One thing I'm unsure of..

[Dark Superman]

When we take the tail back and send him to the outside to play receiver and leave an empty backfield.

What advantage does this give us?

Aren't we just telling the defense that we are going to throw the ball?

Am I wrong here?

[SkyBane]

If the defense was playing run and Andrew sees it, the audible gives Indy the advantage of numbers in the backfield. It can also force the defense out of a blitz to account for the new reciever.

Theres also the fact it can create more running lanes and downfield blocking for a QB sneak.

Lots of advantages really.

[CR91]

your stretching the defense out so they cant focus on one player leaving single coverage

[IndyD4U]

We often audible back into a more typical formation, but like others have said, it shows the defense. Sets up a nice little screen play also

[ruksak]

It tells if the defense is in man coverage or not. 

[21isSuperman]

It tells if the defense is in man coverage or not. 

There it is.  Not only that, but it then gives you another option in the passing game.  When you have a guy like Luck who can go through his progressions and take advantage of mismatches, having another receiver out there could be another mismatch to exploit

[GOCOLTS_ROLLTIDE]

If there in a true man coverage it forces the man covering the running back (in our case is usually going to be a linebacker) to leave the box and go outside which in essence puts us at an advantage

[ruksak]

There it is.  Not only that, but it then gives you another option in the passing game.  When you have a guy like Luck who can go through his progressions and take advantage of mismatches, having another receiver out there could be another mismatch to exploit

This is going to sound silly to some, but it's a trick I learned from playing Madden years ago. My buddy, who I played cash money games with, was seriously irritated by this. He kept wondering why I would take my HB and put him in motion, only to bring him right back to where he originally was in the backfield. 

 

Eventually he looked it up on google. Needless to say, he wasn't happy with my little secrets. 

[Stephen]

Peyton did this on sunday versus cowboys. He sent the rb out and dallas had one guy try to cover him then he brought the rb back.

[BleedBlu8792]

I know on playbook they talked about this. There was a play in the 49er game that Bradshaw went out wide and the corner slid over to him and left Willis on DHB. DHB had a 15 or so yard gain on the play.