To giveth or to recieveth...

[Juke99]

I'd like your opinions on this subject.


To start a game, especially a big game where the defense is hyped up...fresh...and harder to run the ball against...I'd always want to give the ball to the other team and start the game with my defense on the field.

Also, I would prefer to have the opportunity to manage the clock properly at the end of the first half...so that if possible, my team has the last possession of the first half...and then the first possession of the second half.

And...it just seems the risk factor at the beginning of a game is higher for the offense...and for that reason, I'd want my defense on the field.

your thoughts?

 

[Hostile]

I always want possession to start the 2nd half. No matter what the score is after the first half.

 

[Juke99]

I always want possession to start the 2nd half. No matter what the score is after the first half.

Yep. I'm with you on this. I'm surprised that so many coaches choose to take the ball to start the game....yep, if you're the Colts and Manning is your QB...perhaps...

But other than that, I'd never take the ball to start a game.

 

[DallasEast]

In the postseason, I would always prefer to kickoff first. During the regular season, my preference would depend upon how good I considered the opponent to be.

 

[craig71]

I'd rather kick-off than to receive to open the game.Ofcoarse I also think that it depends on the team also.If my offense is a fast starter but fades as the game goes on I might want to open the game with the offense.I think some defenses are the same way,they start out fast and fade as the game goes on.Then again some teams are the exact opposite.I also think sometimes you have to take the weather into consideration.If rain is highly likely in the second half I think I'd want to receive the ball to start the game.
So many variables to account for but I'd rather receive the ball to start the 2nd half the majority of the time.

Craig

 

[Vtwin]

I agree. Especially on the road. Give the crowd no chance to get involved early and start the second half with the ball.

 

[big dog cowboy]

No matter the circumstance, I want to kick off the first half and receive the second half.

 

[birdwells1]

I always want possession to start the 2nd half. No matter what the score is after the first half.

Especially with how Buehler was kicking the ball this year.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I'd like your opinions on this subject.


To start a game, especially a big game where the defense is hyped up...fresh...and harder to run the ball against...I'd always want to give the ball to the other team and start the game with my defense on the field.

Also, I would prefer to have the opportunity to manage the clock properly at the end of the first half...so that if possible, my team has the last possession of the first half...and then the first possession of the second half.

And...it just seems the risk factor at the beginning of a game is higher for the offense...and for that reason, I'd want my defense on the field.

your thoughts?

I would agree, it definitely worked for us against the Saints.

 

[CF74]

Kick in the 1st half, receive in the 2nd...

 

[FLcowboy]

Yep. I'm with you on this. I'm surprised that so many coaches choose to take the ball to start the game....yep, if you're the Colts and Manning is your QB...perhaps...

But other than that, I'd never take the ball to start a game.

When the Cowboys scored on their opening drives at the end of the season, everyone loved it. Put the opposing team behind, ade force them to catch up.

But, if a team has a DOMINATE defense, then perhaps stifling a team's offense is a great demoralizer too.

 

[BIGDen]

I'd like your opinions on this subject.


To start a game, especially a big game where the defense is hyped up...fresh...and harder to run the ball against...I'd always want to give the ball to the other team and start the game with my defense on the field.

Also, I would prefer to have the opportunity to manage the clock properly at the end of the first half...so that if possible, my team has the last possession of the first half...and then the first possession of the second half.

And...it just seems the risk factor at the beginning of a game is higher for the offense...and for that reason, I'd want my defense on the field.

your thoughts?

I feel the same way. I'm always disappointed when I see us getting the ball first. I love having a lead and then getting the ball to start the second half.

 

[gmoney112]

Depends on how much confidence you have in your offense/defense. Preferably if I was equally confident in both units i'd take the ball first half in away games and kick off to start the game in home games.

 

[theogt]

Always, always, always kick first. Always, always, always go for it on 4th and short between your opponents 40 and 30.

 

[Chuck 54]

I think we took the ball in the last game rather than deferring to send a message, through the Eagles off, and get on top early...it worked as we scored and made them play catchup from the beginning. Then we won the toss and did the same thing in the playoff game...worked perfectly again.

Therefore, I knew we'd have the ball first against Minny, no matter who won the toss...why would you change when you're on a roll. Unfortunately, we had a great opening drive that ended in Romo's fumble, igniting the other team.

I think it depends on how your offense is playing. Our defense plays better with a lead...when a team is playing from behind, I think that plays right into our offense's hands. I also wonder if anyone ever keeps any stats on it; though the other team gets the ball first in the 2nd half, I'd bet that over the course of the game, teams that get the ball first have a good chance of having slightly more possessions in the course of a game...I guess that depends on who had the ball at the end of the half and game.

 

[Chief]

The consensus on here is to kick first and get the ball to start the second half.

Especially on the road. And I agree.

So, why do so many teams do the opposite? Maybe it's because that's the way they've always done it (I hate that), or they want to seem aggressive and confident.