Panthers’ Trick Play Was Inspired by Little Giants Movie

[Double Barrel]

Ron Rivera: Panthers’ Trick Play Was Inspired by Little Giants Movie

The Panthers used a trick play to score their third touchdown against the Texans Sunday, and it turns out the play was inspired by the football movie Little Giants. Asked about the play by reporters Monday, Carolina head coach Ron Rivera says the idea came from the “Annexation of Puerto Rico” play the Giants used to beat Kevin O’Shea’s Cowboys on the final play of the game.

“Just so you know, the unofficial name – I don’t know if you guys have ever seen the “Little Giants” – it’s called the Annexation of Puerto Rico. I’ve seen the movie a hundred times with my kids. They’re grown up now,” Rivera said. “So last night we were talking about and they called it everything from the Chud-a-rooskie to the Mauler to what have you. Somebody said, ‘well, it’s from the ‘Little Giants.”

Fumblerooskis are actually illegal in the NFL, but if you watch the play closely, you’ll see that quarterback Cam Newton took the snap and handed it to Richie Brockel between the fullback’s legs (watch video of the play at NFL.com). Brockel went untouched into the end zone for the score to put Carolina up 21-0. They won it 28-13, helping Doc Brown secure one of his Top 3 picks.

Source

I did not see this play mentioned anywhere (if it has another thread, we will merge).

To be honest, I was surprised that the play was legal. But obviously, after official review, legality was confirmed.

Our defense was caught with their pants down. I would have loved to see them just mow down some offensive linemen when the ball was snapped, but our defenders were completely clueless about it until it was too late.

[Texecutioner]

We ran a play like that in freaking LIttle League football. That play has been used way before that movie The Little Giants came out. Article is bull****.

[PapaL]

It's still a BS play. Legal or not. When you're a crappy team, you gotta do what you gotta do to win so hats off to them for winning.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Texecutioner

We ran a play like that in freaking LIttle League football. That play has been used way before that movie The Little Giants came out. Article is bull****.

The article just stated that the movie was where Ron Rivera got the idea from, not that the movie created the play.

Originally Posted by PapaL

It's still a BS play. Legal or not. When you're a crappy team, you gotta do what you gotta do to win so hats off to them for winning.

I was surprised that the offense did not get called for illegal motion and/or a false start. There were clearly two men in motion when the ball was snapped, and the linemen were fidgeting while they were standing up.

Is there some kind of loophole in NFL rules? I have never seen this kind of play in many decades of watching pro football.

[Texecutioner]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

The article just stated that the movie was where Ron Rivera got the idea from, not that the movie created the play.

That, but that play has been done for decades. There is no way that Rivera first learned about that play from some little kids movie and decided it was a smart move to do in a real NFL game. Teams have ran the Fumblerooski for a very long time. They probably mentioned the movie to make it seem like a feel good story. Rivera probably thought it was funny to act like he got it from there, but there is no way a guy who has been a coach that long learned about that play from The Little Giants kid movie.

[sbalderrama]

It looked to me like the offensive line never setup, they were standing around and waving their arms and stuff. How is that even legal?

[Wolf]

I wondered too. however I think as long as your hand isn't on the ground an OL can basically do what he wants without moving his feet?

I have seen O-linemen point and stuff while in pass protection mode (cough *colts* cough* among other teams)

[foo82]

I'm pretty sure I've seen the pats do this before. Going to see if I can find it.

Edit:
It was the chargers.

Number 9.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0Qt69SYO4c

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by PapaL

It's still a BS play. Legal or not. When you're a crappy team, you gotta do what you gotta do to win so hats off to them for winning.

PapaBrakolos has this one - dead right. Spot on!!

[burro]

We got owned by a fictitious little league play...eff

[Texan_Bill]

Rumor has it that if Wade was on the sideline......


Well.. Nothing. It still would've happened. Kudos to Carolina for making one of the best defenses in the league this year, look really.... REALLY BAD!!

After all, "This was their Super Bowl"! I kid Panthers fan but we've heard stupid, ridiculous **** like that - EVERY year.

[PapaL]

Originally Posted by Texan_Bill

Rumor has it that if Wade was on the sideline......


Well.. Nothing. It still would've happened. Kudos to Carolina for making one of the best defenses in the league this year, look really.... REALLY BAD!!

After all, "This was their Super Bowl"! I kid Panthers fan but we've heard stupid, ridiculous **** like that - EVERY year.

It's true. It's such a BS play but no one prepares for it. You can only pull that off one time though. Next time they try it OL will get blown up, RB will get blown up, and Ca$h Newton will end up with a face full of turf.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by PapaL

It's true. It's such a BS play but no one prepares for it. You can only pull that off one time though. Next time they try it OL will get blown up, RB will get blown up, and Ca$h Newton will end up with a face full of turf.

Signed,

How we dicked over OU.... Boise State's "Statue of Liberty"

************

Good for you.......... Losers!


#BushLeague

[Premier]

watch out the panthers might steal this play next..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkA3nxuMJoM

[Big Lou]

it was OK that the oline was moving because it was unintentional movement like the unintentional illegal touch by the guard on a pass play. Since there are so many plays where the guard gets hit with the ball intentionally, it kind of like an unintentional hold, or and unintentional intentional grounding. or unintentional offsides, which are all good.


Therefs are getting worse and worse. Jeff Triplett sucks in triplicate......

[Hagar]

I'm sorry but I don't remember seeing the Chicken Little Fleaflicker. I would have remember seeing the center turning around and farting!

[Malloy]

Originally Posted by Big Lou

it was OK that the oline was moving because it was unintentional movement like the unintentional illegal touch by the guard on a pass play. Since there are so many plays where the guard gets hit with the ball intentionally, it kind of like an unintentional hold, or and unintentional intentional grounding. or unintentional offsides, which are all good.


Therefs are getting worse and worse. Jeff Triplett sucks in triplicate......

Come on, unintentional movement, it's not like they're sporting a bunch af people with muscle spasms out there. Entire line was moving, and it was very intentional.

I still don't get how this play was legal, I get the 'snap part of it', but the moving OL, not so much...

[BullNation4Life]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

The article just stated that the movie was where Ron Rivera got the idea from, not that the movie created the play.



I was surprised that the offense did not get called for illegal motion and/or a false start. There were clearly two men in motion when the ball was snapped, and the linemen were fidgeting while they were standing up.

Is there some kind of loophole in NFL rules? I have never seen this kind of play in many decades of watching pro football.

Actually the Oline never moved, they were just in a 2 pt stance, which is legal. We ran the exact same play in high school and asked how this was not gonna get a penalty. Coach said 2 things to us as long as we do not go down, touch the dirt, then back up, and the QB does not say 'set" it is basically like being in a "passing" 2pt stance.

Barwin took the bait, hook line and sinker as did the rest of the Texans. No doubt desperate times call for desperate measures, anybody remember the Chris Brown half back pass debacle? but it still remains that the Texans did not come out and handle their business on Sunday...

Ah well, feel bad for Indy Thursday night....

[TimeKiller]

Great play. Perfectly executed, perfectly timed. As someone mentioned, I can't believe NONE of the defenders just jumped into the OL to try to wreck the play. If all that's been said is true, they would either have to let them burn past the line and probably destroy the play or grab onto them, get a holding called and the whole play would be busted.

[Dutchrudder]

I think the trick play was inspired by the fear of our defense. They came into this game knowing they struggled against other good defenses, so they practiced some trick plays to get an edge on the Texans D.