Fake Punt Nearly Cost Us The Game

[Oviedo]

As would this board ...

$$$$$$$. I seem to recall we did win the game didn't we? Nothing wrong with an aggressive call that DID NOT cost us the game. "Coulda, shoulda woulda" means nothing

[fordfixer]

$$$$$$$. I seem to recall we did win the game didn't we? Nothing wrong with an aggressive call that DID NOT cost us the game. "Coulda, shoulda woulda" means nothing

I agree with Ovi on this (which just seems wrong for some reason)

[Shawn]

Are people really saying that the team should never try a fake punt ever? I don't agree with that. If it had been better designed and worked, It would have been a good play. You have to keep the other team guessing. No onside kicks either? How about no flea flickers or reverses. No going for it on fourth down either. Just play ultraconservatively.

I would never take the attitude that I hate a play that works. The main problem with this one is that it didn't fool anybody.

Why do people insist on straw man to makes points? I see no one here who said never go for a fake punt. Actually, fake punts are a great tool especially when playing a superior opponent in certain situations, just like onside kicks.

[7 UP]

Are people really saying that the team should never try a fake punt ever? I don't agree with that. If it had been better designed and worked, It would have been a good play. You have to keep the other team guessing. No onside kicks either? How about no flea flickers or reverses. No going for it on fourth down either. Just play ultraconservatively.

I would never take the attitude that I hate a play that works. The main problem with this one is that it didn't fool anybody.

I dont think anyone has a problem with a well designed fake punt. What we did was not a fake punt. What we did was send our punting unit out and ran a play. There is a BIG difference. Any play that starts with "Ross Ventrone in motion" is probably not going to work.

[Slapstick]

And that is precisely why it was a bad call: It didn't work.

[7 UP]

And that is precisely why it was a bad call: It didn't work.

It was a bad time for the play. It was a bad play. It was poor execution. Had it worked, it still would have been a bad call. Im glad you live your life in such black and white terms. Some of us arent color blind. But by all means, lets continue to beat this horse

[Slapstick]

If the fake punt worked, nobody is on here b!tching and moaning about it.

Period.

[Steelerphile]

Why do people insist on straw man to makes points? I see no one here who said never go for a fake punt. Actually, fake punts are a great tool especially when playing a superior opponent in certain situations, just like onside kicks.

I don't really want to beat this into the ground. But can you think of a specific instance when you think a fake punt is a good call? Because I can think of reasons why it was warranted in this case. Namely, the Steelers had only a three point lead, they had not been able to mount much of an offense in the second half. They had lost LeVeon Bell which might further hamper the offense. Cincinnati held a large lead in Time of Possession. So, the defense had been successful keeping them out of the endzone, but not really that successful in making them go three and out. Time was running down, so if Cincinnati gets the ball back, they could potentially hold it long enough to march down the field and use up all the time. Then, maybe they hit on a TD, or kick the FG which puts the team in a possible overtime, where it could also go wrong.

So, in my mind it was not quite the boneheaded time to call the play, but the execution was terrible.

[buccoray61]

I don't really want to beat this into the ground.

This thread is well beyond that point.

[Slapstick]

Hell, I'm just happy that we are debating the merits of a failed play after a victory where the Steelers won the AFC North and secured a home playoff game....

Much better than the alternative.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Hell, I'm just happy that we are debating the merits of a failed play after a victory where the Steelers won the AFC North and secured a home playoff game....

Much better than the alternative.

[Mr.wizard]

I don't really want to beat this into the ground. But can you think of a specific instance when you think a fake punt is a good call? Because I can think of reasons why it was warranted in this case. Namely, the Steelers had only a three point lead, they had not been able to mount much of an offense in the second half. They had lost LeVeon Bell which might further hamper the offense. Cincinnati held a large lead in Time of Possession. So, the defense had been successful keeping them out of the endzone, but not really that successful in making them go three and out. Time was running down, so if Cincinnati gets the ball back, they could potentially hold it long enough to march down the field and use up all the time. Then, maybe they hit on a TD, or kick the FG which puts the team in a possible overtime, where it could also go wrong.



So, in my mind it was not quite the boneheaded time to call the play, but the execution was terrible.

I agree, I don't think it was boneheaded at all, the defense just did a good job against it. Its only considered a bad call because it didn't work.

[7 UP]

Hell, I'm just happy that we are debating the merits of a failed play after a victory where the Steelers won the AFC North and secured a home playoff game....

Much better than the alternative.

[Oviedo]

I agree with Ovi on this (which just seems wrong for some reason)

It's a new year and you are getting smarter. Wisdom with age

[fordfixer]

It's a new year and you are getting smarter. Wisdom with age

You know I do feel smarter