Our ball, 4th and 1 from CMU 41, 2:16 left

[Eric15]

We intentionally got a delay of game penalty and then punted. I actually found this decision much more frustrating than our timeout with 15 seconds left.

With our defense completely exhausted and our inability to stop CMU's offense for most of the day, I was a HUGE advocate of going for it on 4th down in that situation. If it was 2 or 3 yards I punt, but with 1 yard I think cost-benefit it pays to go for it. Others thoughts?

(I'm asking this question because I enjoy debating football strategy, not for the purpose of criticizing the staff).

 

[OrangeXtreme]

http://syracusefan.com/threads/obligatory-punt-post.93819/

 

[djorange1989]

I normally would have been ticked off about punting, but we couldn't get a freakin' first down the entire 2nd half. I think it made sense to pin them deep and give them a very long way to go.

 

[OrangeAggieArmy]

I say you go for it. You seize the initiative and you end the game right there on your terms. That's playing to win.

 

[Eric15]

http://syracusefan.com/threads/obligatory-punt-post.93819/

I've agreed with Millhouse on multiple things lately and quite frankly, it's making me uncomfortable.

 

[DPCuse]

I was ok with it. Offense couldn't get a first down the entire second half and we had at least a couple 3rd and shorts. Given that it was fourth down, CMU would have stacked the box to stuff the run. And I don't think we would have been gutsy enough to throw it. So punt it deep and rely on the D to stop them from going 85 yards in 2 minutes. If I were a coach, I'd take that gamble any day.

 

[jgeorge322]

Judging by the fact we won, it appears correct call was made.

 

[ImperialOrange]

I've mentioned this multiple times but fully agree. 1 yard to win the game essentially while our defense was clinging to life. If our D was fresh and had defended the pass better maybe I think about it differently but given they weren't either of those I go for it.

If nothing else, hard count the sh** out of them and try and get them to jump vs just taking a delay. If your end result is still a delay of game you at least tried.

I mentioned in the things I want/do not want to see thread prior to the game that I wanted to see winning play calling vs playing not to lose. That call is firmly in the later.

 

[Eric15]

Judging by the fact we won, it appears correct call was made.

That makes no sense. They went 90 yards down the field after that punt and scored.

 

[upperdeck]

but it took them long enough we didnt have to try and run a play to get to OT had they gone less distance they score sooner and we have time to mess up getting to OT

 

[kcsu]

O was doing nothing but at a minimum we should have tried to get them to jump. That was the mistake. Get them to jump or take the delay of game not just give it to them.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Judging by the fact we won, it appears correct call was made.

Is this real life?

 

[NineOneSeven]

http://syracusefan.com/threads/that-punt.93678/

 

[Briancuse]

Horrible decision, had it not been for an even worse decision, he would be getting killed over it.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

That makes no sense. They went 90 yards down the field after that punt and scored.

Well, if they get it at the 40, they score more quickly, force us to punt, then get a FG in regulation, and we lose. So there was that possibility.

 

[Eric15]

Well, if they get it at the 40, they score more quickly, force us to punt, then get a FG in regulation, and we lose. So there was that possibility.

So if you're that paranoid that we lose in regulation, then aren't you also that paranoid we would lose in OT as well?

Isn't the solution to both those problems to try get one yard and win the game?

 

[Bayside44]

In this day and age it's 2 plays to get the ball back to that spot - understanding that we should go for it.

Giants had a similar brain fart like that yesterday.

 

[Briancuse]

Well, if they get it at the 40, they score more quickly, force us to punt, then get a FG in regulation, and we lose. So there was that possibility.

You have to have the mentality that you will be able to pick up a couple of inches.

 

[longislandcuse]

The "hard nosed" mantra makes stuff like this so hard to take. If we were "timid but somewhat aggressive at times" or "safe and conservative" it would go down much easier, but "hard nosed"?.. Nothing we do is "hard nosed". We blitz a lot, I guess there's that.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Can't look at the play in a vacuum.

If our defense had been stifling them and causing big problems, okay fine punt it.

But is that what happened? no. Our defense had literally let them waltz down the field the entire half. Why think that it's going to change? Guess what- it didn't.

You go for the kill shot right there, end of story.

 

[CusefanATL]

In this day and age it's 2 plays to get the ball back to that spot - understanding that we should go for it.

Giants had a similar brain fart like that yesterday.

When did the giants make a brain fart by not going for it?

 

[AAM62]

I think we go for it with a healthy trudo

 

[OrangeXtreme]

The "hard nosed" mantra makes stuff like this so hard to take. If we were "timid but somewhat aggressive at times" or "safe and conservative" it would go down much easier, but "hard nosed"?.. Nothing we do is "hard nosed". We blitz a lot, I guess there's that.

I'm sure that when Shafer coined the "hardnosed" verbiage he wasn't envisioning his 5th string walk-on QB taking meaningful snaps.

 

[Bayside44]

When did the giants make a brain fart by not going for it?

That stupid run play on 3rd and 2 that went nowhere...I was listening on WFAN in Va so it was all a bit spotty.

 

[longislandcuse]

I'm sure that when Shafer coined the "hardnosed" verbiage he wasn't envisioning his 5th string walk-on QB taking meaningful snaps.

It's a philosophy. It doesn't matter who's taking the snaps. The situation was backup QB taking the snap and needing one yard. We literally couldn't stop them...at all. No matter what, the hard nosed thing to do there is end it. Get one yard on a MAC team and end it. I don't care who's taking snaps. End the game and impose your will.