Football Teaser ala Dr. Z. - New England Patriots Forums

PatsFan37 · 07-26-2007, 02:43 PM

Okay, so I'm bored enough to read Dr. Z's column. He has this football teaser:

Quote:

Here's the football teaser. You've got a minute to play. You're down by six. You're out of timeouts. It's 4th-and-1 on your own 8-yard line. What do you call? I asked many football coaches this question. Walsh said a power sweep that would get you out of bounds and stop the clock. Shula said, what the hell, go deep. Bear Bryant said he'd call two plays, a sneak for the first down, then a deep pass. And so forth. Now make your own decision before you read any farther.

Got your play? The answer is that you CAN'T HAVE a 4th-and-1 on your own eight. It would mean that you started on the minus-one. Think it through. Walsh was quite annoyed when I told him. "I didn't know it was a damn trick question?" he said. He found out. Mitch Cosentino got it right, though.

Let's set aside that this arrogant sportswriter hands what he thinks is a trick question to three great coaches (or says he does, I'm assuming it's pure fiction that he actually asked them). Instead, consider his assertion that you can't have a 4th-and-1 on your own eight. Why not?

I think you could have started on your own 4, gotten to 4th-and-1 on the 13 yard line, and taken a 5-yard penalty to put you back at your own 8, still on 4th down.

What do you think? Am I right? Do I need to stop wasting my time reading Dr. Z's columns? All of the above?

chris_in_sunnyvale · 07-26-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsFan37

Instead, consider his assertion that you can't have a 4th-and-1 on your own eight. Why not?

I think you could have started on your own 4, gotten to 4th-and-1 on the 13 yard line, and taken a 5-yard penalty to put you back at your own 8, still on 4th down.

What do you think? Am I right? Do I need to stop wasting my time reading Dr. Z's columns? All of the above?

Wouldn't that be 4th-and-6 at the 8?

Regards,
Chris

PatsFan37 · 07-26-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_in_sunnyvale

Wouldn't that be 4th-and-6 at the 8?

Regards,
Chris

Any way I can delete this thread?

chris_in_sunnyvale · 07-26-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsFan37

Any way I can delete this thread?

Nope!

Regards,
Chris

P.S. Yes, a mod can do it for you, but a mod should leave this here in all its glory.

P.P.S. 5 stars!

Pujo · 07-26-2007, 02:50 PM

Dr. Z is technically right, but who's paying close enough attention to the yardage in his question to really answer it? I just read it as 4th and 1 with the whole field to go. Coaches always assume the situation they're facing is legitimate, they never have to think about an impossible position because it would never come to that. It's an attempt by a dumb man to look smart at someone else's expense.

unoriginal · 07-26-2007, 02:52 PM

I agree with Chris, let's all savor this moment... and remind ourselves once again we are fans, not professionals.

***ctpatsfan77*** · 07-26-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pujo

Dr. Z is technically right, but who's paying close enough attention to the yardage in his question to really answer it? I just read it as 4th and 1 with the whole field to go. Coaches always assume the situation they're facing is legitimate, they never have to think about an impossible position because it would never come to that. It's an attempt by a dumb man to look smart at someone else's expense.

Amen, Pujo.

BradyManny · 07-26-2007, 03:06 PM

Someone should throw the old "brothers and sisters I have none, but this man's father is my father's son" Dr. Z's way. What is he 12? He made up a riddle. Good for him. Does he want a monument?

***363839*** · 07-26-2007, 03:13 PM

Couldn't penalties bring you to that scenario?

Pujo · 07-26-2007, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 363839

Couldn't penalties bring you to that scenario?

No, penalties never move the 1st down line, only the LOS.