Onside kicks and 4th downs

[SHAMSzy]

Honestly there have been a number of times this season I'm watching a game and thinking to myself we should onside kick or go for 4th in a LOT of situations. This came to mind specifically in the Chargers, Broncos, and Saints game.

Anyone else feel like it situationally gives us a better chance then sending the defense out there, specifically against tier 1 quarterbacks.

BTW this isn't a whine or sarcasm thread, I'm 100% serious.

This same type of logic applies to the conservative offense Garrett uses when we have a lead. I see other coaches press hard in those situations where Garrett plays it like a pansy. I understand it's textbook football, but we don't have a textbook football club I.e. Seahawks / 49ers. I feel as if Garrett coaches our team as if we are one of these teams.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

We have a coach in Garrett who coaches scared and without confidence. Both traits that are going to prevent you from calling those type plays.

 

[Red Dragon]

I think a team should go for it almost every time they face a 4th-and-less-than-6 between the opposing team's 42-yard and 37-yard line. In that situation, a field goal would be improbable, yet you'd gain little by punting.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

the onside kick thing I'm not a huge fan of because while it works 80% of the time that it is 'unexpected', if you keep doing it then the other team expects it and your percentages drop dramatically.

I think that someday there will be a college head coach that creates a gameplan and play calling on offense geared towards a '4 down mentality.' Initially they may struggle because it's an adjustment for the coaches and the players. But once they start to get the hang of it, that coach will reap the rewards.

We know that the team that acquires more first down goes on to win the vast majority of the time. If you need 4 downs to get a first down, the average yards per play required is 2.5. For the typical 3-down mentality, that means 3.3 yards per play is required to get a first down. That's means the 4-down mentality requires 25% less distance gained per play.

That's a big advantage.

Especially if you don't gain any yardage on 1st down. If you have a 2nd and 10, the 3-down mentality requires the team to gain 5 yards per play in order to get the first down. The 4-down mentality requires the team to gain 3.33 yards per play to get the first down. A difference of 33%. Then on 3rd and 10, the difference is 50%.

But, it also sets up a lot of things. If you get a 2nd and 2 instead of just trying to make sure you get the first down and run the ball, use play action and throw it deep on an unsuspecting defense. You always have 2 more plays to get 2 more yards.

Or if you get a 3rd and 8 and you have a team like the Saints using their 'amoeba defense' with defenders standing up to confuse the QB....you can call a running play...get it to 4th and 2 and convert the 4th down.

I think Belichick could get away with it because he wields so much power in New England and I doubt Kraft would ever fire him unless he was involved in some sort of scandal that he couldn't escape from.

For the Ivy League education, Garrett doesn't have the foresight to do this. And Jerry doesn't have the guts or is open minded enough to allow it to happen.






YR