Writers of Pro Football Prospectus 2008

06 Aug 2007, 12:50pm by Mike Tanier

Play of the Day: The Screen Package

It's time to get the ball to our playmakers in space. In the seventh and final installment of Play of the Day, we'll break down three different wide receiver screens, plus a double-pump-fake screen straight from the mind of Sean Payton.

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19 comments, Last at 18 May 2011, 1:45pm by James4541

18 Jul 2007, 10:59am by Mike Tanier

Play of the Day: Bunch Right Skinny Post

Just in case you ever thought about being an NFL free safety, Mike Tanier offers a play designed specifically to confound and exploit you.

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26 comments, Last at 16 Feb 2011, 1:59pm by freeser

11 Jul 2007, 07:12pm by Mike Tanier

Play of the Day: Epic End Around

Full house backfield? Check. Dangerous tight end and former college quarterback turned slash receiver at fullback? Check. Reverse to the split end? Check. Today's play has the makings of something special. So why did the Redskins execute it so poorly? Today, we analyze an almost-disastrous reverse to Santana Moss, looking for ways to make it better while preserving its delightful wackiness.

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29 comments, Last at 02 Nov 2009, 4:43am by Dracula Poker

03 Jul 2007, 01:33pm by Mike Tanier

Play of the Day: Goal Line Tight End Passes

The best way to score in goal-to-go situations is to run the ball, but no playbook would be complete without a few goal line pass plays to keep the defense guessing. Today, we'll draw up two passes for the tight end: one a traditional rollout, the other designed to leave a Hall of Famer wide open in the corner of the end zone.

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30 comments, Last at 09 Jul 2007, 12:58pm by MRH

25 Jun 2007, 11:54am by Mike Tanier

Play of the Day: Empty Double Slants

It's third and short. Time to go with two backs, three tight ends, and a power running play, right? Heck no! We're going no-huddle and empty backfield for today's play: a Colts gamble that, thanks to a crazy bounce, paid big dividends for the Titans.

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32 comments, Last at 10 Jul 2007, 11:54pm by josh

21 Jun 2007, 01:09pm by Mike Tanier

Play of The Day: Shotgun Fake Option Seamer

Vince Young is in the shotgun. Will he handoff? Rollout? Run? Throw? Norm Chow doesn't want you to know. Today's play is a fake option pass that would look right at home in Mack Brown or Urban Meyer's playbook.

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30 comments, Last at 23 Jun 2007, 6:36pm by xmenehune

19 Jun 2007, 01:42pm by Mike Tanier

Introducing "Play of the Day"

Summer is here, and the time is right to start installing new plays. Over the next few weeks, Football Outsiders will take you on a tour of some of the NFL's most interesting plays, from rollout options to end arounds. In this introductory column, Mike Tanier explores how NFL coaches are creating exotic formations out of ordinary personnel groupings.

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34 comments, Last at 21 Jun 2007, 4:03am by lobolafcadio

11 Jan 2007, 06:14pm by Mike Tanier

Too Deep Zone: Protecting Rex Grossman

Does Rex Grossman have what it takes to win playoff games for the Bears? Maybe not, but he has what it takes to not lose them. Mike Tanier dissects three weeks worth of game tape to learn how coordinator Ron Turner uses simple schemes and short throws to hide his quarterback's weaknesses.

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46 comments, Last at 13 Jan 2007, 1:19am by Fnor

05 Jan 2007, 12:29pm by Mike Tanier

Too Deep Zone: Running Against the Colts

Everyone knows that the Colts run defense stinks. But we've studied the tape to find out why. Mike Tanier breaks down several running plays that have worked against the Colts and looks for the reasons behind their defensive collapse. It turns out that there is no shortage of culprits.

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76 comments, Last at 08 Jan 2007, 5:37am by Dave

03 Nov 2006, 01:56pm by Mike Tanier

Too Deep Zone: Multi-Tight End Sets in the Passing Game

Get ready for all of the seam routes, corner routes, and flat routes you can handle! In Part 2 of a Two Deep Zone/Minicamp special, Mike Tanier analyzes how teams are using multiple tight ends in the passing game, whether as blockers, receivers, or decoys.

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42 comments, Last at 11 Nov 2010, 2:37am by cheap replica purses