The fake spike was classic, and despite the fact it may have been instrumental to Jordan Lasley's game winning catch, it's hardly been mentioned. Two things make it classic, and one is particularly funny.
Let's review the setting. Only two downs prior Lasely dropped an easy 3rd down pass, and the Bruins faced a possible game ending 4th down. Once again Josh Rosen came through, lofting a pass over a blitzing safety to a streaking Soso Jamabo. Soso spun past one tackler at the sticks, and was pushed out of bounds at the 10 yard line.
Remember that out of bounds part, because it's going to come up later.
The UCLA players then hustle back to the line of scrimmage and line up for a play, while Jamabo is running back to his position. All the time Rosen is waving both arms in an obvious and exaggerated chop motion, to notify everyone (like officials to stop the clock) he's going to sacrifice a down and spike it.
Rosen is right behind the center where the QB takes it for a spike, Quess hikes the ball, the Bruin OL casually rises up, and Josh throws the ball toward the ground. aTm takes the bait, with almost all their players standing around waiting for the whistle to stop the clock.
Except there's no whistle because Josh never lets go of the ball (not toward the ground at least). Instead he throws a high pass toward the end zone, and the whistle blows four seconds later ... after Lasely has caught the ball for a TD and all hell has broken loose at the Rose Bowl.
So what were the two classic things we talked about?
1. It was as a called play by Coach Fisch, and the offensive tried it several times before in practice.
2. If Rosen had spiked it to stop the clock, it would have set football history as the dumbest play ever .... because the clock was never running until the snap.
Here's a High Def full game video. It's set to start at 2:39:34, just before the 3 down and six play. Two plays later watch how the aTm players barely react at the fake spike snap. Especially the safety who never moved toward the pass.
It was a classic of misdirection, and the ultimate insult to aTm fans since it was a fake fake.
Let's review the setting. Only two downs prior Lasely dropped an easy 3rd down pass, and the Bruins faced a possible game ending 4th down. Once again Josh Rosen came through, lofting a pass over a blitzing safety to a streaking Soso Jamabo. Soso spun past one tackler at the sticks, and was pushed out of bounds at the 10 yard line.
Remember that out of bounds part, because it's going to come up later.
The UCLA players then hustle back to the line of scrimmage and line up for a play, while Jamabo is running back to his position. All the time Rosen is waving both arms in an obvious and exaggerated chop motion, to notify everyone (like officials to stop the clock) he's going to sacrifice a down and spike it.
Rosen is right behind the center where the QB takes it for a spike, Quess hikes the ball, the Bruin OL casually rises up, and Josh throws the ball toward the ground. aTm takes the bait, with almost all their players standing around waiting for the whistle to stop the clock.
Except there's no whistle because Josh never lets go of the ball (not toward the ground at least). Instead he throws a high pass toward the end zone, and the whistle blows four seconds later ... after Lasely has caught the ball for a TD and all hell has broken loose at the Rose Bowl.
So what were the two classic things we talked about?
1. It was as a called play by Coach Fisch, and the offensive tried it several times before in practice.
2. If Rosen had spiked it to stop the clock, it would have set football history as the dumbest play ever .... because the clock was never running until the snap.
Here's a High Def full game video. It's set to start at 2:39:34, just before the 3 down and six play. Two plays later watch how the aTm players barely react at the fake spike snap. Especially the safety who never moved toward the pass.
It was a classic of misdirection, and the ultimate insult to aTm fans since it was a fake fake.
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