Help me out here. SU watches its share of NFL and college football games. What is the attraction of the corner fade route when you are down near the goal line or on the 2-point conversion?
Last night, the Pats are 1st and goal on the 1-yard line. Two failed quarterback sneaks and a run up the middle later, it’s 4th down. Brady throws a corner pass to Gronkowski who is locked in hand to hand battle with Chancellor on the Seahawks. No call, incomplete pass. In the Dallas – Pittsburgh game, Prescott threw 2 similar passes to Dez Bryant for their 2-point conversion attempts – both incomplete.
I get the theory. Your best receiver is usually taller and stronger than the defender and the betting is that he will out-fight him for the ball. But it never works. The other version is from the 5-yard line or so where the QB lofts the ball to the corner and the receiver is supposed to catch it over his shoulder. Really? This play works perhaps 10% of the time.
Given how detailed and meticulous NFL and college coaches are, do they really have stats that show these plays work? SU is happy to be proven wrong but I am not seeing it.
Saturday showed why college football is great. The #2, 3 and 4-ranked teams all went down in the same day. The Michigan loss to Iowa was especially painful but they still control their own destiny if they can win out and beat Ohio State. Of course, that is a tall order especially with the game in Columbus this year. Ohio State is peaking and their roster is like Alabama’s in terms of top recruits. It feels like an Ohio State – Alabama final for the championship (but I hope I am wrong there).
Finally, for the 7 people who watch the Tennis Channel globally along with SU, the men’s ATP Tour finals are taking place in London this week with a round-robin format. While Federer and Nadal are missing due to injury, it’s still a lot of fun and Djokovic and Murray are battling for the overall #1 ranking. SU says worth a look.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
I don’t like the play either, but watch Demarius Thomas against the Saints yesterday and you’ll see why coaches call it…plus it gets PI called a lot…
Mark, fair point on the interference calls although I am finding that the refs are letting a lot of that go these days if they feel both players are initiating the contact. I will check out the play you mentioned.
Seattle is fast and remains one of the top defenses. The smaller the field becomes… advantage defense. The Pats offensive line is average at best, Also, Brady isn’t the most athletic QB. Take all that and ironically being on the 10 yard line with a bit more room to maneuver might have been better for Brady. Close to the goal line II always liked the button hook play where you shove it in low and hard into the breadbasket of the bigger and wider receiver.
Sorry… but no Americans good enough in tennis has lost my enthusiasm to follow the game. After Djokavic and Murray not much more to watch.
The Yankees better step up and sign a seasoned power house. Though I like the youth movement you still need to sprinkle in some impact go to now players. Ditto in pitching.
Interesting scenario for Ohio State. If Ohio State beats Michigan, they are sitting pretty right? Wait a minute, if Penn State wins out they will have the same record as Ohio State and they will have beat them head to head. Sounds like some teeth gnashing is on the horizon.
Penn State is just not a great team this year but their record is what it is. I don’t know what the tie breakers are but you would have to figure that the Big Ten would want Ohio State representing them vs Penn State.