FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Draw play is a team effort

McGeehan OK after collision To the untrained eye the draw play looks like a simple run up the middle, but to the Penn football team it's a complex play with success hinging on more than just a handoff to a running back. The quarterback, offensive line and wide receivers all have specific responsibilities, and when all 11 men execute properly, the draw becomes a deadly weapon. On Saturday against Princeton, the Quakers performed perfectly and junior running back Terrance Stokes ran the draw play flawlessly to the tune of 272 yards on 42 carries. Stokes's effort was indeed superhuman, but 10 other teammates helped shoulder the burden. Penn was able to use the draw so often last weekend because the Tigers rightfully respected the Quakers' potent passing game. "Initially, our pass was effective and I think they got a little worried about that," senior quarterback Jim McGeehan said. The receiving corps of sophomore Miles Macik and senior Chris Brassell proved to be more than Princeton's defensive backs could handle. When the Tigers adjusted to stop the pass, the Quakers tried the draw play. "We had them spread out," Quaker coach Al Bagnoli said. "They were trying to play man and a half coverage outside on Macik and they removed the outside linebacker to do that. Once they removed the outside linebacker, it became a five-on-five game with a back and Terrance is good enough to hit a hole no matter where it opens up and get downfield." The blocking of the offensive line is also crucial to the operation of the draw play. It's the job of the five men up front to create a gap through which Stokes can run. Also, the linemen must disguise the nature of the play. "They're trying to show pass," Bagnoli said. "They take the outside rushers outside, try to take the inside people no matter which way they want to go, and try to create some type of seam." The quarterback and the wide receivers also get into the action. It takes a total team effort to run the draw effectively, and it definitely doesn't hurt to have a back of Stokes's caliber. "The linemen sell a pass block and then attack like a run," McGeehan said. "I drop back and look downfield like I'm going to pass and at the last second I hand the ball off to Terrance. The receivers jet down the field and sell a deep pass, and its up to T. Stokes to find the hole. "When you have a back like Terrance, he's going to bring the draw play to another level, where it becomes an incredible play. He wasn't that wide open and it wasn't as easy as it looked. He had to break some tackles and make some difficult reads in order for it to work so well." · Despite having a few bumps and bruises, injuries shouldn't hamper the Quakers' play at Harvard on Saturday. Junior offensive lineman David Broeker, who strained his knee against Colgate, will return after missing four games. Senior defensive lineman Dave Betten has a minor thigh bruise, but he will be ready to face the Crimson. Sophomore defensive back Sheldon Philip-Guide (left arm fracture) is practicing this week, but his status is questionable. McGeehan, who suffered a concussion on a bone-jarring late hit against the Tigers, is fine, but is sporting special headgear for practice. NFL fans may have seen a similar device on Buffalo Bill free safety Mark Kelso. "I just have this thing for preventive reasons," McGeehan said. "At first I was shocked and said I'm not wearing it. I've taken some ridicule from teammates. They just call me 'Gazoo-head' and stuff like that." · Penn continued its display of offensive versatility (for previous examples see junior Nick Morris) when Stokes lined up at quarterback late in the fourth quarter against Princeton. Stokes took the snap and ran to the right, but only for a gain of one. Although the play did not yield much yardage or a touchdown, it was not a real failure. "It provided a different look for the offense," Stokes said. "It also keeps the defense guessing." The coaching staff saw Alabama use running back David Palmer in a similar role and thought the play could be useful in short-yardage opportunities. "We really practice it as a two-point play," Bagnoli said. "But, we thought it would be a go-to play if we needed a play in a goal-line situation."

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