Wtf was Tomlin thinking?

[NorthCoast]

I still feel the same about it.

The play itself was brilliant. It's just the situation it was called in, wasn't. If we were near mid-field, go for it. But so close to our own end zone, the risk is too high for the reward. If he makes the catch, we still likely need to go 60+ yards to score. But, if ANYTHING goes wrong, the Commanders have the ball at OUR 15, gifting them points.

At our own 15, you call the play that you routinely make. A punt. You don't call the play that you've never made before unless you are desperate at that point in time, which we weren't. It ended up being a momentum killer that felt like it took a while to recover from.

I don't think you are understanding.
If the Steelers were near midfield, there is NO way they leave the gunner uncovered. He was uncovered at the 15 because they were going after the block with everyone between the hashes. That's why they called it when they did.

[feltdizz]

I am not a Tomlin hater I am a supporter. That being said I think that was an unnecessary risk at that time of the game. It gave a boost to the Commanders and our D was rolled easily.

It turned the momentum of the game at that time. I said at the time it was a stupid move. I think the decision maker, Killebrew should not have that authority in that situation. It reflects a lack of confidence in our ability to stop them. I know that wasn't what we thought but it gives life to them after we were smacking them around.

It was an unnecessary risk.

It was practiced all week. Killibrew didn’t go rogue.

It didn’t reflect an inability to stop them. Game just started and we forced 6 punts when they punted 19 times in the first 9 games.

It was a reflection in our confidence in ST’s. Pierre just dropped it.

[feltdizz]

I still feel the same about it.

The play itself was brilliant. It's just the situation it was called in, wasn't. If we were near mid-field, go for it. But so close to our own end zone, the risk is too high for the reward. If he makes the catch, we still likely need to go 60+ yards to score. But, if ANYTHING goes wrong, the Commanders have the ball at OUR 15, gifting them points.

At our own 15, you call the play that you routinely make. A punt. You don't call the play that you've never made before unless you are desperate at that point in time, which we weren't. It ended up being a momentum killer that felt like it took a while to recover from.

Definitely a risk but it would be an extra possession if Pierre caught it. Weird how a fake is now just another 3 plays instead of a chance for Wilson to get 7 more points.

Fake punts aren’t just called in desperation. Fake punts are called when teams least expect it. That is the beauty of a good fake punt call.

What you want is convenience. A fake punt that doesn’t hurt us if it isn’t converted.

["BuzzNuter"]

It was practiced all week. Killibrew didn’t go rogue.

It didn’t reflect an inability to stop them. Game just started and we forced 6 punts when they punted 19 times in the first 9 games.

It was a reflection in our confidence in ST’s. Pierre just dropped it.

I suppose that's a good thing. Our confidence is growing. Our D is getting it going at the right time. In hind sight it's easy to say it was stupid because it failed but I get it.

I'm used to our defense in the past rolling over but if you want to play for all the marbles you can't live in your fears.

[feltdizz]

I suppose that's a good thing. Our confidence is growing. Our D is getting it going at the right time. In hind sight it's easy to say it was stupid because it failed but I get it.

I'm used to our defense in the past rolling over but if you want to play for all the marbles you can't live in your fears.

if they sniffed it out or we threw it in the dirt I would get the frustration.

Kamara had a wide open 40 yarder to seal the game and he dropped it. Imagine fans saying it was a bad call because it stopped the clock instead of just admitting it was a great call and Kamara crapped his pants.

Any play that has a guy wide open for a first down is a good call.

[feltdizz]

I remember the Pats going for it on 4th down vs the Colts on their side of the field late in the game to seal the win and most people said it was the right call. This was in the playoffs.

It failed and the Colts won.

Everyone loves aggressive coaching unless it's their team and it fails. Then its always the wrong call.

[Starlifter]

little late to this party.

y'all who are upset are overthinking this.

In the NFL - it's expected that two professional players are able to throw and catch a ball 15 yards when the receiver is uncovered. it should be as routine as the center snapping the ball to the QB or a kicker making a 20 yard FG.

The play was there. It was the right call for the right reason. give the steelers that situation again, shoot - give ANY team that situation, and they're throwing that ball 99% of the time.

