Hypocycloid

I don’t know what Bruce Arians calls this play.  Chris Collinsworth described it as a diamond.  I’m going to call it "hypocycloid".  In case anyone doesn’t already know, that’s the official term for the diamond-like shapes in the Steelers logo.  It netted 34 yards the first time we employed it, and it bamboozled the defense something fierce.  Anyway, here it is.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d8132c313/Mike-Wallace-Highlight-WK-04-vs-Chargers-2009

Hypocycloid is the third play of the game.  It features four "wide receivers" lined up in a diamond formation off to one side (as the hypocycloids appear on the helmets).  The result of the play certainly brought the Wallace fans out into the open, but I think the design of the play and the timing of it were both fabulous.  Credit should go to Bruce Arians and his coaching staff.

The play gives the defense fits for a few reasons.  The four receivers include: Mike Wallace (speedy), Heath Miller (catchy), Hines Ward (crafty), and the big dog, Stefan Logan (shifty).  Holmes lines up on the other sideline and is pretty much inconsequential on this play.  The true receivers in the group give defenses pause in much the same manner as our three-man "bunch" formation.  Defenders have little clue as to where the boys are heading.  Adding Logan to the mix makes it look like a screen, especially with Heath and Hines out there.

As the play starts, the three receivers bolt downfield taking most of the defenders with them.  Logan stay put on the outside.  If anyone was betting on a screen, they’re left flat-footed.  Cromartie may have bitten.  He looks lost.  You’ll see him hesitating; jumping back and forth on the balls of his feet.  The threat of Logan in open space makes Cromartie pass Wallace off to the safety way too soon.  The safety can’t get to him fast enough.  Wallace leaves behind a big chunk of Hienz field when he pulls the ball in.

If that wasn’t enough, Heath appeared to be wide open a few yards underneath Wallace.  Ben has Wallace for 34, Heath for about 25, or Logan for check down out in the flat.

The other aspect of the timing that made me smile was the field position.  We had a first down on the 50 - that magical place where the defense starts to think, we need to start thinking about a stop.  I don’t have ESP, but I’m thinking the fact that Ben and the boys had just covered 28 yards in two plays was also not lost on San Diego as they were backpedalling.  The play calling went something like: insult, insult, injury.

The whole thing looks like a gadget waiting to happen, but it’s really just a well-disguised option play.  The real beauty is what comes next.  Having just been burned by Wallace on a trick play, the defense gets to watch him run behind the formation as though it were a reverse.  It’s not.  Mendenhaul carries it up the middle with a bruising run.  Great play calling by Bruce Arians.  The SD defense doesn’t know which endzone they should have their backs to.

The second time we run Hypocycloid is late in the fourth quarter.  This time, it’s Mewelde Moore instead of Logan.  Miller and Ward return with a third receiver I can’t make out.  In this play, Ben calls Moore back to the pocket and the play develops as a run.  Instead of taking off downfield, the receivers shuffle forward and run block.  Their motions suggest it was intended as a run from the start.  The defense sniffs it out and Waltzing Mewelde ekes out a measly 2 yards.

Despite the lack of success with the second Hypocycloid, the fact that it morphed into a run suggests there may be room for it in a number of situations.  I like it.  I want more.