This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Watching three successful Hail Marys in consecutive weeks in the Pac-12, Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre knows one thing: George McIntyre would not approve.
The current Coach Mac learned how to play defense against a last-second bomb from his father, who worked on it during his tenure as an offensive coordinator at Ole Miss and head coach at Vanderbilt. Mike MacIntyre said Tuesday he started his tutelage when he was 8 years old.
"There are true fundamentals you need to defend it," MacIntyre said. "[At Colorado], we work on it twice a week, once a week in pads, once a week in shorts. You definitely need to practice it."
During Tuesday's Pac-12 coaches call, there was a consensus: Every team practices defending Hail Marys, often on Thursday practices. Utah's Kyle Whittingham said he assigns different personnel to jump for the ball, and different personnel to simply position themselves for the break-up. Sonny Dykes, who was the victim of the play against Arizona, said he's taught his defensive backs to play them more aggressively.
But once in a while, it all goes for naught. Or three times, in this case.
The Wildcats' thrilling win over Cal was but the first, soon followed by a similar successful play by USC against Oregon State. The Trojans found out what goes around comes around, falling themselves this past week thanks to Arizona State's Jaelen Strong. It's weird and mind-boggling, coaches seemed to agree. California coach David Shaw said he talked with the recent string of Hail Marys with his own father, a former coach. Dykes said it's part happenstance, but also reflective of how Pac-12 wideouts match up with Pac-12 defensive backs.
"Receivers today are bigger," Dykes said. "All those guys [who made catches] are pretty good receivers. When you're trying to cover but you're not as big, not as powerful, it makes it tough."
So many things can go wrong in a Hail Mary, and that's why it's named that way: One must pray that it will work. Swats, overthrows, drops, picks it's all up in the air, quite literally.
But the fact that several of these plays have gone so right recently may be better seen as a sign of the present situation in the Pac-12: Offense rules.
It's an observation that passes the eyeball test, but is made even more ironclad by statistics. There are six Pac-12 receivers among the nation's top 25 in receptions per game and receiving yards per game, and nine conference receivers have at least five receiving touchdowns this year to rank in the top 15. Five Pac-12 teams are in the top 13 nationally in total offense, and five are in the top 18 of passing offense.
Know how many Pac-12 teams are in the top 25 in total defense? One: Stanford. Only Stanford and Oregon State rank in the top 25 in pass defense and pass efficiency defense.
The athletes may just be better. Look at 6-foot-3 Jaelen Strong, or 6-foot-3 Cayleb Jones, or the speedy Dres Anderson and Nelson Spruce. They can dominate defensive backs who, on average, hover between 5-foot-9 and 6 feet tall. USC safety Su'a Cravens, considered a potential first-round pick with great size and speed, is 6-foot-1, still giving up size to the Pac-12's elite.
The result is more offensive shootouts, and Hail Marys, desperate as they may be, don't seem like such a long shot. Teams feel confident putting games on their quarterbacks' arms indeed, Washington State may have won Saturday's 60-59 aerial battle if Connor Halliday had made the last throw instead of sending out a kicker.
It's a painful reality for teams that emphasize defense, like Utah and Stanford. Whittingham said he would "hate to think" his team had to score 40 or 50 points to win. Shaw calls high-scoring offenses "in vogue," and he thinks one day football trends will oscillate back to defense-first. But until then, head coaches around the Pac-12 will clasp their hands together, hoping that their own pleas to the heavens will keep them from become the next victims of a last-second touchdown pass. No. 1 Arizona
Undefeated Wildcats came away with big statement win
No. 2 Oregon
Problems on the offensive line, defense could limit Ducks' potential
No. 3 Arizona State
Bercovici earns redemption on last-second winning pass
No. 4 Utah
Utes defensive line could be Pac-12's best
No. 5 UCLA
Hundley's Heisman campaign may be over after upset
No. 6 Stanford
Lack of offensive balance hurting Cardinal's late-game chances
No. 7 Cal
Jared Goff-led offense gaining confidence with close victories
No. 8 USC
Once considered elite, the defense has looked iffy in losses
No. 9 Washington
Huskies still seem to lack identity under Petersen
No. 10 Oregon State
Running game driving Beavers' offense lately
No. 11 Washington State
Connor Halliday needs help from other phases
No. 12 Colorado
Progress in losses still sting for Buffs