1. It is a designed QB keep play, Bud Foster called it a QB sweep, not sure what CPJ calls it. There are some subtle nuances that can tip you off as to whether it's an option play or a keeper: on an option play the QB will place two hands on the ball knowing he may have to pitch it. On a keeper he will tuck the ball and go. On these plays you will see Tobias tuck the ball and get it secured with NO possibility of pitching.
2. Here's the simple answer as to why it worked: let's say this is 5-on-5 football. The quarterback gets the snap and starts running with it. His four guys block your four guys, so it's now 1-on-1 with the last defender. That's actually not too bad of a situation, especially if you have a fast, athletic quarterback who can run. Now let's get technical for a second:
- We only ran this play out of our Double Flex formation. This is where the WR's are one yard away from the OT's on either side.
- This severely compresses the formation and changes blocking angles, and in fact, is better for some of our running plays because WR's and OT's don't have to run 15 yards downfield to try to block someone.
- Everyone on the playside is accounted for.
Here's a picture of how VT lined up against us: (weird, can't link an image normally)
We are running this to the left. If we've got 10 blockers on 10 of their guys, who's their 11th to tackle Tobias? Their opposite side cornerback who is nearly 10 yards away from the play?
Here's South Florida's lineup against us. Same deal, running to the left:
Hat-on-hat. We've got 10 blockers on 10 of their defenders. Who is their 11th to tackle Tobias? Again, the backside CB who is 10 yards away from the play?
The toughest thing on defenses these days is a QB who can run. Previously you never had to account for it, but now that you do it creates tremendous problems.
3. I dunno, ask CPJ.