The Fake Punt

[joseephuss]

As I was watching the game, I sat there and said to my self, I hope they don't try a fake punt. They did and it was a bad mistake.

I have seen a few other posts about it that not only the decision was bad, but the type of fake was bad. The formation didn't fool the 49ers. Why not line up in a regular punt formation and run it from there? Also, there has to be an option for Crayton to call off the play when he sees the defense is prepared to stop it. Maybe there was and Crayton didn't stop the play. That kind of thing happened under Campo against the Giants on a fake FG. I expect better from Parcells.

There is a positive. The team fought hard to overcome that decision. That hasn't happened too often in the last several seasons.

 

[Champsheart]

Yhea, that was really stupid. There was no reason to do that.

Could have cost us the game, but like Parcells said, the players bailed him out.

 

[Derinyar]

My only problem with the fake punt there is simple, there was no need for it and it was way too risky at the field position.

 

[yesfan]

Or maybe even to have a pass play,considering Craytons' ability
to throw the ball.Iwas about to have a coronary after that call.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I hate it when Bill doesn't play by the book. I wish he would call the game more conservative.

 

[BARRYRAY]

Did you guys see BP mouth "my fault" on the sidelines immediately after...

 

[DBoys]

I hate it when Bill doesn't play by the book. I wish he would call the game more conservative.

Hahaha good one!

 

[Redball Express]

Well..

..you live by the sword and you die by the sword.

I don't have so much of a problem with the play being called.

BP goes into every game with a trick play and he looks to call it when it's the right situation.

Remember the flea-flicker pass that got the offense rolling recently when they were struggling..?

I'm Ok with it. A fake punt in their end of the field would make more sense since they are going to be trying to setup their return and will be falling back to do that.

In our end of the field, they are going to be trying to pressure up the middle anyway trying to force a block or a shank.

It was not the right call, for certain in the situation, but you can always say that when the play fails.

When it works, the topic of second-guessing never comes up.

BP reminds me of Jimma so much with this stuff. Win or lose, it will be in the gameplan and other teams will have to make preparation for it.

:violin:

parcellswaterboy

 

[1fisher]

I hate it when Bill doesn't play by the book. I wish he would call the game more conservative.

Post of the month...maybe year..... Fickle fans it tell you... fickle fans!!! :bang2:

 

[dguinta1]

Another special teams blunder was the failure of Bradie James to down the punt inside the five. I am a strong believer in how important field position is especially on the road.

 

[yesfan]

Another special teams blunder was the failure of Bradie James to down the punt inside the five. I am a strong believer in how important field position is especially on the road.

I agree.However,it looked like maybe someone got knocked into him
on that play. Btw,Mcbriar has done an excellent job.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

No one should say it's an OK decision. It's not and even Parcells admitted it was a bad decision.

Bottom line is it's a BAD coaching decision, not because it didn't work, but the risk, (down by 5 in the 2nd half and giving the ball to your opponent on your own 35 yard line), is SOO much greater than the very small benefit you gain even if you pick up the first down.

What I never understand about calling for a fake that far in your own end of the field is that the offense STILL has to drive the ball 65-75 yards down the field to make the fake pay off for your team.

 

[yesfan]

No one should say it's an OK decision. It's not and even Parcells admitted it was a bad decision.

Bottom line is it's a BAD coaching decision, not because it didn't work, but the risk, (down by 5 in the 2nd half and giving the ball to your opponent on your own 35 yard line), is SOO much greater than the very small benefit you gain even if you pick up the first down.

What I never understand about calling for a fake that far in your own end of the field is that the offense STILL has to drive the ball 65-75 yards down the field to make the fake pay off for your team.

That play was as bad as another turnover.

 

[InmanRoshi]

No one should say it's an OK decision. It's not and even Parcells admitted it was a bad decision.

Bottom line is it's a BAD coaching decision, not because it didn't work, but the risk, (down by 5 in the 2nd half and giving the ball to your opponent on your own 35 yard line), is SOO much greater than the very small benefit you gain even if you pick up the first down.

What I never understand about calling for a fake that far in your own end of the field is that the offense STILL has to drive the ball 65-75 yards down the field to make the fake pay off for your team.

