By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
The Pump Fake
QBs still freezing defenders, creating separation with old tool
Placeholder Image
Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers had first-and-goal at Carolina, poised to break open that September game in the third quarter.Roethlisberger looked left, cocked his arm and completed his entire throwing motion, luring a Panthers linebacker toward the anticipated trajectory. The ball never came out, but a crowd of defenders gathered in that part of the field.Big Ben then used another, quicker pump fake to draw the nickel cornerback further away from his favorite target Antonio Brown. Finally, Roethlisberger delivered the ball into the back right corner of the end zone behind the two defenders still close enough to get a hand in the way.Touchdown.The NFL’s best quarterbacks have become better, post-modern offenses are more complex and the rules against down-field contact have been made stricter.