The New England Patriots used an unorthodox formation to disguise eligible wide receivers and the idea may have come from living college coaching legend Nick Saban.
The Baltimore Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh were irked when Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots used some deceptive formations to get a wide open wide receiver streaking down the seam.
The play was perfectly legal, but it was one of the first times we have ever seen the formation used in the National Football League.
However, Bill Belichick may have learned the play from good friend Nick Saban.
Here is how the Patriots lined up:
Now, let’s rewind to Alabama vs. LSU on Nov. 8.
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Pro Football Talk pointed out in this video that Alabama runs the same formation to get a wide open look.
“Belichick and [Alabama coach Nick] Saban are very close,” SI’s Peter King wrote in his latest MMQB column. “There is no doubt in my mind, based on the duplication of the play, that the Patriots got this play from Alabama. And good for them. It’s perfectly legal, despite Baltimore’s protestations to the contrary, and though officiating czar Dean Blandino told me Sunday the league is going to examine the play (actually, the Patriots completed three passes, for 11, 14 and 16 yards on the three plays they ran), what rule can the NFL change?”
King then shared what Blandino had told him.
“The whole issue with Baltimore is they felt they weren’t given enough time [to match up],” Blandino told King. “We will review the three plays, but it appears from a mechanical standpoint that the announcement was made properly, the defense was notified, and the proper mechanics were executed.’’
Kudos to Bill Belichick and the Patriots for pulling this out at the right time.
Was it deceptive? Yes. Was it legal? Yes. Will we see this formation ever again? You would have to believe the Patriots would at least try it once moving forward to see if any other defenses can learn from the Ravens’ mistake.
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