Fake Punt Nearly Cost Us The Game

[fordfixer]

Fake Punt Nearly Cost Us The Game. But it didn't

[Shawn]

Add me to the list who say that was a bad call period, even if it worked. I don't get the "it's a bad call if it fails, good call if it works" argument. That's nonsense. We've all made poor decisions that happened to work out for the better. Life is like that. But being lucky does not magically transform a dumb decision into a smart one.

The fake punt was an objectively bad decision regardless of the outcome. We're up by 3 against Andy Dalton with 6 minutes left at mid-field. It's 4th and 9. In what universe does this call for a fake punt? Gutsy call? Sure. Smart call? Nope - the risk and reward on that play are totally out of whack. It makes no sense.

Add to that fact that the play design was awful and everyone saw it coming from a mile away and yet the Steelers went through with it like automatons. That made it even worse. But the original sin was the completely inexcusable awful call. That said, we won. Go Steelers.

Don't bother...you make sense and that doesn't go far here.

[MCHammer]

when a head coach decides to go ahead and make a tough call he's a genius if the play works.

if it doesn't work, he's an idiot...

You keep repeating that as if it's a magic spell. But some decisions are objectively bad regardless of how they happen to turn out. Driving drunk for instance. And yeah, I get it - football is not personal life. But the same principle applies. Your mantra can be used to defend any play at any time. Maybe we should do onside kicks every kick off this Saturday. It's only a bad decision if it doesn't work.

[MCHammer]

There is a difference between making a bad personal decision and making a bad call in a football game...

I know there is, but they would both be bad calls. The fact that football is a game does not remove it from objective reality. Many calls can be legitimately argued one way or another. That fake punt isn't one of them.

[Shawn]

I know there is, but they would both be bad calls. The fact that football is a game does not remove it from objective reality. Many calls can be legitimately argued one way or another. That fake punt isn't one of them.

lol...objective reality. That also doesn't fly here.

[MCHammer]

Opinions will vary. I've said my piece.

Here's looking forward to other "gutsy" calls that break our way in the end.

[hawaiiansteel]

Maybe we should do onside kicks every kick off this Saturday. It's only a bad decision if it doesn't work.

there really wouldn't be an element of surprise if we did an onside kick every kick off, now would there?

Tomlin was hoping to catch the Bengals by surprise but it didn't work and I'll agree that the play was very poorly executed. therefore, it was a bad call.

and if the play would have worked the tv announcers would have been hailing and praising Tomlin for his gutsy call...

[Slapstick]

I know there is, but they would both be bad calls. The fact that football is a game does not remove it from objective reality. Many calls can be legitimately argued one way or another. That fake punt isn't one of them.

If it works, then, objectively, how in the hell is it a BAD call?!?

[hawaiiansteel]

Fake Punt Nearly Cost Us The Game. But it didn't

exactly.

and we're AFC North Division Champions for the first time since 2010.

[bostonsteeler]

I'm actually ok with the play call.
What I'm not OK with was Cincy adjusting and no one having the wisdom to back out of the play - even thought it was covered. He prolly shoulda called a TO.

The play was done the moment one of the players went in motion. If the play called for it, it was a stupid play. If it just happened (how does something just happen before the snap, though?), then they ought to have called a TO.

[MCHammer]

there really wouldn't be an element of surprise if we did an onside kick every kick off, now would there?

Oh, so some calls are bad regardless of the outcome?

Thanks for the concession. We'll have to just be content to disagree on this particular call.

[MCHammer]

If it works, then, objectively, how in the hell is it a BAD call?!?

Slap, this has been beaten to death. I have nothing new to add to what I already typed.

[Slapstick]

Slap, this has been beaten to death. I have nothing new to add to what I already typed.

Then the argument makes no sense. We can agree to disagree.

[papillon]

If it works, then, objectively, how in the hell is it a BAD call?!?

Well, an analogy of sorts, its like the basketball coach that has a 3 point shooter standing 3 feet outside the arc and he gets a pass and starts his shooting motion, the coach is yelling "don't shoot, don't shoot, good shot (after the fade away 3 ball hits all nylon). I was yelling don't fake, don't fake, I wish I was yelling great play afterwards, but I wasn't. Even if the fake punt had worked I believe I would have thought it wasn't the right thing to do, similar to the basketball coach that was happy for the 3 points, but not tickled with the shot.

Pappy

[Flasteel]

Well, an analogy of sorts, its like the basketball coach that has a 3 point shooter standing 3 feet outside the arc and he gets a pass and starts his shooting motion, the coach is yelling "don't shoot, don't shoot, good shot (after the fade away 3 ball hits all nylon). I was yelling don't fake, don't fake, I wish I was yelling great play afterwards, but I wasn't. Even if the fake punt had worked I believe I would have thought it wasn't the right thing to do, similar to the basketball coach that was happy for the 3 points, but not tickled with the shot.

Pappy

That's about the way I see it. Even if it works, you have to question the mentality of the call. I was livid when it happened and the only reason I didn't sound off in this thread earlier is because I had that same uneasy feeling in my gut that the defense would fold. Tomlin basically stated this was his rationale for the call. I still try to pin them all day long and not force that same suspect defense to defend a short field.