re: Short side option & play calling in general

Certain plays are designed to take advantage of anticipated defenses. That is why there are check with me's and meercat offenses, where the coaches make the checks from the sideline. Some plays are designed to set up other plays and to keep the defense honest. While I'm sure the coaches that design a certain scheme, would like each play to score, it is not a reality. Both teams playing have athletes and THEY are the ones that make the plays. Sometimes you take a low percentage shot down field just to loosen the defense up. It all looks good when you draw it up on the board. Players still have to make the plays! Thats why everyone on this board gets so caught up in recruiting. It's not like every team is playing with robots that are exactly equal. If recruiting was a science, every star in the NFL would come from AQ-BCS schools, you would never see the FCS or D-II guy make it the NFL. Anyone ever heard of Jerry Rice? I think to many people on this board think that playing ball is like playing Madden. I promise you playing Madden and playing ball aren't even close!