DAL vs TB: Kickoff - Do you elect to go on offense or defense first

[Hoofbite]

I'd defer.

I like the ball back at half. 1st chance to score after adjustments.

Also, I think its very likely the Bucs will forfeit as soon as they see Buehler walk on to the field.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

I'd defer.

I like the ball back at half. 1st chance to score after adjustments.

Also, I think its very likely the Bucs will forfeit as soon as they see Buehler walk on to the field.

Precisely. 1st chance to score after adjustments, and gives your defense that much longer to rest up especially with the ball control offense we've been showing in TC and preseason.

 

[AdamJT13]

There's almost no scenario in which it's wise to choose to be on defense if you win the coin toss. Unlike in some video games, if you choose to go on defense, you don't automatically get the ball to start the second half. The opponent gets to choose. So by choosing to start on defense, you're allowing your opponent to start both halves with the ball. And that means your opponent could end up with two more possessions than you do, just because you made a dumb decision.

 

[Hoofbite]

There's almost no scenario in which it's wise to choose to be on defense if you win the coin toss. Unlike in some video games, if you choose to go on defense, you don't automatically get the ball to start the second half. The opponent gets to choose. So by choosing to start on defense, you're allowing your opponent to start both halves with the ball. And that means your opponent could end up with two more possessions than you do, just because you made a dumb decision.

Why doesn't anyone ever use that?

Are they deferring the decision to pick to receive thus forcing the other team to make the pick?

 

[SaltwaterServr]

There's almost no scenario in which it's wise to choose to be on defense if you win the coin toss. Unlike in some video games, if you choose to go on defense, you don't automatically get the ball to start the second half. The opponent gets to choose. So by choosing to start on defense, you're allowing your opponent to start both halves with the ball. And that means your opponent could end up with two more possessions than you do, just because you made a dumb decision.

That is true, but in any kind of windy conditions (or you have Eli) you'd want to have the weather in your favor. Hence you take the field position over choosing to kick or receive. For 1/2 the season though your 100% right, it does not make sense to win the coin toss, not defer, and kick off.

 

[lcharles]

Defense.


After we unleash Beuhler on them at the kickoff, their morale will be destroyed first thing and the rest of the game will be a cakewalk.

 

[RoadRunner]

I would take the ball and get my offense on the field first. The cowboys are slow starters with that first series for some reason, they often go 3 and out on the first possession, they need to get that one out of the way and get the big guys into to flow so they can go down and score on the next one. I think the Cowboys need to be a team that scores a lot of points this year. I know that they have had some long time consuming drives in the preseason, but I don't think that style of play suits this team. The offense needs to score 24+ points a game IMO. I wouldn't rely on this defense until they prove their not the same defense from the last 2 games of last year.

I've always preferred kicking off first. I like getting the ball to start the 2nd half.

 

[TheCount]

There's almost no scenario in which it's wise to choose to be on defense if you win the coin toss. Unlike in some video games, if you choose to go on defense, you don't automatically get the ball to start the second half. The opponent gets to choose. So by choosing to start on defense, you're allowing your opponent to start both halves with the ball. And that means your opponent could end up with two more possessions than you do, just because you made a dumb decision.

I would assume that's why you defer, so you can choose going into the 2nd half. I don't know that I've ever seen a team say they'll choose to kick in the first half, although I have seen it done in overtime.

 

[Doomsday101]

I would take the ball and get my offense on the field first. The cowboys are slow starters with that first series for some reason, they often go 3 and out on the first possession, they need to get that one out of the way and get the big guys into to flow so they can go down and score on the next one. I think the Cowboys need to be a team that scores a lot of points this year. I know that they have had some long time consuming drives in the preseason, but I don't think that style of play suits this team. The offense needs to score 24+ points a game IMO. I wouldn't rely on this defense until they prove their not the same defense from the last 2 games of last year.

I always perfer being on defense 1st. Main reason games are not won in the 1st half. If you are leading going into half time you have the chance of increasing your lead at the start of the 2nd and if trailing at half time you have the oppertunity to cut into the lead with an opening 2nd half drive to help set the tone of the 2nd half.

 

[blsabb88]

I prefer to defer

 

[Daudr]

Always defer. Always.

I cannot disagree more. You always take the ball, especially on the road. Get the ball in your playmaker's hands and silence the crowd right off the bat.

I will never understand how defering helps at all. Perhaps if you have a good defense, but even then all you are doing is potentially giving your opponents more opportunities to score.

