*****The Willie Gay Jr. Thread*****

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I don't think he took bad steps there at all.

Neither the OL or the RB had committed and just as an OL can change an angle to set up a block, a LBer can/will often do the same to set up his attack angle. I think he was reading the OL and waiting for the G to commit. The moment he did, Gay was able to bounce around him.

If he comes straight downhill or even simply holds his spot, the G can drive the action to him and now the RB can play off the guard's shoulder with the G having the angle advantage.

I mean maybe he got lucky - but that's also very much what he could've been taught to do or simply did on instinct.

I don't think there's a way to state it categorically either way.

I considered that and it could be the case. In fact, I initially wrote that I thought he was setting up the lineman. It just didn't seem likely of a rookie with so little playing time, so I assumed it was more likely a couple bad steps. Either way, though, he made the play.