Punter MacAfee Throws Pagano Further Under the Snapfu Bus

[PP2]

Great point by Curran - - this story IS on the Colts official website.

Intrigue?????????



Tom E. Curran @tomecurran
Staggering that Colts own site shared explanation from punter of Whalen not being looped into fake punt prep https://twitter.com/colts/status/656487186506760192…

This reinforces my belief that Irsay wants to do away with Pagano.

My feeling is that he'll do it at or before the bye.

 

[Deus Irae]

That's not quite how it works. You can shift multiple players, but everyone has to be in set position for one full second before the snap. So they could have re-formed correctly without penalty.

The players were already set. Having them all move risks a procedure penalty. Having them stay where they are does no harm. That's the reality of the play.

 

[scott99]

Of course, on his radio show:

Seriously, Pagano should have explained this to the press - - gutless wonder never said a word about this until his punter gave out the details last night.

McAfee Clarifies Fake Punt: Whalen Wasn't Original Center, Explains Design

The funny thing in that article is, none of them are informed enough to realize that their formation was an illegal formation. So regardless, even if they got them to jump offsides, penalty on them for illegal formation. If they got them for too many men on the field, penalty on them as well for illegal formation. Score a touchdown on the play, it's coming back for illegal formation. They were ****ed from the get-go.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The players were already set. Having them all move risks a procedure penalty. That's the reality of the play.

If that's the case, they should have been flagged for an illegal procedure from the get-go, because they were set in punt formation before the mass shift to the right. [It's on the coaches' film.]

 

[Tony2046]

Yes, the ST coach designed/coached the play poorly, but Pagano must/should have seen it and approved it in practice over the many months they had it in their repertoire. Also, I can't imagine the ST coach deciding to run that play in a game without Pagano's approval.

The players were not lined up on the LOS. If they had been I believe it would have been a legal formation. (I'm not sure if you need a player left of center though)

So the play may have been drawn up correctly but not executed properly. Pagano may have signed off on the play but isn't it up to the ST coach to implement it properly?

From a workplace standpoint, when an Engineer asks me to install an upgrade he gives me the kit and we go over the instructions but I install it which allows him to work on other things. If he has to babysit me installing an upgrade kit why am I there to begin with?

I do agree that Pagano has some culpability in this but if the drawn up play was legal then I would put most of the blame on the ST coach.

 

[Deus Irae]

If that's the case, they should have been flagged for an illegal procedure from the get-go, because they were set in punt formation before the mass shift to the right. [It's on the coaches' film.]

No

 

[PatsDeb]

Why would ANY competent coach (either head or special teams) call a trick play in a close game where the main guy executing the play (i.e. the snapper) has never practiced it before? What a bunch of idiots.

 

[XLIX]

Here are the 2 things that amuse me the most about this cluster-mess of a play:

1) Even if the morons split wide right were on the LOS, you still have a violation of the new anti-Patriots rule that came about after the Ravens whining like little girls. They have eligible players (by number) in ineligible positions outside the tackle box.

2) If the Patriots ever did something crazy like this, you know it would be much more well run. So if they ever did something off the wall crazy like this and it worked, the whining from other fan bases would be intolerable, and would probably lead to another rule change.

 

[PP2]

In my opinion it it is on Pagano as he allows guys to take part in plays where they haven't got a clue what is going on...even if the ST guy made the call, he is atop of the Franchise and needs to make sure everything is in working order, throughout the week, and on gameday

As the man with whom the buck stops, Pagano is ultimately responsible.

ST coaches do not usually have the latitude to call timeout if they see something wrong.

But I do agree that Whalen not being clued in on the audible to take a delay of game if they failed to draw offside or NZI, is strictly a ST coaching failure.

That being said, I still feel that Pagano is ultimately responsible because he or someone he should have authorized, should have called timeout after noticing the illegal formation which was right in front of them and therefore quite apparent.

But let's also credit BB and his ST for having a cutting edge approach to ST coverage assignment. No matter what fancy gadget **** is thrown at them from a ST viewpoint, it always comes down to reading keys off a numbers system, so everyone ends up being covered with a little communication. So ultimately, through their discipline and approach, they quickly adapted.

 

[zydecochris]

Why would ANY competent coach (either head or special teams) call a trick play in a close game where the main guy executing the play (i.e. the snapper) has never practiced it before? What a bunch of idiots.

