Against Eagles: Do you want the ball first?

[Carl23]

Judging from the reports coming out of Philthy, it looks like the crowd is going to be absolutely crazy. Does anyone remember the 1992 season opener against the Skins in Dallas? I've never heard the fans at Texas Stadium cheer like that before, or since. Mark Rypien never had a chance.


That being said, if we win the coin toss, do you want to kick or receive?


Me? I would prefer to kick in the first half. Two advantages to that: 1) We put our 'better' unit on the field in hopes of quieting the crowd. 2)I've always felt that away teams can take advantage of the people still in the restroom/vending areas early in the second half (the crowd is usually less rowdy to start the second half).

 

[Coy]

My best scenario would be to receive the ball, and on the first play throw a 70 yrd td bomb to T.O. that should shut them up for a while.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Give me the ball first. :a-team:



Give me the ball often.:chopchop: :iggles:

 

[Dcowboy84]

i agree with kicking if we win the toss, and i have other reasoning:

1) If they get the ball first we can see what we're dealing with against their offense, and see what kind of game we will have to play (conservative, shootout, etc).

2) If we get the ball beginning of 2nd half we get to immediately put our halftime adjustments to the test and shut up the crowd and have the momentum for the 2nd half

 

[Hoov]

My gut reaction would be to kick, but if we win the toss i think parcells will elect to receive.

 

[AbeBeta]

You are assuming if you kick to start off the game then you automatically recieve the kickoff in the second half. That is not the case.

NFL Rules state the winner of the toss picks whether they kick or recieve in the first half. The Loser makes the choice to begin the second half.

So if we choose to Kick then we'd end up kicking off to start the 1st and 2nd halves. That isn't so smart.

 

[Gordon]

You are assuming if you kick to start off the game then you automatically recieve the kickoff in the second half. That is not the case.

NFL Rules state the winner of the toss picks whether they kick or recieve in the first half. The Loser makes the choice to begin the second half.

So if we choose to Kick then we'd end up kicking off to start the 1st and 2nd halves. That isn't so smart.

I thought that rule only applied if you picked which side you wanted to defend rather thank kick/return?

 

[TonyS]

You are assuming if you kick to start off the game then you automatically recieve the kickoff in the second half. That is not the case.

NFL Rules state the winner of the toss picks whether they kick or recieve in the first half. The Loser makes the choice to begin the second half.

So if we choose to Kick then we'd end up kicking off to start the 1st and 2nd halves. That isn't so smart.

At first I thought you were crazy and that the team that kicks off in the first, receives in the third, but you're right. Here are the rules from

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/cointoss

Digest of Rules

Coin Toss
1. The toss of coin will take place within three minutes of kickoff in center of field. The toss will be called by the visiting captain before the coin is flipped. The winner may choose one of two privileges and the loser gets the other:

(a) Receive or kick

(b) Goal his team will defend

2. Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the officials of their respective choices. The loser of the original coin toss gets first choice.

 

[theebs]

Judging from the reports coming out of Philthy, it looks like the crowd is going to be absolutely crazy. Does anyone remember the 1992 season opener against the Skins in Dallas? I've never heard the fans at Texas Stadium cheer like that before, or since. Mark Rypien never had a chance.


That being said, if we win the coin toss, do you want to kick or receive?


Me? I would prefer to kick in the first half. Two advantages to that: 1) We put our 'better' unit on the field in hopes of quieting the crowd. 2)I've always felt that away teams can take advantage of the people still in the restroom/vending areas early in the second half (the crowd is usually less rowdy to start the second half).

I always want to play defense first, home and away. Defense can set the tone for the game.

Most Importantly though I want the ball first in the second half, having the ball for the last drive of the first half and then the first drive of the second half is more important to me.

Lot of emotion early in this game, let the eagles get the ball and over or underthrow a few passes while adjusting.

 

[littlewebs]

2. Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the officials of their respective choices. The loser of the original coin toss gets first choice.

This can't be right, can it? Has anyone ever seen a game where the same team received the ball to start both halves? Maybe this only applies to the goal they are defending, because the same team possibly receiving both opening kickoffs seems totally unfair.

 

[dmq]

Always on the road would I elect to receive. You want points on the board to take the crowd out of it quickly.

 

[theebs]

This can't be right, can it? Has anyone ever seen a game where the same team received the ball to start both halves? Maybe this only applies to the goal they are defending, because the same team possibly receiving both opening kickoffs seems totally unfair.

