Purdue football quarterback Ryan Browne knew immediately his second trick play experience would unfold smoother than the first.
When Browne handed the ball to running back Devin Mockobee for an inside zone run on Saturday’s second possession, he saw Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray come downhill to the line of scrimmage. A second later, Gray wobbled on an invisible surfboard, caught in between when Mockobee threw back to Browne for an easy 14-yard stroll to the end zone.
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“It’s really a play I’ve never seen anybody run before, so I was really excited about it,” Browne said. “And Mock threw a perfect ball. I don’t think he threw a ball that perfect all week in practice.”
In a shamelessly copycat sport, Browne will soon see someone else run that play — maybe by this weekend. The touchdown mattered little in the final 56-30 result, but the premise matters greatly in what coach Barry Odom is implementing in his first season.
Browne had been on the receiving end of another trick play a week earlier against USC. Odom said the Boilermakers come into each game with a few of those bullets in the chamber. As was the case Saturday, the opponent must show the correct scheme, and down and distance factor into the calculated risk.
Odom preaches repetition to the point of automation — a culture prioritizing function over flair. Yet a handful of play calls the past two weeks suggest this staff will let its hair down on occasion, too.
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“Every week we build a number of those things in the playbook — deceptives that we have — that will carry,” Odom said. “We’ll just continue to work on them. You’ve got to call them. You’ve got to be aggressive to give your guys a chance.”
Odom credited offensive coordinator Josh Henson for finding creative ways to put the ball in the hands of playmakers. Purdue clearly wants to let Browne operate in space rather than exclusively weave through the defense.
The upside is not limited to yards or points gained, though. Browne said players appreciate the trust coaches must feel in them in order to make those calls.
“We practice it all week,” receiver Nitro Tuggle said. “When you practice it all week, it becomes natural, gives you confidence. We’ve got a great offensive coordinator, too.”
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They also have a special teams coordinator in James Shibest with a bit of a riverboat gambler’s reputation. Punt fakes are the best vehicle for those deceptive plays.
Many college teams have begun gravitating toward rugby style punters. Their style, which involves trotting with the ball after the snap before deciding to either kick it or keep it, lends itself to trickery.
Purdue punter Jack McCallister lost his jobs at Washington and Nebraska because he practices the traditional style of punting. Yet Shibest designed a fake run for him if the Boilers encountered a suitable distance-to-go from the left hash.
The opportunity came near on a fourth-and-5 near midfield with Purdue trailing 14-7 with three minutes to play in the first quarter. Failure would put Notre Dame’s already cooking offense in prime scoring position. McCallister, though, followed blockers Marques Easley and Hank Purvis for a 10-yard gain and a first down.
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The drive resulted in a field goal — and jolted the sideline.
“It brings the energy up and gets some enthusiasm going on the sideline,” linebacker Mani Powell said. “It’s important for the team to take that and keep running with it and celebrate each other for taking a leap of faith or courage — getting the job done and executing the right way.”
Purdue has, in at least one instance of trickeration, been more lucky than good.
That throwback from Michael Jackson III to Browne against USC was not designed as, nor ever practiced as, a double lateral. USC linebacker Eric Gentry sleuthed out the play from the snap, and while he probably could not outrun Browne, a pick-six was a highly probable outcome when that ball left Jackson’s hand.
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In that case, the accidental contingency plan came from players on the field — specifically, Browne — whose football IQ would kick in while others stood idly by. Browne didn’t hear a whistle, picked up the loose ball and ran for one of the two touchdowns the Boilers scored that night.
Sometimes, trick plays develop seamlessly, like the halfback pass and fake punt at Notre Dame. Sometimes, they develop chaotically, like when Browne ran into the end zone as multiple Trojans stood around palms up.
And sometimes they fail. Mathematically, Purdue is probably due for a glitch.
These past couple of weeks have set a tone, though. We don’t yet know if Odom will acquire a Jeff Brohm-like reputation for trick play frequency. These Purdue players already seem to believe their coaches will put the game in their hands and trust them in high-risk, high-reward scenarios.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue football trick plays gives players confidence, chance
