1999 Ad

Sporting News, The, Sept 13, 1999 by Michael Bradley

Because senior wide receiver Peter Warrick is one of the most talented players in college football, it makes sense Florida State will try to use him in as many ways as possible. This play gives Warrick the ability to adjust to the defense and is designed to put him in one-on-one situations.

THE NAME: "Right Gun Motion Pete Option" sounds more complicated than it is. "Right" refers to the formation, in which the FSU quick (or strongside) tackle lines up on the right. Quarterback Chris Weinke then lines up in the shotgun, and Warrick goes in motion from left to right. Once the ball is snapped, Warrick has three options, depending on the coverage.

THE READ: As Warrick goes in motion, he watches how the defense reacts. If a back runs across the formation with him, Warrick can assume there is man-to-man coverage. If no one follows him, it's usually a zone. But that isn't definite. "Sometimes, defenses balance their zone by bringing a third man over to the side where the motion is going," FSU offensive coordinator Mark Richt says. That's why Warrick continues to evaluate the situation when he heads upfield. "That's when he'll see if a guy's locked in on him," Richt says. Meanwhile, Weinke is making the same read.

THE PATTERN: If Warrick confronts a zone, his job is simple. He runs a short hook pattern underneath the defenders. Florida State used to use the hook frequently with Warrick Dunn, running him from the slot. "We would get the ball to him in front of the `backers, and he'd make one guy miss and be gone," Richt says.

If Warrick faces man coverage, he is to break in or out, depending on how he is played. If the defender sits on his outside shoulder, he heads in. If the leverage is inside, he turns out. Simple--unless the defense employs a "robber," or a safety who comes up in the middle to provide help for an overmatched (against Warrick, they're all overmatched) corner. In that case, Warrick tries to get outside, no matter how hard the corner is pushing him in. "If you're Peter Warrick, you can get outside," Richt says.

The other three receivers run deep patterns, the better to clear room underneath for Warrick.

THE RESULT: Warrick catches the short pass, breaks a tackle and takes off for six points.