Fake punt

[Fiji Mariner]

To me that is a play you scout and keep in your back pocket when needed. Wash wasn't doing anything on offense and we gave them a free TD. It is also on tape for other teams now so it won't be a surprise. That is a play that could have come in handy against the Ravens or even the playoffs, but now we wasted it

Showing confidence in your coaches who scouted it and players to execute is never a wasted play imho.

Can’t underestimate how players will play harder every single play when they feel they have the coach’s trust and that the coaches are putting players in a position to win.

I think the long term every down payoff is much larger than potentially keeping a maybe play in your pocket in case the situation ever happens to present itself waiting on a perfect scenario that may never happen.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

But they didn't keep possession..... and Washington got 7 quickly. If their receiver doesn't drop the easy catch in the back of the end zone no one here is going against what I'm saying today. It would be unanimous or almost unanimous that it was not a smart call.

It was not a smart call regardless of the game outcome. It was not bold, it was an ill thought out emotional reaction.

Spoken like someone living in their fears

Said it when it happened that it was a good call and will continue to believe it was an excellent call no matter the result of failed player execution.

There was zero emotion to the call, it was a calculated, pre scouted, practiced strategic call…emotion would’ve been living in your fears thinking I’m too scared to call this wide open play because the receiver may drop a wide open pass.

 

[Lunar]

The game is over. We won. I don't give a **** about the fake punt anymore.

 

[bermudasteel]

To me that is a play you scout and keep in your back pocket when needed. Wash wasn't doing anything on offense and we gave them a free TD. It is also on tape for other teams now so it won't be a surprise. That is a play that could have come in handy against the Ravens or even the playoffs, but now we wasted it

No.

The Commanders average 29 points a game. Analytics say, and I'm absolutely speculating this, putting them down by double digits early puts more pressure on the rookie QB.

Why would you or anyone think that the Steelers only have that one trick play in their playbook??? Again, all 31 teams no have to prepare "for anything" moving forward.

IMO, gone are the days of run, run, pass...

 

[BLITZ]

I had peppered bacon for breakfast. And I made fried potatoes. A little cheat but tasted so good

 

[Fiji Mariner]

I had peppered bacon for breakfast. And I made fried potatoes. A little cheat but tasted so good

Victory bacon always tastes great
And fried potatoes!!!
Winning

 

[alancac98]

As for Warren, he needs to learn to grab the ball with both hands when in that situation. But... had that play happened in KC, the refs would have huddled and said that forward progress was stopped - no fumble. Forward progress was stopped for 3 seconds, it should have blown dead and I would not have been mad at all. It happens all the time in games across the NFL where the play was blown dead, but just before the RB broke free from the pack and could have run!

 

[Gildong Sack]

Spoken like someone living in their fears

Said it when it happened that it was a good call and will continue to believe it was an excellent call no matter the result of failed player execution.

There was zero emotion to the call, it was a calculated, pre scouted, practiced strategic call…emotion would’ve been living in your fears thinking I’m too scared to call this wide open play because the receiver may drop a wide open pass.

I say emotion because I can't believe that was calculated. Even Tomlin said he made the call....why would you need to make a call if it depends on a read? Why do you need input from the sideline?

He told them before they went out there that if the gunner was uncovered to do it. Call it what you want.

 

[warriors42]

I say emotion because I can't believe that was calculated. Even Tomlin said he made the call....why would you need to make a call if it depends on a read? Why do you need input from the sideline?

He told them before they went out there that if the gunner was uncovered to do it. Call it what you want.

Personally i call it brilliant and one of the best decision making moments in Tomlin's Tenure as a head coach.
IMO Dan Campbell is one of the best head coaches in the NFL and he makes those calls damn near every week. How is that working out for the lions? Campbell keeps opposing teams on their heels and guessing every week. That's how you win football games.

I personally hope Tomlin makes these same calls every ******* week. It gives me hope that we are not afraid to take chances and are not just gonna sit on our ***** and hope for a win.

 

[Gildong Sack]

Personally i call it brilliant and one of the best decision making moments in Tomlin's Tenure as a head coach.
IMO Dan Campbell is one of the best head coaches in the NFL and he makes those calls damn near every week. How is that working out for the lions? Campbell keeps opposing teams on their heels and guessing every week. That's how you win football games.

I personally hope Tomlin makes these same calls every ******* week. It gives me hope that we are not afraid to take chances and are not just gonna sit on our ***** and hope for a win.

I hear you. Just didn't feel it was necessary at that point.

 

[warriors42]

I hear you. Just didn't feel it was necessary at that point.

I agree 100% it wasn't necessary but to my simple minded ***, that was exactly what made it such a great call.

