Secret play?

[SMUFan]

How about if we take a page out of Mike Leach's playbook at Tech?

When they beat Texas this weekend, the Red Raiders used a "double pass" play that I think we could use. At some point, when we have the ball on the right hash mark, we should line up with four receivers, three to the left and one to the right. Put Trey Griffin in the slot (closest to the left tackle), Jay Taylor next to him and Cedric Vinson out wide on the left. Hampton lines up split wide to the right. When Bartel lines up under center, Hampton comes in motion from the short (right) side to the left, until he's halfway between Taylor and Vinson. At the snap of the ball, Hampton takes a few steps forward and then cuts back across the center of the field, back to the right side - and hopefully bringing a linebacker and safety with him. Griffin takes a few steps and pauses, acting as if he's out of the play. Vinson takes a couple of hard steps forward, then turns around and drops backward - behind Bartel. From there, Bartel whirls and fires a lateral to Vinson (a former HS quarterback with a good arm), and Griffin takes off in a sprint downfield. Vinson catches the lateral - with Taylor sliding to the left to block Vinson's man - and fires the ball downfield to Griffin. Touchdown (in theory).

Here's why I think it works:
1. The QB has to have the arm to get the lateral out to the WR in a hurry. Bartel has more than enough arm strength.
2. Hampton has traditionally feasted on Tulsa - they'll should send a safety with the LB covering him.
3. With one safety chasing Hampton, and the other pinching down on Taylor, Griffin should have one-on-one coverage.
4. Vinson has a good, strong arm.
5. Taylor has the size to effectively block whatever corner is covering Vinson, and should give Vinson plenty of time to throw.
6. If for some reason Bartel can't safely get the ball to Vinson, Tulsa doesn't have an LB who can cover Hampton.

With all that said, I'm not a coach. So can someone who knows more than I do explain to me why this would or wouldn't work? Seems like a good idea to me. But then again, I haven't had any coffee yet.

[JustAFriend]

The only problem I see with the play is getting Griffin, Taylor, and Vinson into the game. We've barely seen any of them all year. But in theory your play sounds pretty good.

[SMUFan]

Ha! Good point, JustAFriend - hadn't thought about that part. But with Vinson having been such a good QB in high school, I imagine we could run that play rather effectively.

[PonyTales]

I notice you don't have Cody Cardwell on the field in that scenario.

But I do like the play.