Calling plays via winks and nods

I'm skeptical of the significant credit and blame NFL coaches get for their team's successes and failures. We football fans frequently hear stories about how NFL coaches work 20-hour days and sleep in their offices because they are so consumed with preparing their team for upcoming games.

With that in mind, I listened yesterday to Green Bay Packers WR Greg Jennings discuss the 15-yard touchdown pass that he caught from Brett Favre in the 1st quarter of Sunday's game. As Jennings told WHGQ radio host Brian Nelson, the coaching staff called a running play. But Favre winked at Jennings and ended up throwing him a pass. Brilliant coaching?
Brian Nelson: What was the call in the huddle? What was the play that was called?

Greg Jennings: It was a run play.

Brian Nelson: They showed that on TV. A little wink and a nod.

Greg Jennings: I have no clue what he gave me.

Brian Nelson: Really?

Greg Jennings: He just winked and nodded. And I'm like, "What in the world?" So I just ran and looked back at him the entire time because I knew he was just going to throw it up.

Brian Nelson: What do you mean ? How would he give you a route to run?

Greg Jennings: He looked at me and kind of nodded his head and pointed his finger, like he wanted me to just go. But I was on the front side of the run and you normally don't throw to the front side of the run. So I'm like, "Okay, uhhh." So I just ran and then he threw it and I reacted.

Comments

Josh said…
Terry Francona told Dave Roberts to steal second in game four of 2004 ALCS by winking at him.
January 15, 2008
dl004d said…
Okay, but Francona is the manager. The example with Greg Jennings is of players discarding the instructions from the coaches. Also, a baserunner in baseball pretty much has two choices: steal or don't steal. A wide receiver in football has dozens of possibilities. Even if it is understood that a wink means "go out for a pass," that's not terribly specific!
January 15, 2008
Anonymous said…
If you've seen the 60 Minutes story on Tom Brady (ran recently, but I think originally aired a year or two ago), he claims he does this with some of his receivers. He even asked the camera not to show his face when he was practicing the signal with one of the WRs.

I assume Peyton Manning does this some of the time too, when he's not just showing off for the camera with all his fancy gestures.
January 15, 2008
Anonymous said…
Favre has been doing this for years... in fact most quarterbacks are expected too. It's a variation of an audible. Normally it has only involved Driver - I'm excited he has started to do this with Jennings.

The most obvious ones occur when the QB fakes the "clock stopping" spike at the end of the half and tries to catch the D off gaurd. I think Favre did it once in a game this year... and maybe it was to Jennings. If I remember correctly the WR didn't realize that's what Favre was doing and it just looked sloppy. Not this time!
January 15, 2008
Josh said…
Ah, the old INaudible! Devious!

"We'll run the old Statue of Liberty play with one difference: you throw it to me. Knute Rockney called it the forward pass."
January 15, 2008
Anonymous said…
interesting comment from TMQ from ESPN2:
As the Packers approached the line, Favre looked left to wide receiver Greg Jennings, saw Jennings had single press coverage, and nodded to him. The nod was a "hidden audible" -- Favre and Jennings were changing the play to a quick slant, but nobody else knew that. At the snap, the Green Bay offensive line fired out for the power rush they thought was happening; Favre threw a quick slant; Jennings strolled to the end zone. Sweet! Except Packers' guard Daryn Colledge was 5 yards downfield, run-blocking. Green Bay should have been flagged for ineligible man downfield. Seven years ago in the divisionals, in Minnesota versus New Orleans, the same thing happened. The Vikings came out in a power-run set; Randy Moss had single coverage; Daunte Culpepper made eye contact with Moss to call a hidden audible; Moss took a quick slant for a touchdown as all other Minnesota players run-blocked; the entire Vikings' offensive line was ineligible downfield, no flag. Having your offensive linemen go downfield on a passing play makes for a very convincing run fake. But it's illegal, and Green Bay got away with one.
January 15, 2008
dl004d said…
That sounds like the type of story teams feed reporters to make them sound more organize than they are. It's clear from listening to Jennings that he did not know the play was changed to a "quick slant."
January 15, 2008
dl004d said…
Also, Jennings did not run a slant.
January 15, 2008
Josh said…
Further, Jennings wasn't even playing in that game.

And I didn't give you my jacket!

-- Joke one, courtesy of Dan Borus
-- Joke two, courtesy of Scorpio
January 16, 2008
Anonymous said…
TMQ was just telling a story.

"Favre and Jennings were changing the play to a quick slant, but nobody else knew that."

including Favre and Jennings...

I think TMQ was implying that the slant type route was the end result and the true meaning was:

"Favre and Jennings were changing the play to a pass.... whatever that may be..."

Jennings just so happened to jump inside to 'present' himself appropriately 5 yards down the field which looked like a slant...sorta...after 5 yards it did anyway.
January 16, 2008
Anonymous said…
actually... was the ball already in the air when he jumped inside? It almost seemed to me he just wanted the ball more than the defender did and got better position..
January 16, 2008
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