One Question on last night's game

[abdul7]

Sorry but have not read anywhere on just on point that has me still scratching my head !! Can someone kindly tell me because game wasnt live here,,had the Titans-Colts,,,why towards the end of the first half,leading 14 - 7 v the Dolphins on 4th and 1 did we not kick the 3 points ? Was it 4th and inches ? I can understand going for it when behind but 3 valuable points towards the end of the first half seemed the only right thing to do. Still confused,,thanks in advance. GO PATS. Abdul

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't think anyone here really knows. My gut feeling is that with Ginn being a top kick returner, Bill thought that a FG followed by a kickoff could result in a FG for them and a net zero and going for it and missing would be a net zero (which ended up being wrong) due to bad field position for the Fins.

So I think he thought :

Go for it and make it, worst case you get three and take time off the clock. Best case you get seven.

Go for it and miss it, you get zero and they probably get zero.

Kick the FG, you get three but give them a decent chance at three.

I'm not supporting the decision, just taking my best guess at the answer.

 

[abdul7]

Thanks,,just didnt know how easy a 4th down it was mmmif a long yard than kicking the 3 points would have been wiser. Thanks again.

 

[BelichickFan]

Thanks,,just didnt know how easy a 4th down it was mmmif a long yard than kicking the 3 points would have been wiser. Thanks again.

It was about a full yard.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I wasn't criticizing the call at the time, so I can't very well criticize it now, but damn that really did change the game...

 

[BelichickFan]

I wasn't criticizing the call at the time, so I can't very well criticize it now, but damn that really did change the game...

I was so I can criticize I criticized both the lack of going for it earlier and the going for it at the end of the half. Bill had them reversed of what I would have done at the time.

 

[Mogamedogz]

here's my guess...

BB has been pinching out of his son's stash this season.

 

[denverpatsfan]

That ended up being a 10-point swing and the game right there. They have to make that 1st down. The Dolphins D is not the 85 Bears for crying out loud. Where was Volmer? Still out with a concussion? They need to draft another stud lineman this offseason.

 

[letekro]

I wasn't criticizing the call at the time, so I can't very well criticize it now, but damn that really did change the game...

Eh....with no pass rush they would've mowed us down in the 2 minute drill if we had kicked the FG anyway. Equal chance they would've scored a TD with the improved field position. The above poster explained the very rational thinking that BB employed in making the decision.

You guys can talk about confidence, momentum, fire, heart, all you want, I'll take a pass rush over any of those. We have no pass rush. We can't stop teams that are adequate at the QB position, and our offense is not able to match, at least on the road.

 

[patriots pam]

I wasn't a fan of it at the time at all. I turned to my friend and said "if they don't convert this, that [lack of] 3 points will be the difference in the game." Sometimes, I hate it when I'm right. With the 2nd half scoring problems they've been having, I wanted them to get and at least try to maintain a solid 2 score lead going into the half. I assumed it was done at least in part because of fear of a great Ginn return, although I don't recall him having a spectacular one up to that point, so why not take the points!?

Then, of course, MIA mananged to get right down a long field and score a FG anyway. I'm sure that wasn't part of the plan (obvious girl is obvious), but it wasn't exactly a surprise to me (unfortunately) that they were able to do it. At another point (I forget when in the game it happened, because my frustration over this loss is clouding my memory ATM), they punted instead of going for it on 4 and inches, and I wanted them to go for it then. So blurrgghhh, what do I know, I guess. :confused2:

Anyway, unless you're already up or down at least 14 points or something, just GET THE POINTS NEXT TIME....SHEESH! Lesson learned, Pats? I damn sure hope so.

P.S. And I didn't have any real problems with the infamous 4th and 2 (the decision, at least, if not the execution), but this time the 4th and 1 instead of a FG in no way seemed liked the right decision to me.

 

[BostonBullit]

Conspiracy theory: something is wrong with Gost. past few games his kickoffs haven't been hitting the endzone like they usually do and BB has been waaay too eager to go for it in what would normally be a easy FG situation.

 

[brady et al fan]

Conspiracy theory: something is wrong with Gost. past few games his kickoffs haven't been hitting the endzone like they usually do and BB has been waaay too eager to go for it in what would normally be a easy FG situation.

That's very interesting but does not apply to this situation. I think we were inside the 10 weren't we? I noticed the short kickoffs in the Saints game though and he's not been good in the 40-50 range. I wonder what's up with him too.

 

[BelichickFan]

That's very interesting but does not apply to this situation. I think we were inside the 10 weren't we? I noticed the short kickoffs in the Saints game though and he's not been good in the 40-50 range. I wonder what's up with him too.

It applies in that a short kickoff to a top returner could result in a FG fairly easily given good field position.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Eh....with no pass rush they would've mowed us down in the 2 minute drill if we had kicked the FG anyway. Equal chance they would've scored a TD with the improved field position. The above poster explained the very rational thinking that BB employed in making the decision.

You guys can talk about confidence, momentum, fire, heart, all you want, I'll take a pass rush over any of those. We have no pass rush. We can't stop teams that are adequate at the QB position, and our offense is not able to match, at least on the road.

The defense got stops both before and after that drive, so I'm not sure I totally buy that.

I agree with you re: the pass rush in general, but you can't base your gameplan around the fact that your defense is incapable of getting a single stop.

 

[jmt57]

I admit I didn't mind the decision to go for it at the time yesterday. I liked the idea of going for the jugular, plus we've all been complaining about too many FG and not enough TD in the red zone. The specific play call I didn't like, but the decision to go for it I was okay with when it happened.

In retrospect perhaps it does make more sense to take three points and only go for seven when you're playing a high powered offense like the Colts or Saints, when settling for field goals won't give you enough points to win.

 

[Joker]

NFL Football 101...rule # 3b...take the points on the road

heard BB on EEI this afternoon...he thought he could get a foot...no one asked what he thought he was going to get on that facacked "stretch run" on 1st down in the 4th.Perhaps a return to the basics will help right this squad, which seems to be pretty bereft right now in the "basics" department.

 

[scout]

I really, really dislike (as does the commentator) giving the ball to the up-back. No momentum, no chance to pick a hole, just a quick hand off. I'd rather see Maroney dance then that hand-off. How about a bullet to a reciever. Anything but that freakin hand off to the up-back.

 

[rabthepat]

Bill went for it on 4th and 1 for the same reason he went for the 4th and 2 against Indy. His "Heart" is no longer in the game. Ever get half way through a round of golf and not care about your score? What happens to your game? This is what Bill is doing.

 

[BelichickFan]

Bill went for it on 4th and 1 for the same reason he went for the 4th and 2 against Indy. His "Heart" is no longer in the game. Ever get half way through a round of golf and not care about your score? What happens to your game? This is what Bill is doing.

Correct or (much more likely) not, that is the biggest leap of guess I have seen here in a long time.

 

[rabthepat]

Correct or (much more likely) not, that is the biggest leap of guess I have seen here in a long time.

4th and 1 on the road; in field goal position, with the lead, you take the points. It is Football 101. I cannot see where Bill could rationally explain his decision.

I am not looking for an argument here. I am just pointing out that Bill has "Mailed It In" when it comes to his coaching decisions.