BearSD said:Game tape and TV video don't capture the signals and signal cards on *every* play. Presumably, Hairball went to great lengths to send folks to upcoming opponents' games in order to get video of as many signals and corresponding plays as possible, and to see if a team is using the same signals all season or if they switch it up.BarcaBear said:
when coaches are watching game tape they see the signals. should they look closely enough at the signals to figure it out? Better question is, how the hell can any professional coach not pay attention to the signals while watching game tape? It gives you an edge, and it's not illegal. You don't have to send anyone to go film a game to get this data.
Any team that huddles can easily change their signals every game or even every series using those QB wrist play cards. Then the signal refers to location on the card (ie B-5) and is unintelligible to anyone without that card and therefore unbreakable as long as you keep changing wrist cards.
The issue is mostly for teams that go no huddle. They signal in plays that the entire team needs to see and understand. Yes, if I am a defensive coach I try to figure out those signals and call them out to my defense. Usually teams have two or three different people doing signals with only one the real signal caller, but I think you figure that out too. That is why many no huddle teams have very simple offenses that also employ RPO.