Pierre screwed the pooch. it happens.

[Chucktownsteeler]

It was a good call, poor execution.

I was more upset we won the coin toss and elected to receive. I always would defer.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Not true the play was wide open your chances of converting a wide open lob pass is much higher than lining up and going for it on 4th and 15. Also, again it wasn't a play call from Tomlin, try understanding what actually happened before calling it the worst coaching decision.

And of course you have proof of this? Where is it? Don't tell me what to understand .

The odds of covering a 4th and 5 on a fake punt are way lower than with a traditional pass. Never this early in the game would I or any NFL coach do this at your own 15 yard line.

PS: You forgot to zip up Tomiln's fly route.

[feltdizz]

And of course you have proof of this? Where is it? Don't tell me what to understand .

The odds of covering a 4th and 5 on a fake punt are way lower than with a traditional pass. Never this early in the game would I or any NFL coach do this at your own 15 yard line.

PS: You forgot to zip up Tomiln's fly route.

This is false. Here is the data from 2000 to 2022

Conversion rate on 4th and 5:

traditional pass: 43%
fake punt pass: 50%

scroll down to part 3 for the table data. https://rpubs.com/jlmanalytics/99153...0pass%20plays.

Damn dude.. another L, and you even added a sexual insult. Might need to get my IT guy involved <insert laughing emoji>

The reason is simple, teams aren't prepared for a fake pass and its usually called when there is a clear break down in assignment or they are lined up to try and block a punt.

[Prowler]

According to feltdizz's data we had a 50% chance of turning the ball over at the our own 16 yard line. That makes MT decision even worse considering we were up in the game.

So in other words it appears that on faked punts there is a high probability that defensive players can't execute a simple pass and catch. According to the protectors of Tomlin it was absolutely brilliant to allow the opposing team to have a 50% chance of getting the ball on our 16 yard line and give points to the Redskins.

And even if we managed to execute the faked punt successfully we still had to drive 80 yards down the field to score. I bet you the probability of that happening is much less than 50% which makes this strategy so early in the game a borderline retarded one.

Thankfully, I have lots of sound reasoning and good judgement. Something Tomlin's guardian angels don't have.

[Oviedo]

Was it Mike T calling a play.

Listening to insiders on the post game shows, from what I understand, it is predetermined that if certain things happen and they see a certain thing the player on the field make the call

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I didn't love it at that time, in that place on the field, but I was good with it. It was a very specialized play call based on the other team. The design was perfect. It was a play that could have come any time that Washington ran a punt return look that obviously they have done before and Coach Smith saw it and drew it up.

You have a well-coached unit that has practised a play based on the look given.
You have a trusted veteran special teams player who is responsible for determining when to call it.
You have a long snapper who puts the ball perfectly in his hands.
You have a flawless throw to a man who was so far alone that I thought he was in time out.
That man drops a ball that was so easy, it looked like a kid playing catch on the front lawn with his dad. A catch that I would have expected 100% of NFL players to make, regardless of position, size, or if it has been practised.
He makes that catch, he is running for 20 yards before he is even met by an opposing player.

I'm fine not running it there, but if you choose not to when the golden opportunity is there, that is "living in your fears".

[Prowler]

Was it Mike T calling a play.

Listening to insiders on the post game shows, from what I understand, it is predetermined that if certain things happen and they see a certain thing the player on the field make the call

I think the insiders are right about the players making the call on the field. However, it is my argument that the players should be coached up to never do this so early in the game or when the team is leading in the game.

I have no problem with a fake punt in the 4th quarter and if we're behind in the game.

[Chucktownsteeler]

This is false. Here is the data from 2000 to 2022

Conversion rate on 4th and 5:

traditional pass: 43%
fake punt pass: 50%

scroll down to part 3 for the table data. https://rpubs.com/jlmanalytics/99153...0pass%20plays.

Damn dude.. another L, and you even added a sexual insult. Might need to get my IT guy involved <insert laughing emoji>

The reason is simple, teams aren't prepared for a fake pass and its usually called when there is a clear break down in assignment or they are lined up to try and block a punt.

Isn't this the same guy making sexual innuendos on Najee?