On the muffed punt: analysis and humor

[ctpatsfan77]

Analysis, from Patriots.com:

Punter Jake Bailey's Key Adjustment Led to Game-Changing Play for Patriots Special Teams

The Patriots punter took advantage of a Steelers error in Sunday's win.

www.patriots.com

"He sees Schooler is uncovered right there, so rather than pinning the ball where Gunner [Olszewski] is not going to have a chance to field it, now he's going to hit a higher ball there, a sky ball, which forces the ball to move more in the air."

Humor, from me, on reddit:

After the game, at Gunner's place, the doorbell rings. He opens the door and looks around; nobody's there, but on the ground, there's an envelope. The word "thanks" are scrawled on it in very messy block letters. Inside is $5,000 in cash. Off in the distance, he hears high-pitched woofs.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I had asked this in the other thread and obviously we were fortunate gunner muffed the kick but… shouldn’t we audible that to a pass to schooler in that situation? Its a free 20-30 yards. Is it just considered too risky?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I had asked this in the other thread and obviously we were fortunate gunner muffed the kick but… shouldn’t we audible that to a pass to schooler in that situation? Its a free 20-30 yards. Is it just considered too risky?

My guess is they hadn't practiced that enough to try it.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

My guess is they hadn't practiced that enough to try it.

Probably, but I hope they do. I remember in 04 vinatieri found troy brown uncovered for an easy 2 pt conversion. Had to be by design though as nobody normally lines up wide on xp’s to my knowledge. Not quite as risky as a fake punt but I think its well worth the risk if someone is completely uncovered

 

[slam]

Rewatching the game, it's absolutely insane that Gunner and Mills didn't call for fair catches. Gunner during the muffed punt and Mills during the last catch where he was immediately blasted by coverage. There was no upside in trying for a return for either of them. The earlier punt that Mills muffed into the end zone shouldn't have been fielded at all.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Rewatching the game, it's absolutely insane that Gunner and Mills didn't call for fair catches. Gunner during the muffed punt and Mills during the last catch where he was immediately blasted by coverage. There was no upside in trying for a return for either of them. The earlier punt that Mills muffed into the end zone shouldn't have been fielded at all.

FWIW, reports say that Gunner did call for a fair catch; I guess he did it before he came on-screen. But he could have just gotten out of the way instead.

 

[slam]

FWIW, reports say that Gunner did call for a fair catch; I guess he did it before he came on-screen. But he could have just gotten out of the way instead.

That makes sense. If Gunner let it bounce it could've been killed inside the five. Of course he sill has to catch the thing.

 

[Mack Herron]

He simply misjudged the ball. He thought he was going to catch it right up to the moment it hit him in the face.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

So it wasn’t a good play for Gunner? Isn’t the punt receiver responsible for ensuring there are 11 on the field, he missed that, then he calls for a fair catch and doesn’t catch it? All pro to ah no