Hail Mary Pass
A Hail Mary pass is a play on offense in American football. It is a very long forward pass, which only has a small chance of success. It is therefore almost just trying to end the game.
Origin
The term goes back to the players of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, the Hail Mary are said to have prayed before every touchdown, after which they could win against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets with 13 to 3.
There are also other games in which the Ave Maria was prayed before the respective point successes and collected afterwards.
Turn
In a Hail Mary pass all the receiver running a fly route, so as soon as possible straight towards the opponent's end zone. The quarterback is usually in the shotgun to have more time for the pass attempt. The opponent's Defense is usually from three men to guard the zone in which the football is probably thrown. The remainder of Defense plays a Man Coverage. The quarterback is now trying to throw the ball as far as possible. Since the defense by the low-lying men has a great advantage, she succeeds mostly to block or trap the ball.
Establishment of the term
However, the term was only established in an interview after a game of the Dallas Cowboys against the Minnesota Vikings. The quarterback of the Cowboys, Roger Staubach threw the ball to Drew Pearson, who was indeed covered by an opposing player, but could catch the pass and thus scored the decisive touchdown.
In an interview after Staubach said: You mean [ Pearson ] caught the ball and ran in for the touchdown? It was just a Hail Mary pass; a very, very lucky play. ( " They said that he ( Pearson ) caught the ball and scored a touchdown? There was a Hail Mary pass, an incredibly happy accident ". ) And further I closed my eyes and Said a Hail Mary. ( "I closed my eyes and prayed a Hail Mary .").
Later, there were other cases in which players were able to achieve similar improbable moves and thereby the decisive moment gained the victory. So partially passes over 70 yards were caught at the last second.