Don't expect any more laterals...

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

During BB's press conference, he hinted that he did not think Welker's lateral was a good decision.

First he said he already talked about it after the game, then he reiterated his stance on it.

Belichick: It wasn't the best play I've ever seen. It wasn't the worst play I've ever seen.

<pause>

Belichick: It could have been a lot worse, though.

Sounds like a typical "non-answer answer" from Belichick.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Aqua4Ever WARNED us about Welker. We and BB just didn't listen!

 

[BelichickFan]

Brady's quote about it was good "I think Wes learned that in Miami - when they were losing"

 

[BrianPat]

It was a scary play, but I thought it was fun to watch. I understand, we could've given up the ball, but thankfully, that didn't happen

 

[primetime]

Rugby players do it all the time. It's not a particularly difficult technique, though possession in rugby is more fluid so it's not as risky. Still, I don't think it was such a big deal. It wasn't like Moss was careening down the field at full bore. It was practically a handoff to a stationary target.

 

[ironwasp]

Rugby players do it all the time. It's not a particularly difficult technique, though possession in rugby is more fluid so it's not as risky. Still, I don't think it was such a big deal. It wasn't like Moss was careening down the field at full bore. It was practically a handoff to a stationary target.

This is true, but rugby is actually structured for passing the ball like that, and as you say possession changes much more regularly and so losing the ball isn't such a big deal. That said, a team that was prepared to take a gamble and introduce more laterals could find it reaps big rewards used in the right circustances. Usually in football you see it used on desperate last minute plays. Where Wes did his was low risk to no risk. Up by a big score, down the field. I enjoyed it.

 

[BradyManny]

I think that is just about the safest situation in which one could lateral, Moss was so close to Welker with no defenders near Moss. It was basically a hand-off, I think it was worth the risk, personally. The odds of botching that lateral is so small compared to the likelihood of Moss taking it to the house or damn near close.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

You see that play go bad, usually, for either of two reasons: (1) the guy who doesn't have the ball isn't expecting it, or (2) the tackle happens so quick that the ball doesn't go where the guy lateraling the ball expect it to go.

I don't think 1 was an issue yesterday, since it looked to me as though Randy went over there with the idea of getting a lateral and so was expecting it. Although maybe he was just going over to try to block or something. Number 2 was an issue, though. Any time you're in contact with the defender, all it takes is a stray finger or pad to screw things up.

 

[Tunescribe]

Moss came close to scoring on that play, I wonder what would've been the reaction if he did.

 

[TripleOption]

Look...no coach will EVER coach a player to lateral unless it is a last second, desperation type of play. It's unsafe, unsound, and just fundamentally awful. To even suggest that players do it more often is to scream out that you just don't understand football. Please stop.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Look...no coach will EVER coach a player to lateral unless it is a last second, desperation type of play. It's unsafe, unsound, and just fundamentally awful. To even suggest that players do it more often is to scream out that you just don't understand football. Please stop.

What Trips said.

You know how 3 things can happen on a pass play, and 2 of them are bad? It's pretty much the same deal with an ad-hoc lateral like that, just moreso. I like that BB expressed (in his way) his displeasure at it. It COULD have been way worse, that's why you don't see that every week.

PFnV

 

[Tunescribe]

Look...no coach will EVER coach a player to lateral unless it is a last second, desperation type of play. It's unsafe, unsound, and just fundamentally awful. To even suggest that players do it more often is to scream out that you just don't understand football. Please stop.

Yeah, but the laws of football, not to mention the laws of physics and perspective, don't really apply to SuperMoss.

 

[Phokus]

Remember when we played Pittsburgh a year or two ago and hines ward lateraled to a teammate and fumbled it to us? Yeah i think belicheck should show that video to welker.

 

[Deus Irae]

All a lateral is is a pitch play, nothing more. All the people calling it unsafe and the like should really re-think their position. It's going to be a good, or bad, idea depending upon situation and personnel. Moss has great hands, so I don't see why this is an issue.

 

[TripleOption]

All a lateral is is a pitch play, nothing more. All the people calling it unsafe and the like should really re-think their position. It's going to be a good, or bad, idea depending upon situation and personnel. Moss has great hands, so I don't see why this is an issue.

What's a pitch play? Toss? An option? That was more like an option play. You do realize when you run an option play, there's a ton of practice involved, right? Usually one player (the QB) pitching to ONE other position (HB) from ONE angle. Do you know what proper pitch relationship is? How it works? What the coaching points are? What's good/bad? Moss's hands are irrelevant. What about the guy "pitching" it? does he know what he is doing? Is there a defender in the area?

Most Option coaches won't allow their QB to pitch downfield. Why? It's dangerous. One of the cardinal rules of the Triple is "Don't pitch under duress". Getting tackled (like Wes) is pitching under duress.

It's bad football, period. I will never "re-think it". More importantly, Belichick will never "re-think it". No NFL or College coach will ever re-think it.

Anyone who thinks that there should be more laterals in the NFL might as well be screaming "I know nothing about football" at the top of their lungs.

 

[Satchboogie3]

I think it comes down to the situation and personel. If the people to be involved in a lateral are aware, ready, and skillful enough, then a lateral is a fine play. Risk is inherit in everything, the key is to ballance the risk vs. rewards. I think a well prepared/executed lateral can be more rewarding than not.

I'm also a football fan. I watch football because its exciting entertainment. I want to see my team win, but I also want to see and exciting game. I don't know about other people, but to me laterals are VERY exciting. Thats why I watch the game.

 

[Satchboogie3]

I'd say you don't need laterals in a tight game when 1 mistake could mean the game. But if its a blow out, come on, go for some entertainment. Its not like your going to lost 20 points if you fumble the ball in your oppenents 20!

 

[TripleOption]

I think it comes down to the situation and personel. If the people to be involved in a lateral are aware, ready, and skillful enough, then a lateral is a fine play. Risk is inherit in everything, the key is to ballance the risk vs. rewards. I think a well prepared/executed lateral can be more rewarding than not.

I'm also a football fan. I watch football because its exciting entertainment. I want to see my team win, but I also want to see and exciting game. I don't know about other people, but to me laterals are VERY exciting. Thats why I watch the game.

I'm glad you think that. I'm also glad for your family's sake that you are not an NFL coach, because you would get fired. I am also glad you are not the HC of the Patriots, because you would be a terrible coach.

Your comment about how "exciting" laterals are is a prime example of the old coaching adage "If you listen to the guys in the stands, you'll soon be one of them."

 

[Satchboogie3]

Your missing my point triple, if you got nothing to lose (ie blowout) then there is nothing wrong with attempting a lateral. But from a fan's point of view, they are exciting. I said they probably shouldn't be attempted in a close game. I would probably have a heart attack if they attempted it against the Colts in a 1 possession game and I would also get pissed. But whats wrong with having a little fan/making entertainment when there is no competition in a game?

 

[Pats726]

It was an interesting play...and given the circumstances..low risk..as opposed to a lot of others I have seen. It's a smart play like that...but only a small percentage of times like that occur...unless it's a desperation situation where a team has to..OR a set play..like a hook and ladder..where a receiver catches the ball and looks for a player running downfield after for a lateral..MORE of a practiced and arrannged play. They are dangerous for te most part..and..here, there was small risk. Moss was close and there were no defenders near him to grab the ball. Also, it seemed like Welker had the ball clearly in posession and there were no tackling hands nearby to hit or deflect the toss. They did it successfully then, but..leave it at that and don't look for it all the time. Circumstances just seemed to make it better, but how dumb it would have been if the ball was hit deflected and the Bills recovered??