Never seen this in my lifetime and I would bet my house and savings that whoever gets the ball this weekend to start the game will not get the ball to start the third.

 

[Doomsday]

This can't be right, can it? Has anyone ever seen a game where the same team received the ball to start both halves? Maybe this only applies to the goal they are defending, because the same team possibly receiving both opening kickoffs seems totally unfair.

Ive never heard or seen that in my life. I would take the ball first unless it was a huge game like the Super Bowl where nerves were going to be a bigger factor or if I had a dominant defense that. The team that scores first wins a much greater percentage of the time and on the road the best way to quiet the crowd is to take the lead.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

You are assuming if you kick to start off the game then you automatically recieve the kickoff in the second half. That is not the case.

NFL Rules state the winner of the toss picks whether they kick or recieve in the first half. The Loser makes the choice to begin the second half.

So if we choose to Kick then we'd end up kicking off to start the 1st and 2nd halves. That isn't so smart.

Interesting...

Always on the road would I elect to receive. You want points on the board to take the crowd out of it quickly.

Agreed. I would always want the opportunity to score... people can rationalize kicking all they want... just not my thing

 

[5Stars]

This can't be right, can it? Has anyone ever seen a game where the same team received the ball to start both halves? Maybe this only applies to the goal they are defending, because the same team possibly receiving both opening kickoffs seems totally unfair.

OK, I am totally confused now!

I cannot ever remember the same team getting both kickoffs in the game...!

Where is Adam...not that Abersonic is wrong, it's just that I have never, ever, seen that before...

 

[AdamJT13]

Never seen this in my lifetime and I would bet my house and savings that whoever gets the ball this weekend to start the game will not get the ball to start the third.

You haven't seen it because NFL coaches usually aren't stupid enough to choose to kick off if they win the coin toss. And if we did win the coin toss and chose to kick off, the Eagles WOULD get to choose to start the third quarter. And I'm guessing they'd choose to receive, as any smart coach would.

So you'd see something you'd never seen before. Just don't make that bet.

 

[5Stars]

You haven't seen it because NFL coaches usually aren't stupid enough to choose to kick off if they win the coin toss. And if we did win the coin toss and chose to kick off, the Eagles WOULD get to choose to start the third quarter. And I'm guessing they'd choose to receive, as any smart coach would.

So you'd see something you'd never seen before. Just don't make that bet.

Wow, and I thought I knew this game! Amazing...it's fun to learn something new everyday!!

 

[littlewebs]

You haven't seen it because NFL coaches usually aren't stupid enough to choose to kick off if they win the coin toss. And if we did win the coin toss and chose to kick off, the Eagles WOULD get to choose to start the third quarter. And I'm guessing they'd choose to receive, as any smart coach would.

So you'd see something you'd never seen before. Just don't make that bet.

Okay, so basically if you win the coin toss, you HAVE to choose to receive. You can't choose to kick, and you can't choose the goal to defend, because then you end up kicking in both halves. Am I getting this straight?

What if your strategy is to start on defense? Winning the cointoss limits your options significantly. Out of 4 choices (Kick, receive, or 2 sides to defend), you are stuck with only one that is not completely stupid. Is it just me, or does winning the coin toss not sound that great?

 

[theebs]

You haven't seen it because NFL coaches usually aren't stupid enough to choose to kick off if they win the coin toss. And if we did win the coin toss and chose to kick off, the Eagles WOULD get to choose to start the third quarter. And I'm guessing they'd choose to receive, as any smart coach would.

So you'd see something you'd never seen before. Just don't make that bet.

Yeah that is why no one has never seen it.

 

[ric]

The best case scenario:

1.We win the toss.
2.elect to kick
3.Vanderjact kicksoff to the 2
4.Mahe returns and gets popped ("Woodson style") by Kieth Davis at the Eagles 24
5.McNabb goes to the huddle (crowd wildin')
6.McNabb under center (still loud) hands off the Westbrook (he will play) Westbrook tries to take off right tackle and Roy Williams goes right through the thighs gain off 1
7.Second down McNabb back to throw pocket collapsing (Ellis and Spears) throws to Reggie Browns feet (scattered boos)
8.Third down McNabb back to throw Ware comes off clean and rushes McNabb drifting to the right heaves a long one up with no eagle players around it and Roy Williams picks it off at the Cowboys 47 and returns to the Eagle 44.(Boos now filling the stadium)

As you can see the crowd can be a factor for both teams. If McNabb struggles early w/ this Philly crowd they will QUICKLY turn on him.