Football Teaser ala Dr. Z.

[PatsFan37]

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

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]

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]

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

Regards,
Chris

Any way I can delete this thread? :bricks:

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Any way I can delete this thread? :bricks:

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]

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]

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

 

[ctpatsfan77]

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]

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]

Couldn't penalties bring you to that scenario?

 

[Pujo]

Couldn't penalties bring you to that scenario?

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

 

[PatsFan37]

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

I'm still laughing over this one. :singing:

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

What do you think?

That I'm just as alert as Bill Walsh.

Am I right?

It who has it's own forum and must not be allowed back was always right. You and I take a more laissez-faire approach to our ignorance.

Do I need to stop wasting my time reading Dr. Z's columns?

I dunno, do whips and chains excite you?

 

[RayClay]

Nice to know Z has riddles to keep him occupied in his working retirement now that he doesn't follow football anymore.

Seymour on PUP? Maybe he did have injuries last year Z?

 

[Fogbuster]

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?

Z's gettin' on. Like the old Don Corleone, he's grown fonder of the grape as he ages. Stuff happens.


//

 

[FarScapeR]

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?

Wait... it's because he's your son, right? Right?:singing:

 

[DaBruinz]

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

If you started on your own 4, got to 4th and 1 at the 13 and then took a 5 yard penalty, it would be 4th and 6, not 4th and 1.

 

[PatsFan37]

That I'm just as alert as Bill Walsh.

For myself, I could only hope for such a miracle.

As for the life and death of this thread, I'm so glad training camp starts today.

 

[Rob0729]

Is there any way I can get the 2 minutes back I spent reading this thread? What a waste of time. Dr. Z must think he is so clever with his brain teaser out smarting some great coaches. Other than his personal satisfaction, I don't get why anyone would care.

P.S. can I also get the addition one minute back that I used to write this post about this useless topic.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Is there any way I can get the 2 minutes back I spent reading this thread? What a waste of time. Dr. Z must think he is so clever with his brain teaser out smarting some great coaches. Other than his personal satisfaction, I don't get why anyone would care.

P.S. can I also get the addition one minute back that I used to write this post about this useless topic.

Hush, Dr. zzzzzzzzzzz aside, this thread is all about locker room (or in this case message board) camaraderie. Tom Brady gets picked on for posing with baby goats and PF37 gets razzed for reading Dr. zzzzzzzzzz and confessing - now if we can just catch him in shirtless in bib overalls with a cute little baby goat...

 

[PatsFan37]

Hush, Dr. zzzzzzzzzzz aside, this thread is all about locker room (or in this case message board) camaraderie. Tom Brady gets picked on for posing with baby goats and PF37 gets razzed for reading Dr. zzzzzzzzzz and confessing - now if we can just catch him in shirtless in bib overalls with a cute little baby goat...

I was sure I'd burned that picture.