See who the OP is and all will become clear.

....he got dropped

And then brought back.

I know next to nothing about American football, and am not much interested, but I always assumed that virtually nothing was 'off the cuff' in AFL, and it was all pre-planned moves. Is this wrong?

99% of the plays are planned yes, but that doesn't mean things will always go to plan. Players do need to read the game and think on their feet, and even when they do go to plan they still need to be executed. Its not a playstation game.

That's not true.
Every play is planned but that plan is to give the QB options.
He doesn't always throw to plan A.

Quote PopTart="PopTart"That's not true. Every play is planned but that plan is to give the QB options. He doesn't always throw to plan A.'" There is usually a primary option, whether that be a running play or a pass, then secondary options, then after that it's about moving off the initial 'set play' and playing by ear, this can result in the QB 'scrambling' or other plays like a shuffle pass or backs turning up downfield on spread offence. those not in the know often mistake the read option as being off the cuff. Then you get plays like this which are very much rugby league-esque and in the mould of 'wide to West' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKFwCJL6eFI

Quote PopTart="PopTart"That's not true. Every play is planned but that plan is to give the QB options. He doesn't always throw to plan A.'" There is usually a primary option, whether that be a running play or a pass, then secondary options, then after that it's about moving off the initial 'set play' and playing by ear, this can result in the QB 'scrambling' or other plays like a shuffle pass or backs turning up downfield on spread offence. those not in the know often mistake the read option as being off the cuff. Then you get plays like this which are very much rugby league-esque and in the mould of 'wide to West' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKFwCJL6eFI

Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"There is usually a primary option, whether that be a running play or a pass, then secondary options, then after that it's about moving off the initial 'set play' and playing by ear, this can result in the QB 'scrambling' or other plays like a shuffle pass or backs turning up downfield on spread offence. those not in the know often mistake the read option as being off the cuff. Then you get plays like this which are very much rugby league-esque and in the mould of 'wide to West' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKFwCJL6eFI'" Why don't they pass the ball more in American Football? Would make it far more watchable if they did.

Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"There is usually a primary option, whether that be a running play or a pass, then secondary options, then after that it's about moving off the initial 'set play' and playing by ear, this can result in the QB 'scrambling' or other plays like a shuffle pass or backs turning up downfield on spread offence. those not in the know often mistake the read option as being off the cuff. Then you get plays like this which are very much rugby league-esque and in the mould of 'wide to West' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKFwCJL6eFI'" Why don't they pass the ball more in American Football? Would make it far more watchable if they did.

It's the most watched sport in America and they have their pick of the best athletes, why would they change anything?

That's a fair comment and each to their own. I just find an average of 11 minutes of action across 3 hours particularly dull.

you change how you do things to gain an advantage, rules/how the accepted way to play in the NFL stifle open play. It's not that you couldn't pass the ball 'laterally' more often, it's that because you can block a potential recipient it's deemed very high risk. You could use it in a similar way to a short kick off early in a game of rugby league when it's least expected (as in not when you're behind) or say a kick from the scrum. Given the risk value unless it's a last play of the game then it just won't happen but that's why sports like rugby league are interesting because they can change and develop. Gridiron is massively regimented with rules that make even less logical sense than ours

The majority of the world find a glorified version of british bulldog dull, but that doesnt stop the likes of me and you loving rugby league., Everyone is different

Regards

King James