Two 41-yard Hail Mary's are better than one 24-yard one

[Red Dragon]

Two shots at the end zone are always better than just one, and 41 yards isn't too far by Hail Mary standards. 24 yards is closer, yes, but I prefer two further shots than one close shot. Plus, there's always the potential for a pass interference to set up a free untimed play from the 1-yard line.

In fact, I have NEVER heard of this strategy of "run a QB draw with bare seconds remaining so you can spike the ball." Has any high school, college or pro team ever done this before last night???

 

[HungryLion]

Two shots at the end zone are always better than just one, and 41 yards isn't too far by Hail Mary standards. 24 yards is closer, yes, but I prefer two further shots than one close shot. Plus, there's always the potential for a pass interference to set up a free untimed play from the 1-yard line.

In fact, I have NEVER heard of this strategy of "run a QB draw with bare seconds remaining so you can spike the ball." Has any high school, college or pro team ever done this before last night???

Correct. It was one of the dumbest decisions I’ve ever seen.

 

[Aven8]

I thought it was ridiculous too. 40 yard Hail Marys seem makable at least.

 

[ChronicCowboy]

I think Mike and Kellen had a play up their sleeve but needed to be around the 25 to run it. Still too risky with no timeouts. Time management is a massive weakness for this staff.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

Two shots at the end zone are always better than just one, and 41 yards isn't too far by Hail Mary standards. 24 yards is closer, yes, but I prefer two further shots than one close shot. Plus, there's always the potential for a pass interference to set up a free untimed play from the 1-yard line.

In fact, I have NEVER heard of this strategy of "run a QB draw with bare seconds remaining so you can spike the ball." Has any high school, college or pro team ever done this before last night???

Fat Mike said it was the "right call."

How this guy has a head coaching is beyond me.

 

[baltcowboy]

Two shots at the end zone are always better than just one, and 41 yards isn't too far by Hail Mary standards. 24 yards is closer, yes, but I prefer two further shots than one close shot. Plus, there's always the potential for a pass interference to set up a free untimed play from the 1-yard line.

In fact, I have NEVER heard of this strategy of "run a QB draw with bare seconds remaining so you can spike the ball." Has any high school, college or pro team ever done this before last night???

Not if your quarterback can’t throw the football.

 

[BermyStar]

I think Mike and Kellen had a play up their sleeve but needed to be around the 25 to run it. Still too risky with no timeouts. Time management is a massive weakness for this staff.

+1

 

[BermyStar]

Two shots at the end zone are always better than just one, and 41 yards isn't too far by Hail Mary standards. 24 yards is closer, yes, but I prefer two further shots than one close shot. Plus, there's always the potential for a pass interference to set up a free untimed play from the 1-yard line.

In fact, I have NEVER heard of this strategy of "run a QB draw with bare seconds remaining so you can spike the ball." Has any high school, college or pro team ever done this before last night???

Not when you're smarter than everyone else in the stadium

 

[DFWJC]

I agree....unless the first 40 yarder get's picked.

Either way, that was a bizarre play call at the end.

 

[MajesticRey]

Fat Mike said it was the "right call."

How this guy has a head coaching is beyond me.

Mike isn’t the guy calling the offense’s plays but sure, let’s blame him instead of Kellen Moore… and by extension Dak.

 

[Brax]

I think Mike and Kellen had a play up their sleeve but needed to be around the 25 to run it. Still too risky with no timeouts. Time management is a massive weakness for this staff.

That play is still up their ............................

 

[catskillthunder]

I am curious to know what the analytical percentages are for this situation. I personally feel that I'd rather have 1 shot from the 24, then 2 shots from 41. Pass one from the 41 could get picked off. I dont know, arm chair QB is not really my strengths.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

With 14 seconds you could get 2 quick plays and an end zone shot off. Try and pick up 5-10 yards once or twice in a catch on the sideline which SF would have allowed to set up a 20-25 yard last try. That’s what I would have game planned. Lobbing up 2 40 yard ducks is not the best strategy when you have alternatives

 

[goshan]

With 14 seconds you could get 2 quick plays and an end zone shot off. Try and pick up 5-10 yards once or twice in a catch on the sideline which SF would have allowed to set up a 20-25 yard last try. That’s what I would have game planned. Lobbing up 2 40 yard ducks is not the best strategy when you have alternatives

No you couldn't. It was either two end-zone shots or do what we did (or try a quick pass over middle and spike the ball). They were not going to allow anyone to get out of bounds.

 

[goshan]

I am curious to know what the analytical percentages are for this situation. I personally feel that I'd rather have 1 shot from the 24, then 2 shots from 41. Pass one from the 41 could get picked off. I dont know, arm chair QB is not really my strengths.

Not sure the odds either. McCarthy said they would rather run true vertical routes (several WR) as opposed to a hail mary.

 

[LucaBrasi]

Not according to Fat Mike and his assembled analytics team in the barn up in Wisconsin

 

[WarDaddy]

The play call was fine with 18 seconds left. The execution at the end was NOT fine. It was a cluster. THAT’S poor coaching/preparation.

For all the kudos we give for the innovation we have on the offensive staff we have even more right to criticize the awful track record of preparation this staff has shown us. The team very often shows up not ready for the moment. Someone has to be accountable for this.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I'd rather have 1 shot from the 24, where you can run a semi actual play instead of a strict jump ball scenario.

I actually like the idea of the QB draw, execution was just extremely poor on the back end. Players had no idea what was going on, i'm sure it has been practiced, but it certainly didnt look like it.

 

[IceStar-D7]

If we had a time-out??? Great call. But San Fran probably let us do it because they knew we didn't have a time -out.

 

[Majic]

I believe the 49ers have had a larger number of PI calls this season as well.