. Coverages that are late to rally to the Flat. It’s always good to maximize the number of guys you have on the field who can throw the football. Even though FSU was unable to complete this throw, the concept is incredible!