 

[topseed]

Before many of you anoint Tomlin as an aggressive guru, let's take a closer look at what happened on the play:

1) The defender lines up on the outside, in front of the gunner, as per usual.
2) That defender comes running in toward the line of scrimmage before the snap, leaving the gunner uncovered.
3) The Steelers call the audible at the line.
4) Pierre drops the ball.

Yes, they deserve credit for noticing Washington's defensive flaw on film, and practicing the fake beforehand, but let's not pretend this is some sort of ingenious call. If the guy comes in off of the gunner, we throw it; if he doesn't, we punt. Not really that complicated. Yet it certainly wasn't the perfect distance needed to convert, or the ideal spot on the field to try and execute. There should have been restrictions in place where they go ahead and punt the ball anyway.

And while Pierre probably caught the ball every time they did it in practice, it's a different animal when you're in a real game, on the road, on your own 16 yardline, and you need 15 yards to convert. Put Ben Skowronek out there instead -- a guy who's caught 58 balls in the NFL, and made a clutch catch or two in his career. Not a DB who's shltting in his pants as the ball is heading in his direction when it counts.

 

[slashsteel]

Before many of you anoint Tomlin as an aggressive guru, let's take a closer look at what happened on the play:

1) The defender lines up on the outside, in front of the gunner, as per usual.
2) That defender comes running in toward the line of scrimmage before the snap, leaving the gunner uncovered.
3) The Steelers call the audible at the line.
4) Pierre drops the ball.

Yes, they deserve credit for noticing Washington's defensive flaw on film, and practicing the fake beforehand, but let's not pretend this is some sort of ingenious call. If the guy comes in off of the gunner, we throw it; if he doesn't, we punt. Not really that complicated. Yet it certainly wasn't the perfect distance needed to convert, or the ideal spot on the field to try and execute. There should have been restrictions in place where they go ahead and punt the ball anyway.

And while Pierre probably caught the ball every time they did it in practice, it's a different animal when you're in a real game, on the road, on your own 16 yardline, and you need 15 yards to convert. Put Ben Skowronek out there instead -- a guy who's caught 58 balls in the NFL, and made a clutch catch or two in his career. Not a DB who's shltting in his pants as the ball is heading in his direction when it counts.

A few mentioned if you put a WR out there perhaps they change up their approach and bring someone up.

Just simple they ran this play in practice over and over again. They didn’t have to use it at first sight. You wait until you aren’t backed up so close to your own end zone. Do that and you aren’t necessarily gift wrapping a TD.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Sounds like you and Confluence are actually agreeing on the one constant in the NFL

The officiating always sucks

So many bad calls and non calls it gets hard to watch at times, other games the refs wanna talk after every damn play. Zebras are worse than the Giants, Titans or Panthers

The worst ones are when the officials are close by and looking right at an infraction that my 8 year old son could call without a problem.

 

[Troglodyte]

Before many of you anoint Tomlin as an aggressive guru, let's take a closer look at what happened on the play:

1) The defender lines up on the outside, in front of the gunner, as per usual.
2) That defender comes running in toward the line of scrimmage before the snap, leaving the gunner uncovered.
3) The Steelers call the audible at the line.
4) Pierre drops the ball.

Yes, they deserve credit for noticing Washington's defensive flaw on film, and practicing the fake beforehand, but let's not pretend this is some sort of ingenious call. If the guy comes in off of the gunner, we throw it; if he doesn't, we punt. Not really that complicated. Yet it certainly wasn't the perfect distance needed to convert, or the ideal spot on the field to try and execute. There should have been restrictions in place where they go ahead and punt the ball anyway.

And while Pierre probably caught the ball every time they did it in practice, it's a different animal when you're in a real game, on the road, on your own 16 yardline, and you need 15 yards to convert. Put Ben Skowronek out there instead -- a guy who's caught 58 balls in the NFL, and made a clutch catch or two in his career. Not a DB who's shltting in his pants as the ball is heading in his direction when it counts.

Ya’ll act like the only risk involved in the play was limited to attempting a fake. Yes there was an outside chance that Pierre drops the ball. So what? If they punted, there was an outside chance the defender that left Pierre (or another player) blocks the punt… or returns it for a TD… or Waitman shanks it. You can’t conclude that the decision was bad based on the unlikely outcome.

Pierre is a professional athlete who plays one of the psychologically toughest position in sports. To assume he was “******** his pants” because they asked him catch a pass is laughable.

 

[bermudasteel]

Before many of you anoint Tomlin as an aggressive guru, let's take a closer look at what happened on the play:

1) The defender lines up on the outside, in front of the gunner, as per usual.
2) That defender comes running in toward the line of scrimmage before the snap, leaving the gunner uncovered.
3) The Steelers call the audible at the line.
4) Pierre drops the ball.

