Sometimes the key to succeeding in sports is finding loopholes within the rules. But if you get too good at it, the league will eventually shut down that loophole. The Miami Dolphins might be finding that out this season.
The NFL made an alteration to its 2024 rule book that could take away a big play from the Dolphins — and several other teams — playbook.
The play was referred to by San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan as a “cheat motion” because it was giving wide receivers an opportunity to get a running start at the snap of the ball.
This is what it looks like in action.
You will not be seeing it this season because the NFL has made that play a false start.
The new rule reads as follows, via Pro Football Talk:
“If an eligible receiver who is on the line of scrimmage moves backward or changes his stance (two point to three point or conversely) and does not come to a complete stop before the snap, it is a false start. Any eligible backfield player who changes his stance does not have to come to a complete stop prior to the snap, as long as his actions are not abrupt (false start) or forward (illegal motion).”
According to Pro Football Talk, that verbiage was added and changed as a direct response to the Dolphins offense.
After the Dolphins ran it several times in their Week 1 game, other teams including Shanahan’s 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams also started to implement it.
It gives fast wide receivers — like Miami’s Tyreek Hill — a huge advantage because they are already close to top speed as soon as the ball is snapped.
The Dolphins had one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses during the 2023 season, and this play design played a big role in that. It was not the only reason Miami’s offense succeeded, of course, but it was an innovative wrinkle that just added to their production.
Given how innovative Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is offensively, there is a good chance he will find a new loophole and rule to exploit before the 2024 season begins. He probably already has.
