Why does it seems like a trick play in a football game seems to work better in a college game than a pro game?

Question

Or is it just me?

Seems like you see more trick plays that always work great in college football and you run the same play in Pro football, never works?

Answer 1

Just like everything else in the NFL compared to college football: NFL is bigger, faster, stronger. The competition is FAR more competitive than college football because of that... and free agency, that helps too.

Answer 2

Usually the primary purpose of a trick play is to get defenders to overplay or to get out of position. Now - the players in the NFL are the very best of the best. They generally do two things betters than your average college player, (1) they recognize their resposnibilities and stay-home each play - in other words they do not bite on the fakes as often to get out of position, and (2) when they do get out of position, they are able to recoever faster - because the best of the best are a little stornger, a little faster, a little quicker, etc. . .

Also, these trick or gadget plays tend to take a couple two or three extra seconds to develop, and in the Pro game, the speed of all the defenders is a bit faster than in the college game. Thus, the longer developing plays can put an offense at a disadvantage.

Answer 3

I disagree with that guy who says NFL is more competitive because how many more real rivalries and stuff do you see out there each week, but it's because of how long the teams have been playing. College players don't have the experience to recognize plays quick enough, whereas a 10 year veteran will recognize the play immediately.

Answer 4

I think its because of the different rules at the end of the games. In college, you are working against a much faster clock and the game will run out on you if you aren't careful. The NFL is a much different game.

Answer 5

Well, obviously pro, veteran defenses know how to defend that and even some pro coaches, I know Lovie Smith, Bill Parcells, and Tony Dungy, work on defending them in practice.

Also, college defenses don't work on defending that, they assume running trick plays is too risky and don't expect that, and plus college defenses are less talented than pro ones.

Other than that, it's a mystery.
Boise State, you rule.

Answer 6

Trick plays work because the offense fools defensive players into being out of position, or into ignoring an "assignment"

Pros have the extra years of experience and aren't as easily fooled into missing their man.