I agree completely. If this story is true (and not just some type of Colt backstabbing) it completely changes everything. If the guy snapping the ball just had a brain lock or panicked, that is one thing. If he had never even practiced the play that is just plain crazy and completely on the coaches. Unbelievable.

 

[Triumph]

Why would ANY competent coach (either head or special teams) call a trick play in a close game where the main guy executing the play (i.e. the snapper) has never practiced it before? What a bunch of idiots.

The game was close and the Colts game plan was working. Luck was hitting all the short stuff and Gore was running the ball with success. Every point mattered.

Why give NE 3 points there is so crazy. Isray must have smoked a pipe full of crack after that play.

 

[zydecochris]

This reinforces my belief that Irsay wants to do away with Pagano.

My feeling is that he'll do it at or before the bye.

Or, more likely perhaps, Grigson wants to do away with him. Grigson has been undermining Pagano all year.

 

[shmessy]

Why would he waste a timeout when the ball's not supposed to be snapped, and they're willing to take the DOG penalty?

Sure, why waste a timeout when you can just give the Patriots the ball 1st and 10 on your own 30 yard line!

I guarantee you that BB would have known who the snapper was on an extreme trick play that they had been practicing for over a year and holding out just for this moment - - no matter that he isn't the ST coach.

Of course the kid, Whalen, would be confused. How could he not?

Easy to call the TO. Even if he tried to get them settled up to the LOS before the ref thought they were set and it didn't work, what's the damage? Illegal shift/procedure for 5 yards and they kick.

The downside was far worse.

Face it, Pagano was comatose.

 

[Deus Irae]

Why would ANY competent coach (either head or special teams) call a trick play in a close game where the main guy executing the play (i.e. the snapper) has never practiced it before? What a bunch of idiots.

ST coach to player "Don't snap the ball"

If that simple thing had happened, there'd be no issue here. It would just have been a failed attempt at getting a cheap 5 yards, and that happens with every team, including the Patriots.

 

[Deus Irae]

Sure, why waste a timeout when you can just give the Patriots the ball 1st and 10 on your own 30 yard line!

And now you're ignoring the whole "Ball is not supposed to be snapped" part of the equation. I don't know why you have a hard on for Pagano, but this is not where you get him.

 

[PatsDeb]

Or, more likely perhaps, Grigson wants to do away with him. Grigson has been undermining Pagano all year.

But how can this be? Grigson is such an upstanding guy...

 

[sambam94]

so the snapper never practiced the play and had no idea there was an audible not to hike it? This is 100% on Pagano. Also, how could everyone not be on the line on scrimmage....was the play never practiced? If it was, then how could 9 playets get it wrong in the game? The whole thing makes little sernse.

 

[PatsDeb]

ST coach to player "Don't snap the ball"

If that simple thing had happened, there'd be no issue here. It would just have been a failed attempt at getting a cheap 5 yards, and that happens with every team, including the Patriots.

Apparently the guy to whom he was snapping was repeating over and over, "don't snap the ball, don't snap the ball," at least according to Brandon Bolden. And yet (maybe because he has never practiced it and, even more incredibly, didn't know the "don't snap it option" had been installed) he snapped it. LOL, they deserve all the ridicule they are getting.

 

[shmessy]

And now you're ignoring the whole "Ball is not supposed to be snapped" part of the equation. I don't know why you have a hard on for Pagano, but this is not where you get him.

So the wasted TO for you is worse than giving the Patriots the ball 1st and 10 at the Colts 30 yard line.

That's pure genius.

Of course the ball is not to be snapped IF THE REGULAR SNAPPER FOR THIS PLAY IS NOT ON THE FIELD! Why even trot it out if the regular snapper for the play is AWOL?

This is a play that was worked on and held in secret for over a year. They chose THIS moment to unleash it. Without the ssnapper who had practiced it. Do ya think BB would ask his ST coach if all the right personnel were ready to play this BEFORE ordering it out there? D'ya THINK so?

That is coaching malpractice of an unimaginable level (for most people other than you, apparently)

Look, everyone here gets your whole "debate-club" schtick. Like the Snapfu, it ain't working.

 

[Deus Irae]

So the wasted TO for you is worse than giving the Patriots the ball 1st and 10 at the Colts 30 yard line.

That's pure genius.

Ok, now you're being deliberately foolish. If Pagano doesn't think the ball's going to be snapped, why would he waste a timeout?

You're clowning yourself here.