The New 1:00 Defense... 12 Men on the Field

[CallMeCrazy]

With almost no time left in the game the Gnats were caught with 12 men on the field. The Pats ran a play which took time off the clock and really only gained 5 yards out of it. Yes it's a free play but with 12 men on defense, it's easier to stop the pass from being completed. Just the same way that Bradshaw could have sat on the 1-yard line to milk the clock instead of scoring the TD, it may have been a smart move by NY or it may have been a boneheaded mistake too.

 

[CATCH17]

I think teams have always tried to sneak 12 players on the field and call out the offenses cadences in goal line situations.

Whats the worst that can happen? Ball moves up an inch?

 

[TheCoolFan]

The completion before to Hernandez was the dagger...it was pointless. 10 yards isn't worth 10 seconds coming off the clock. Brady should've just thrown it away or Hernandez should've intentionally dropped it. Wouldn't have blamed him for not catching that.

 

[visionary]

on mike and mike (ESPN) this AM, golic was saying the buddy ryan used to do this as a regular tactic in the waning minutes of the game if they needed to run time off the clock

it was a designed strategy for him, he said they sometimes got 13-15 players on the field

maybe it was by chance or maybe a designed strategy for the giants as well

 

[theogt]

A rule change should result from this. If it's a replay of down, no time should run off. I can't fathom a reason why the clock should run off in the final minutes of the game in such a situation because of the opponent's penalty.

 

[The30YardSlant]

IMO, inside of two minutes extra men on the field, offsides and defensive holding should all be a five yard penalty and any lost time should be put back on the clock.

 

[casmith07]

A rule change should result from this. If it's a replay of down, no time should run off. I can't fathom a reason why the clock should run off in the final minutes of the game in such a situation because of the opponent's penalty.

I agree. If its a penalty resulting in a replay of the down, then the time should be put back on the clock.

The 10 second runoff should go away as well, but if it's an offensive penalty, then they should not put time back on the clock as part of the penalty.

I'd support that.

 

[tupperware]

A rule change should result from this. If it's a replay of down, no time should run off. I can't fathom a reason why the clock should run off in the final minutes of the game in such a situation because of the opponent's penalty.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

A rule change should result from this. If it's a replay of down, no time should run off. I can't fathom a reason why the clock should run off in the final minutes of the game in such a situation because of the opponent's penalty.

Agree, I couldn't figure out why that time wasn't put back on the clock. I thought the officials had just blown the call... I didnt know the rule was written this way. (And why the hell is it that way, anyway.)

 

[NeonDeion21]

I thought this as well. In hindsight Brady should have just spiked the ball when he saw the flag.

 

[sonnyboy]

Agree, I couldn't figure out why that time wasn't put back on the clock. I thought the officials had just blown the call... I didnt know the rule was written this way. (And why the hell is it that way, anyway.)

Not sure what surprised me more, that time wasn't put back on the clock or that I didn't know the rule.

It's an interesting loophole and I wonder if the NFL will address it. You would think they'd already have something on the books to address this.

 

[Oh_Canada]

Just another reason why Coughlin is awesome....hate to admit it but it's true.

 

[Tricericon]

Just another reason why Coughlin is awesome....hate to admit it but it's true.

Cheating = Awesome?

 

[Future]

A rule change should result from this. If it's a replay of down, no time should run off. I can't fathom a reason why the clock should run off in the final minutes of the game in such a situation because of the opponent's penalty.

Plus 4 :laugh2

 

[Nightman]

I thought this as well. In hindsight Brady should have just spiked the ball when he saw the flag.

Why would he do that? You get a free Hail Mary attempt, which they had to run anyways, except if the NYG happen to intercept the ball or recover a fumble(like in the first half against the Pats) you get a do over. But if you complete the pass it stands. Even if the clock runs out, you get another, un-timed play.

 

[Muhast]

Why would he do that? You get a free Hail Mary attempt, which they had to run anyways, except if the NYG happen to intercept the ball or recover a fumble(like in the first half against the Pats) you get a do over. But if you complete the pass it stands. Even if the clock runs out, you get another, un-timed play.

B/c with the current rule: A hail mary incompletion takes 5-8 seconds off. Spiking it gains 5 yards(you accept the penalty) and loses, 1-2 seconds max. If he were to throw a pick and the Giants run all around the field. He would have lost all of the time that elapsed and had one untimed play to win the game. It would have been smarter to spike the ball and save the time. I doubt Brady realized that, or he wouldn't have thrown deep.

For the record: If you do this (12 men on the field) two or more consecutive plays(although it doesn't HAVE to be consecutive plays), the Referee can rule Inpalpably unfair act and reward the offense with a touchdown. Thus you can't do it like 4 plays in a row and exchange 20 yards of penalties for 30+ seconds.

But I suppose if the team has no timeouts and are on their own side of the field, it wouldn't hurt to have 12-13 players on the field and hope the QB doesn't recognize this. (if he does, he simply spikes the ball. Loses a second and gains 5 yards). If he doesn't you hope your extra players get to the QB or break up the pass and make them waste tons of time.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Why would he do that? You get a free Hail Mary attempt, which they had to run anyways, except if the NYG happen to intercept the ball or recover a fumble(like in the first half against the Pats) you get a do over. But if you complete the pass it stands. Even if the clock runs out, you get another, un-timed play.

Thank you. That is exactly the reason you don't spike the ball in that situation.

 

[Romo2Bryant4Six]

B/c with the current rule: A hail mary incompletion takes 5-8 seconds off. Spiking it gains 5 yards(you accept the penalty) and loses, 1-2 seconds max. If he were to throw a pick and the Giants run all around the field. He would have lost all of the time that elapsed and had one untimed play to win the game. It would have been smarter to spike the ball and save the time. I doubt Brady realized that, or he wouldn't have thrown deep.

For the record: If you do this (12 men on the field) two or more consecutive plays(although it doesn't HAVE to be consecutive plays), the Referee can rule Inpalpably unfair act and reward the offense with a touchdown. Thus you can't do it like 4 plays in a row and exchange 20 yards of penalties for 30+ seconds.

But I suppose if the team has no timeouts and are on their own side of the field, it wouldn't hurt to have 12-13 players on the field and hope the QB doesn't recognize this. (if he does, he simply spikes the ball. Loses a second and gains 5 yards). If he doesn't you hope your extra players get to the QB or break up the pass and make them waste tons of time.

I was thinking the same thing, but did not know the rule.Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Muhast]

Thank you. That is exactly the reason you don't spike the ball in that situation.

Option A: Your on your own 40 with no timeouts(lets say 20 seconds left), the defense has 12 men, and you go deep, ball is incomplete. You just wasted 8 seconds and gained 5 yards.

Option B:Your on your own 40 with no timeouts(let say 20 seconds left again), defense has 12 men, you go deep, ball is intercepted and returned back to your own 5 yard line. The play used 15 seconds total of clock with the deep pass and return. You would get the ball back on the 45 yard line with 5 seconds left.

Or option C: Your on your own 40, no timeouts, 20 seconds left. Defense has 12 men on the field. You spike the ball. You have the ball on your 45 yardline with 18 seconds left, and a chance to huddle up.

Clearly C is the best route to me. I'd much rather conserve time. I completely get using a free play such as off sides in a normal scenario, but in this case(last minute, no timeouts) , your actually hurting yourself since you don't get the time back.

 

[jimmy40]

I just don't think you can give the offense a free play and if it doesn't work they get the time back. Maybe blow the play dead and add 10 seconds since they run off 10 seconds on offensive penalties. Must not be that big of an issue since it's just now being talked about.