# Your favorite play in football **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 10, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879 "2008-09-10T01:08:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/1 "2008-09-10T01:08:22Z")
Mine is very simple, a screen pass to a fullback. Most fullbacks are big guys that have also spent a lot of time at linebacker. When they get the ball, you know they’re not going to run out of bounds. There’s going to be a collision, hopefully with some poor DB that’s going to get flattened. What’s yours? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/2 "2008-09-10T01:10:57Z")
The one where my team scores. In a “neutral” game, I like slant passes over the middle. The slot receiver is stretched out, defenseless, but the good ones hold onto the ball even when they’re getting piledriven by the LB who catches them in the air. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/3 "2008-09-10T02:06:22Z")
That would be, of course [“The Play”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aCDfJH6eRY) (start at about 5:18). ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/4 "2008-09-10T02:11:58Z")
For some reason I’m a big fan of quick slant routes. As a Michigan fan though, nothing beats the play that has been the bread and butter of UM redzone offense for years(probably not anymore though): Fade route to the corner of the endzone with your tallest, most athletic receiver. I think either Desmond Howard or David Terrell did it best, with honorable mention to Braylon. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/5 "2008-09-10T02:18:16Z")
Hook and Ladder. No wait…anything for two. Any play for two. ---
**Author:** ![ShermanAter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ShermanAter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShermanAter)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/6 "2008-09-10T02:22:25Z")
> [@Doctor\_Who](#): > > Hook and Ladder. No wait…anything for two. Any play for two. I have to agree with the hook and ladder. Great play. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/7 "2008-09-10T02:29:03Z")
Flea flicker. Gets you on SportsCenter 4 times out of 5. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/8 "2008-09-10T02:30:30Z")
The Fumblerooski has always been my favorite play. It is an example of sheer genius. So much so that it is now universally banned. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/9 "2008-09-10T02:37:44Z")
I can’t link to a clip from work but an example of the type of play I love came a few years ago when Jerome Bettis ran over Brian Urlacher…at the goal line…in the snow. I’m a Steelers fan but I would’ve loved that play no matter who it had been. Tough play in the mud and snow where you see the steam rising from all the players pre-snap and then the linemen are chugging around like oxen and it becomes a battle of wills. Runner-up for me is usually any play resulting in a safety but I have to admit, that play from last season where Marion Barber danced away from 3 or 4 Patriots in the end zone was a thing of beauty. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/10 "2008-09-10T02:43:49Z")
A pump faked hitch-n-go. Of course for this to work you have to run a few regular hitches and maybe some comeback routes. Least favorite: any screen thrown by Favre ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/11 "2008-09-10T02:47:27Z")
> [@RetroVertigo](#): > > Least favorite: any screen thrown by Favre I think Favre considers anything less then ten yards from scrimmage a screen pass. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/12 "2008-09-10T02:49:47Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > I can’t link to a clip from work but an example of the type of play I love came a few years ago when Jerome Bettis ran over Brian Urlacher…at the goal line…in the snow. I’m a Steelers fan but I would’ve loved that play no matter who it had been. Tough play in the mud and snow where you see the steam rising from all the players pre-snap and then the linemen are chugging around like oxen and it becomes a battle of wills. If we’re talking about plays that actually happened rather than a play design, [THIS](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3a4sgJoC7E&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/13 "2008-09-10T03:05:19Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > The Fumblerooski has always been my favorite play. It is an example of sheer genius. So much so that it is now universally banned. Bastards. What is this? ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/14 "2008-09-10T03:12:44Z")
Can I get some fake field goal love here? ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_Clock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Shot\_Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_Clock)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/15 "2008-09-10T03:17:05Z")
Center-eligible plays are always cute, in an Ernie Nevers/“Leatherheads” kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/16 "2008-09-10T03:24:17Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > What is this? [The FumbleRooski](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumblerooski) In short from the article:\* “In the Fumblerooski, the quarterback deliberately places the ball on the ground, technically fumbling it. The backs will run to the right, and the right guard will pick up the ball and run to the left.”\* ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/17 "2008-09-10T03:25:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If we’re talking about plays that actually happened rather than a play design, [THIS](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3a4sgJoC7E&feature=related). Oops, I misinterpreted the OP even after reading several replies :smack: The example I referred to is still the type of play I like though. Run plays to the outside where the Guard and/or Center are pulling. They’re not exotic plays but they require a lot of teamwork and tough play to execute well and you see a lot of athleticism from the LBs on the other side of the ball. You can see why I like the Steelers so much 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/18 "2008-09-10T03:28:51Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > What is this? [See Nebraska use it against Miami in the 1983 Orange Bowl at 6:30.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-EDPjwgRjo) Even the cameraman is fooled. Sheer brilliance. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/19 "2008-09-10T03:59:07Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > [See Nebraska use it against Miami in the 1983 Orange Bowl at 6:30.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-EDPjwgRjo) > > Even the cameraman is fooled. Sheer brilliance. Wow. That was pretty cool. I love the fake FGs, the Statue of Liberty (I’ve only ever seen it work once but I was impressed!), and, much less showy, I just enjoy watching play-action passes. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879/20 "2008-09-10T04:10:34Z")
My high school won a state championship with a fumblerooski in 1998, which was pretty cool. It was banned by the NFSHSA in '06, though :rolleyes: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-play-in-football/462879.md?page=2)