The tip could come from a stance only six inches wider. Or it could be where the head of the receiver is pointed. Or where the eyes of the running back focus after he breaks the huddle.
It’s what players look for, trying to help them solve what might come next. It’s why players watch hours of film during the week, hoping to detect giveaways by their opponent.
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“You can’t just go into a game and see it then,” Redskins end Phillip Daniels said. “You have to know what to look for before you get there.”
Daniels, in his 14th season, knows exactly what to look for. He’ll start with the stance of the tackle in front of him; if he’s setting hard on his fingers, it’s a run. A light set and a pass — or a draw — is coming. If one linemen is “sitting” hard and the guy next to him is soft, then it likely means a run is coming with the player sitting soft pulling.
Then he’ll look at the line’s splits. If the gap between the guard and the tackle is more narrow, a double team is coming or the play is going the other way. Occasionally, a running back will give away his destination with a look; sometimes it’s where he looks second that provides the tip.
“There are lots of little things,” Daniels said. “Some players give it away and some don’t. A guy like [Seattle left tackle] Walter Jones, his stance is the same every time.”
Redskins offensive tackle Stephon Heyer, for example, takes a wider stance on pass plays, something coaches and teammates have noticed. And when he’s in a three-point stance, his head typically is a little higher when he’s going to pass block vs. when he’ll fire off on a run block.
Safety Reed Doughty checks out the tight end; if he’s split, he anticipates a pass, but if he’s tight he’ll look for a run. If a receiver is going to block, his head might be down; but on a pass, to get a quick release, his head is up and pointed straight ahead.
“You’re always picking up stuff,” Doughty said. “It comes with time.”
