Professional Quarterbacks Must Call Audibles to Succeed
An audible in football is a signal the Quarterback gives to their team (once they have already lined up) to change the current play call. Maybe changing a run play to a pass play or pass to run. Could even switch the play direction, strong to weak or weak to strong side.
Qbs call audibles because they have local knowledge. They know something that their coaches don’t. The Qbs are the ones on the field with the defense staring them down. They see things that no one else sees.
They could see a possible blitz coming, or a fake blitz into zone coverage, or maybe he notices the defense is in man leaving his star wide receiver one on one. These subtle points that only the Qb can notice are what allow him to call an audible. The local knowledge is granted to just one man. His ability to make decisions based on this knowledge is why winning and losing fall heavily on the Qb.
When should a Qb call an audible?
In simple terms, a Qb will call an audible when he sees the defense is in a disadvantageous position for the offense’s play call. For example, a run play to the strong side of the field in which the linebackers are shifted to the strong side and the star defensive end is lined up on the same side. A good audible would be to switch the run to the weak side.
If the audible changes the play call so the chance of a successful play increases compared to before the audible, based on how the defense is lined up, then the Qb should call an audible.
Some caveats, a defense can catch on quickly if you do the same audibles. Calling an audible, but the defense knows what play you are switching to renders the audible not only useless but detrimental. Knowing when to call an audible is important because the goal of every play in football isn’t always to gain yards. The yards are great but you need points to win the game. Sometimes a play call that won’t get you a lot of yards is designed to throw off the defense for the future to actually score or gain even more yards on a later play.
Some coaches even go as far as holding off from using certain plays to trick future opponents. They know some plays can help them gain a lot of yards, but if used too many times and future opponents will catch on and the play will be easily defended. The double-pass play is a great example of this.
Limiting Audibles
A coach who doesn’t allow their Qb to call an audible has zero faith in their Qb to use their local knowledge to the team’s advantage. Not allowing audible calls it is implying that the coaching staff thinks you have poor decision-making. Not a great motivator if you’re supposed to be the leader of the football team.
This is what is happening to Mitch Trubisky, Steelers starting Qb. According to Trubisky, “We’re still figuring out when it’s a good time for me to audible”. Not a great sign for Trubisky or the Steelers organization.
Pickett?
They brought in Trubisky and drafted rookie Qb Kenny Pickett after Ben Roethlisberger retired, to fill in the gap. Many teams bring in a veteran Qb like Trubiksy once they draft a young Qb to show them the reigns of the NFL so the rookie can learn.
But why would you bring in Trubiksy, if you don’t trust his instincts and decision-making? The whole purpose of bringing in a veteran is to teach the rookie this exact skill. If the Steelers don’t trust Tubisky to call an audible they should have never signed him in the first place. They should have started their rookie Qb Pickett and told him not to call any audibles if that’s what they please.
It must be quite discouraging for a player like Pickett to see how a veteran player gets treated by the organization. I’m sure his hopes won’t be too high not unless things change soon for the Steelers. Audibles are an essential part of the game and knowing when to call an audible and the correct play to call is what separates good Qbs from great Qbs.