Coin Toss

[cowboys2233]

You're comparing an overt act like announcing victory ahead of time to a subliminal message sent through the innocuous choosing to receive or defer?

Yes, except I disagree that it's subliminal or innocuous. I think it sends a very important message.

 

[cowboys2233]

What if Jason proclaimed victory today and then deferred tomorrow. What a pickle.

This has nothing to do with anything I've said. And you should (hopefully) recognize that. You're talking about sending mixed messages, showing confidence in one instance and acting timid in the other. I'm talking about showing confidence from the very beginning.

 

[FiveRings]

I defer every time regardless of situations

 

[cowboys2233]

I defer every time regardless of situations

Do you have any idea how silly that sounds? That you disregard the situation when making a decision?

 

[FiveRings]

Do you have any idea how silly that sounds? That you disregard the situation when making a decision?

How? Say someone offers you 5 bucks. You'll rob ably take it (just for arguments sake) not much mulling of the current situation has to be done to conclude that you want those 5 dollars. Same with the coin toss. Defer,defer,defer.

 

[cowboys2233]

How? Say someone offers you 5 bucks. You'll rob ably take it (just for arguments sake) not much mulling of the current situation has to be done to conclude that you want those 5 dollars. Same with the coin toss. Defer,defer,defer.

Notice how you said "probably" instead of "definitely?" There are factors that would prevent you from taking that five dollars. I mean, if some random, sketchy guy walks up to you and offers you five dollars, would you take it?

Not me, I would get the heck out of there. I'm just saying that the factors I've pointed out would motivate me to receive rather than defer in this specific instance, rather than simply follow a basic strategy.

 

[FiveRings]

Notice how you said "probably" instead of "definitely?" There are factors that would prevent you from taking that five dollars. I mean, if some random, sketchy guy walks up to you and offers you five dollars, would you take it?

Not me, I would get the heck out of there. I'm just saying that the factors I've pointed out would compel me to receive rather than defer in this specific instance, rather than simply follow a basic strategy.

Well perhaps the example wasn't the best, but if a coach has a general idea of how they want to handle the toss (and they do, there's only two choices) then not much can sway their decision making.

As for the decision itself, I elect to defer always because making a statement early in a game is the most important thing you can do and a 3 and out first can set the same tone as a quick 7 so i go defensively.

 

[cowboys2233]

Well perhaps the example wasn't the best, but if a coach has a general idea of how they want to handle the toss (and they do, there's only two choices) then not much can sway their decision making.

As for the decision itself, I elect to defer always because making a statement early in a game is the most important thing you can do and a 3 and out first can set the same tone as a quick 7 so i go defensively.

Yes, a quick defensive stop can also make a statement. But again, considering both teams, I think scoring a quick 7 is far more likely than a 3 and out. JMHO.

 

[AdamJT13]

Oh, is that how this game works?

Yep. "Making a statement" on the first possession of the game is practically meaningless. The teams that have scored the eight earliest touchdowns this season went 1-7 in those games. Some statement.

Ever wonder why it's an advantage for the home team to bat last in baseball? Or why college teams virtually always choose to go on defense first in overtime?

 

[Gemini Dolly]

I want the ball first. There is no way I want to see RGIII marching down with ease to start the game.

 

[Chuck 54]

Yep. "Making a statement" on the first possession of the game is practically meaningless. The teams that have scored the eight earliest touchdowns this season went 1-7 in those games. Some statement.

Ever wonder why it's an advantage for the home team to bat last in baseball? Or why college teams virtually always choose to go on defense first in overtime?

In an outdoor game, isn't it sometimes preferable to let the other team elect to have ball in 2nd half so you can take the wind or favorable end of field in fourth quarter?

 

[Hoofbite]

This has nothing to do with anything I've said. And you should (hopefully) recognize that. You're talking about sending mixed messages, showing confidence in one instance and acting timid in the other. I'm talking about showing confidence from the very beginning.

That's precisely it. It would be a mixed message but only if deferring had any message to it. It doesn't. Out of all the times a player or coach has guaranteed victory, have they always elected to receive after winning the toss? Doubt it. Choosing to kick or receive is meaningless in terms of "sending a message". Washington comes out and forces a punt, then what? Didn't send a loud enough message? Try shouting out the call when the coin is tossed?

 

[AdamJT13]

In an outdoor game, isn't it sometimes preferable to let the other team elect to have ball in 2nd half so you can take the wind or favorable end of field in fourth quarter?

That's why I said "almost always" -- there might be some extreme example when that might matter. But frankly, I don't remember the last time a Cowboys game was like that. And you're gambling that the game will be close enough at the end for that to make any difference.