That's what I'm saying. Bill Parcells needs to play more by the book, and start being more conservative.

 

[Yeagermeister]

I agree.However,it looked like maybe someone got knocked into him
on that play. Btw,Mcbriar has done an excellent job.

Condo knocked it back towards James and it hit his leg then went in to the endzone. James had no chance to down it.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I had no problem with faking a punt at that time under those circumstances, but what I do have a problem with was the overall design of that play.

I don't understand the need to split McBriar wide. It took too much time. If Crayton simply would have stepped under center, snapped the ball and tried to sneak it, it may or may not have worked, but once McBriar split wide, the return team had all the time they needed to recognize a "fake", blow the undersized line out of their two point stance and stuff the sneak.

 

[joseephuss]

I had no problem with faking a punt at that time under those circumstances, but what I do have a problem with was the overall design of that play.

I don't understand the need to split McBriar wide. It took too much time. If Crayton simply would have stepped under center, snapped the ball and tried to sneak it, it may or may not have worked, but once McBriar split wide, the return team had all the time they needed to recognize a "fake", blow the undersized line out of their two point stance and stuff the sneak.

Yep. I guess the team misses Dexter Coakley's abilities to run the fake punt.

 

[Redball Express]

No one should say it's an OK decision. It's not and even Parcells admitted it was a bad decision.

Bottom line is it's a BAD coaching decision, not because it didn't work, but the risk, (down by 5 in the 2nd half and giving the ball to your opponent on your own 35 yard line), is SOO much greater than the very small benefit you gain even if you pick up the first down.

What I never understand about calling for a fake that far in your own end of the field is that the offense STILL has to drive the ball 65-75 yards down the field to make the fake pay off for your team.

But whether it worked or it didn't..the coaches OBVIOUSLY felt the game was slipping away and worth the gamble.

Now I think they PROBABLY have more feel for what's going on than we do, based on what they see, what they are prepared to do and when to do it.

If you don't believe that, then everything that happened yesterday was merely by chance and luck.

And we'd probably agree that's not the case.

Despite your protests and even BP admitting he may have made a mistake..it had the desired effect in the end.

It got the point across to the team that the coach was worried they didn't have it yesterday and he was trying to shake them up with something desparate.

Something that would ignite some urgency.

In the end, the message was made.

And the message was answered. If not on that play.

But by the way the team buckled down and played and pulled out the win. Regardless if the fake punt was the turning point or another play was.

The message was made.

Nobody is making a play out there and the game is being taken away.

The team acknowledge that and placed the nose-to-the-grindstone to up their play. From that point on, it became desparate and BP actually..

..IMO..

..made the right call.



parcellswaterboy

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Horrible call. Come on Bill, 4 Mill a year for this? Had zero element of surprise and was a flat out dumb call.

 

[WV Cowboy]

But whether it worked or it didn't..the coaches OBVIOUSLY felt the game was slipping away and worth the gamble.

Now I think they PROBABLY have more feel for what's going on than we do, based on what they see, what they are prepared to do and when to do it.

If you don't believe that, then everything that happened yesterday was merely by chance and luck.

And we'd probably agree that's not the case.

Despite your protests and even BP admitting he may have made a mistake..it had the desired effect in the end.

It got the point across to the team that the coach was worried they didn't have it yesterday and he was trying to shake them up with something desparate.

Something that would ignite some urgency.

In the end, the message was made.

And the message was answered. If not on that play.

But by the way the team buckled down and played and pulled out the win. Regardless if the fake punt was the turning point or another play was.

The message was made.

Nobody is making a play out there and the game is being taken away.

The team acknowledge that and placed the nose-to-the-grindstone to up their play. From that point on, it became desparate and BP actually..

..IMO..

..made the right call.



parcellswaterboy

Not a smart call after your defense had just forced back to back "3 & outs".

Punt and let your D do it's thing.

Rarely, rarely, rarely would I ever agree with faking a punt on your own 34 yd line. - - - Risk vs reward ??

Even if you make it, you are still 60 yds from a score.

Plus it really wasn't a fake anything, SF could see what we were up to.

That gave them their only score of the 2nd half.