 

[TheCount]

I cannot disagree more. You always take the ball, especially on the road. Get the ball in your playmaker's hands and silence the crowd right off the bat.

I will never understand how defering helps at all. Perhaps if you have a good defense, but even then all you are doing is potentially giving your opponents more opportunities to score.

What if you go 3 and out? :laugh2:

We have shown a propensity for slow starts in the past. Honestly though, I don't think it matters if you take or defer. I'd like a chance at back to back possessions going into the second half, whether you score on one or not. But if you can take the ball and score right off the bat, then obviously that's the way to go.

 

[VietCowboy]

Defer...I agree with whoever said it gives the defense a little extra time to rest.

 

[WV Cowboy]

There's almost no scenario in which it's wise to choose to be on defense if you win the coin toss. Unlike in some video games, if you choose to go on defense, you don't automatically get the ball to start the second half. The opponent gets to choose. So by choosing to start on defense, you're allowing your opponent to start both halves with the ball. And that means your opponent could end up with two more possessions than you do, just because you made a dumb decision.

I may be wrong but i believe Adam is right here. In the NFL you can't defer.

If you win the toss, you get to choose if you want the ball to start the game or not, but the loser of the toss gets to choose to start the second half.

So like Adam said, if you win the toss, and choose to start on defense, and then the opposing team chooses the ball to start the second half, they got the ball to start both halves.

I think defering is only in H.S. and College.

But I may be wrong.

 

[TheCount]

I may be wrong but i believe Adam is right here. In the NFL you can't defer.

If you win the toss, you get to choose if you want the ball to start the game or not, but the loser of the toss gets to choose to start the second half.

So like Adam said, if you win the toss, and choose to start on defense, and then the opposing team chooses the ball to start the second half, they got the ball to start both halves.

I think defering is only in H.S. and College.

But I may be wrong.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-04-02-rule-changes_N.htm

You can defer according to this article and it looks like Adam may have been right but a new rule change DOES in fact allow you to choose to receive the ball after the half. If the article is correct, then you can defer and the loser no longer gets to automatically pick at the half.

I'm also finding rules in accordance to what Adam stated though, so I've got no idea at this point.

 

[JonJon]

I would take the ball and get my offense on the field first. The cowboys are slow starters with that first series for some reason, they often go 3 and out on the first possession, they need to get that one out of the way and get the big guys into to flow so they can go down and score on the next one. I think the Cowboys need to be a team that scores a lot of points this year. I know that they have had some long time consuming drives in the preseason, but I don't think that style of play suits this team. The offense needs to score 24+ points a game IMO. I wouldn't rely on this defense until they prove their not the same defense from the last 2 games of last year.

But you go three and out on the first series, you're just handing the opponent the field position advantage. I'm always a fan of defense first and getting the ball to start the second half, after the offense has started to flow and adjustments are made. If you have the lead at half, you can add to it. If you are down, it is better to have the ball instead of giving the other team a chance to add to their lead.

 

[Doomsday101]

I may be wrong but i believe Adam is right here. In the NFL you can't defer.

If you win the toss, you get to choose if you want the ball to start the game or not, but the loser of the toss gets to choose to start the second half.

So like Adam said, if you win the toss, and choose to start on defense, and then the opposing team chooses the ball to start the second half, they got the ball to start both halves.

I think defering is only in H.S. and College.

But I may be wrong.

I thought that rule was changed last year?

 

[ArmyCowboy]

Against Tampa with their offense, I would go defense and try to stop them 3 and out to get the short field.

 

[Doomsday101]

2008 rule change

Second half coin toss: Clubs will now have the option to defer the opportunity to kick or receive the kickoff to the second half.

"It now gives coaches a third option," says Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans head coach and co-chairman of the NFL Competition Committee.

 

[AdamJT13]

I may be wrong but i believe Adam is right here. In the NFL you can't defer.

If you win the toss, you get to choose if you want the ball to start the game or not, but the loser of the toss gets to choose to start the second half.

So like Adam said, if you win the toss, and choose to start on defense, and then the opposing team chooses the ball to start the second half, they got the ball to start both halves.

I think defering is only in H.S. and College.

But I may be wrong.

They started allowing teams to defer last year.

If you win the coin toss, you can defer your choice until the second half, you can choose to receive the kickoff, or you can choose which goal to defend. If you don't defer, the other team gets the choice to start the second half.