26-7, 17-7 couple strategy questions

[1st and Goal--]

Q1: When the Steelers scored just as the 4thQ started and opened a 26-7 lead they kicked the point to make it 27-7. Couple patrons in the bar considered going for a 2 pt CV here to make the score 28-7 so that 3 TD's did not beat the Steelers. The downside was at 26-7 Cinci could tie with 2 TD's 2 2ptCV and 1 FG. QUESTION: Since at both 27-7 and 26 -7 3 TD's were required to win what would be the best plan for the Steelers to win the game.

Q2: At the end of the 2ndQ, Cinci gave the Steelers the ball at the Pit 41 with :45 seconds left. I turned to a Steeler detractor and said this will finish the Bengals and bet him a drink that the Steelers would turn Cinci's bungling of the time into a TD before the half.

On the 1st play Ben hit Wallace for a 24 yd gain to the Cinci 35 and the Steelers ran up to the LOS set and Ben spiked the ball. 22 seconds elapsed and the spike of the ball cost another second and even more importantly a precious down. QUESTION: Was this a better strategy than calling one of the two TO's the Steelers had which would have saved as much as l2-15 seconds of time?

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: 26-7, 17-7 couple strategy questions

Q1: When the Steelers scored just as the 4thQ started and opened a 26-7 lead they kicked the point to make it 27-7. Couple patrons in the bar considered going for a 2 pt CV here to make the score 28-7 so that 3 TD's did not beat the Steelers. The downside was at 26-7 Cinci could tie with 2 TD's 2 2ptCV and 1 FG. QUESTION: Since at both 27-7 and 26 -7 3 TD's were required to win what would be the best plan for the Steelers to win the game.

Q2: At the end of the 2ndQ, Cinci gave the Steelers the ball at the Pit 41 with :45 seconds left. I turned to a Steeler detractor and said this will finish the Bengals and bet him a drink that the Steelers would turn Cinci's bungling of the time into a TD before the half.

On the 1st play Ben hit Wallace for a 24 yd gain to the Cinci 35 and the Steelers ran up to the LOS set and Ben spiked the ball. 22 seconds elapsed and the spike of the ball cost another second and even more importantly a precious down. QUESTION: Was this a better strategy than calling one of the two TO's the Steelers had which would have saved as much as l2-15 seconds of time?

Q1--In this situation, I would have done what the Steelers did. When you have that kind of lead going into the 4th quarter, take the more certain extra point.

Q2--Steelers are not that great at time management. Taking one of their two timeouts would have been smarter in that situation, IMO.

[feltdizz]

Re: 26-7, 17-7 couple strategy questions

Q1: When the Steelers scored just as the 4thQ started and opened a 26-7 lead they kicked the point to make it 27-7. Couple patrons in the bar considered going for a 2 pt CV here to make the score 28-7 so that 3 TD's did not beat the Steelers. The downside was at 26-7 Cinci could tie with 2 TD's 2 2ptCV and 1 FG. QUESTION: Since at both 27-7 and 26 -7 3 TD's were required to win what would be the best plan for the Steelers to win the game.

Q2: At the end of the 2ndQ, Cinci gave the Steelers the ball at the Pit 41 with :45 seconds left. I turned to a Steeler detractor and said this will finish the Bengals and bet him a drink that the Steelers would turn Cinci's bungling of the time into a TD before the half.

On the 1st play Ben hit Wallace for a 24 yd gain to the Cinci 35 and the Steelers ran up to the LOS set and Ben spiked the ball. 22 seconds elapsed and the spike of the ball cost another second and even more importantly a precious down. QUESTION: Was this a better strategy than calling one of the two TO's the Steelers had which would have saved as much as l2-15 seconds of time?

A1: I would make sense to go for 2. However when you are up 26-7 with an extra point it shouldn't matter.

A2: Definitely should have used a TO. That took way too much time off the clock.

[papillon]

Re: 26-7, 17-7 couple strategy questions

Question 1

In both scenarios three TDs beat you. In the scenario where they need to make 2 - 2 point conversion and the FG to tie, you have to ask yourself the question. Is it easier for them to have to score 3 TDs or is it easier to score 2 TDs and 2 - 2 point conversions and a FG. I don't know the answer, but I tend to lean toward forcing them into the 3 TD scenario to win.

Question 2
This one is much easier; they should have called a timeout. Anytime you're running the hurry up and you hit a big play, I tend to believe you should use a timeout to conserve clock and to regroup to see what you might change in your play calling.

Pappy

[D Rock]

Re: 26-7, 17-7 couple strategy questions

when you are up 20 points in the 4th Q, you don't worry about point scenarios. You always take the easier point, and expect to score more while continuing to shut down the opponent. The Steelers were correct on taking the 1 pt, they just didn't execute the rest so it made it seem like that was a strategic decision to have been made.


Leave decisions about catch-up scenarios to the losing team and continue to take any points you can get, unless the potential point difference of a PAT/2 PT conv. is 2-to-3 or 5-to-6 point leads and it is late in the game.


And use the time out. As someone else said, it is important to both regroup and also save time when you need to get big guys running down field and set up just to waste a down. Especially if you have 2 time outs to spend. Use the first one, save the second until absolutely needed, and work the sidelines/passes to the endzone.

[SteelAbility]

Re: 26-7, 17-7 couple strategy questions

when you are up 20 points in the 4th Q, you don't worry about point scenarios. You always take the easier point, and expect to score more while continuing to shut down the opponent. The Steelers were correct on taking the 1 pt, they just didn't execute the rest so it made it seem like that was a strategic decision to have been made.


Leave decisions about catch-up scenarios to the losing team and continue to take any points you can get, unless the potential point difference of a PAT/2 PT conv. is 2-to-3 or 5-to-6 point leads and it is late in the game.


And use the time out. As someone else said, it is important to both regroup and also save time when you need to get big guys running down field and set up just to waste a down. Especially if you have 2 time outs to spend. Use the first one, save the second until absolutely needed, and work the sidelines/passes to the endzone.

Unless you are prone 4thQ meltdowns ... :P

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Re: 26-7, 17-7 couple strategy questions

A1 - if you're ahead by that many points, you always take the extra points and move on... the bigger the lead, the bigger the problem for the opponent. What you don't want to do is turn a 3 TD lead into a 2 TD lead by "what-if" ing yourself out of the simple answer. Perfect example - if we go for 2 and miss it, that final drive could have meant OT - they were easily in FG range.

The minute you take a 20 point lead and go for 2 is the minute your defense begins to wonder if you've lost confidence in them... and the other team KNOWS you're skerred.

If you're in the lead, you take the guaranteed extra point and make them have to score 3 tds' instead of 2 + a FG... PERIOD.


A2 - Timeouts, it depends... in a 2 minute drive, you always try to keep one in your pocket, in the event, you get in FG range and need to kick it (due to time constraints).

Given the team was already across midfield and just a few yards outside of FG range, you have to play it to get those 3 points at a minimum... In other words, if you have 2 TOs, calling a timeout now would effectively be your LAST timeout (cuz you're saving one for the kick, if needed). IF, you call that timeout on that play, you're now forced to throw ONLY to the sidelines... completely changes strategy -- both sides of the ball.

(I can't remember how much time was left) but, unless you'll be under say 20 seconds, you run up, you spike it, and work within whatever time constraints you have left. You can call your plays knowing that a sack, or any play that doesn't get out of bounds doesn't run out the half because you have your timeout...