Fair catch before half time?

[joseephuss]

So, are the announcers the only ones that know the never used fair catch at the end of the half rule? Why didn't Bill have Crayton fair catch the punt before half? They would have received a free kick opportunity. It would have been a long tough kick, but it would have been a chance at points. Any chance is good and since it would have been a free kick, there is no risk.

 

[Doomsday101]

So, are the announcers the only ones that know the never used fair catch at the end of the half rule? Why didn't Bill have Crayton fair catch the punt before half? They would have received a free kick opportunity. It would have been a long tough kick, but it would have been a chance at points. Any chance is good and since it would have been a free kick, there is no risk.

The Ball came down around the 35 yard line there was no way in the world that any kicker could have made that kick.

 

[JohnsKey19]

He did. Crayton was set up for the fair catch around the KC 45-50 ydline. But once the ball goes past a certain point in the air, Crayton wisely just let the ball go.

 

[lspain1]

Wasn't the kick received on about the Dallas thirty yard line? There was no real chance to use the rule.

 

[conner01]

bill did.watch crayton. trust me bill practiced that exact play atleast 10 times in camp.

 

[poke]

So, are the announcers the only ones that know the never used fair catch at the end of the half rule? Why didn't Bill have Crayton fair catch the punt before half? They would have received a free kick opportunity. It would have been a long tough kick, but it would have been a chance at points. Any chance is good and since it would have been a free kick, there is no risk.

according to erin bolin of dallascowboys.com the boys had that idea in
mind but the punt went deeper than expected. heres a link to the whole article.
http://lb.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=1D5A9D13-B04F-8CEA-69B802F144C07BBB

 

[Doomsday101]

What was surprising on that series was Vermile using a Timeout. At 1st I thought is was Dallas who called the Timeout but was scratching my head when they said it was KC.

 

[lspain1]

I actually think Vermeil was using the timeout to say to his team..."we can beat these guys anytime"...you know, a kind of psychological lift by getting a positive play going into the half. Nothing else makes any sense to me.

 

[Doomsday101]

I actually think Vermeil was using the timeout to say to his team..."we can beat these guys anytime"...you know, a kind of psychological lift by getting a positive play going into the half. Nothing else makes any sense to me.

Had Bill done that I'm sure many would have been calling him an idiot for doing so. with so little time on the clock KC was not in a position to make a positive play and was more likely to make a big mistakes which they almost did on 2nd down when they threw towards a heavily covered Johnson

 

[lspain1]

Had Bill done that I'm sure many would have been calling him an idiot for doing so. with so little time on the clock KC was not in a position to make a positive play and was more likely to make a big mistakes which they almost did on 2nd down when they threw towards a heavily covered Johnson

You are right. It was an odd sequence. Vermeil knew the Cowboys were getting the ball to start the second half. The Chiefs had just suffered a momentum changing turnover. I just think he was trying to set a tone for the locker room and the second half. If they had threatened at all, perhaps it would have wounded the Cowboys confidence going into the second half. As it turned out it didn't work and the Cowboys played a much better second half.

 

[Doomsday101]

You are right. It was an odd sequence. Vermeil knew the Cowboys were getting the ball to start the second half. The Chiefs had just suffered a momentum changing turnover. I just think he was trying to set a tone for the locker room and the second half. If they had threatened at all, perhaps it would have wounded the Cowboys confidence going into the second half. As it turned out it didn't work and the Cowboys played a much better second half.

I'm sure that is what he was thinking but it almost cost him an int which would have set Dallas up for another TD.

 

[Darrel]

Bill did tell crayton to fair catch, I caught that when they showed him on the sideline before the punt.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

Bill did tell crayton to fair catch, I caught that when they showed him on the sideline before the punt.

I caught that too. You could clearly read PB's lips telling him to fair catch it. Unfortunately, it was a great punt, so it didn't come into play.

 

[DanTanna]

Too bad the punter didn't unleash a McBriarish 27 yarder!

 

[joseephuss]

KC had the ball at the 22 and Crayton lined up at about the Dallas 48. Why would they expect such a short kick? The ball bounced down to the Dallas 36. A fair catch would have put the ball at about the 40. It would have been a low percentage kick, but since it is a free kick, there is no risk. I would trot any kicker out there to at least attempt it. Crayton just did not play far enough back. It was only a 42 yard kick and that was after it bounced.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

Does anyone know the entire rule? I know it's called a free kick, meaning no rush or whatever. But can the defense still catch and return a short kick? If so, it's a good call not to try it with Dante Hall on the other side line.

 

[Doomsday101]

Does anyone know the entire rule? I know it's called a free kick, meaning no rush or whatever. But can the defense still catch and return a short kick? If so, it's a good call not to try it with Dante Hall on the other side line.

Yes they could return a free kick.

 

[AmericasTeam31]

Well then, if true, there's our answer.

 

[Doomsday101]

Well then, if true, there's our answer.

I agree. I think had we been able to fair catch the ball at the 50 Dallas may have tried it but once it went over the returners head then just let it go.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I could be mistaken but I believe on a free kick it's like a punt except the ball has to bounce first. They don't get to line up and just kick it the normal way.