Yes, they deserve credit for noticing Washington's defensive flaw on film, and practicing the fake beforehand, but let's not pretend this is some sort of ingenious call. If the guy comes in off of the gunner, we throw it; if he doesn't, we punt. Not really that complicated. Yet it certainly wasn't the perfect distance needed to convert, or the ideal spot on the field to try and execute. There should have been restrictions in place where they go ahead and punt the ball anyway.

And while Pierre probably caught the ball every time they did it in practice, it's a different animal when you're in a real game, on the road, on your own 16 yardline, and you need 15 yards to convert. Put Ben Skowronek out there instead -- a guy who's caught 58 balls in the NFL, and made a clutch catch or two in his career. Not a DB who's shltting in his pants as the ball is heading in his direction when it counts.

Nice. But...

Had BS been out there--- Washington probably doesn't shift the DB to crash inside.

 

[oicu8ad]

Personally i call it brilliant and one of the best decision making moments in Tomlin's Tenure as a head coach.
IMO Dan Campbell is one of the best head coaches in the NFL and he makes those calls damn near every week. How is that working out for the lions? Campbell keeps opposing teams on their heels and guessing every week. That's how you win football games.

I personally hope Tomlin makes these same calls every ******* week. It gives me hope that we are not afraid to take chances and are not just gonna sit on our ***** and hope for a win.

How is that working for Dan? It kept him out of the Super Bowl last year, that's how it worked for him in last year's NFC championship. It sent SF to the big dance.

What I didn't like was field position (backed up way too far in our own territory), too early in the game (we HAD momentum), and personnel (Pierre).

 

[Stainless]

I would like to see more fake punts, and maybe nothing but fake punts.

 

[steel dino]

How is that working for Dan? It kept him out of the Super Bowl last year, that's how it worked for him in last year's NFC championship. It sent SF to the big dance.

What I didn't like was field position (backed up way too far in our own territory), too early in the game (we HAD momentum), and personnel (Pierre).

Agreed!
I bet the Lions to win NFC before season started …
Stupidity cost me a very nice return on my investment!

 

[Booted]

I would like to see more fake punts, and maybe nothing but fake punts.

First & Goal? Fake punt!

 

[Troglodyte]

How is that working for Dan? It kept him out of the Super Bowl last year, that's how it worked for him in last year's NFC championship. It sent SF to the big dance.

What I didn't like was field position (backed up way too far in our own territory), too early in the game (we HAD momentum), and personnel (Pierre).

Would you stop with the personnel thing? Pierre is Lamar Jackson’s cousin and also a professional athlete. Catching a football that’s thrown very hard isn’t a rare skill. It’s not like they asked Pierre to attempt a 50 yard FG.

 

[topseed]

A few mentioned if you put a WR out there perhaps they change up their approach and bring someone up.

Just simple they ran this play in practice over and over again. They didn’t have to use it at first sight. You wait until you aren’t backed up so close to your own end zone. Do that and you aren’t necessarily gift wrapping a TD.

Skowronek is primarily a special teams player for the Steelers. Not likely to set off any alarm bells.

 

[topseed]

Ya’ll act like the only risk involved in the play was limited to attempting a fake. Yes there was an outside chance that Pierre drops the ball. So what? If they punted, there was an outside chance the defender that left Pierre (or another player) blocks the punt… or returns it for a TD… or Waitman shanks it. You can’t conclude that the decision was bad based on the unlikely outcome.

Pierre is a professional athlete who plays one of the psychologically toughest position in sports. To assume he was “******** his pants” because they asked him catch a pass is laughable.

I'm acting like I didn't agree with the amount of yards they needed, where they were on the field, and the personnel used.

Unlikely outcome? If the throw from a safety, Miles Killebrew, is not accurate, it fails. If Pierre bobbles the ball at all, they don't make 15 yards. If he drops it, like he did, it fails -- and that's the bottom line: HE FAILED. For you to assume he wasn't shltting his pants is laughable, otherwise this psychologically tough professional athlete would have caught the ball...right?

 

[topseed]

Nice. But...

Had BS been out there--- Washington probably doesn't shift the DB to crash inside.

Then you simply punt the ball away with a 7-point lead and your defense playing well.

 

[Troglodyte]

I'm acting like I didn't agree with the amount of yards they needed, where they were on the field, and the personnel used.

Unlikely outcome? If the throw from a safety, Miles Killebrew, is not accurate, it fails. If Pierre bobbles the ball at all, they don't make 15 yards. If he drops it, like he did, it fails -- and that's the bottom line: HE FAILED. For you to assume he wasn't shltting his pants is laughable, otherwise this psychologically tough professional athlete would have caught the ball...right?

FFS, it was pitch and catch at the picnic easy. Yes, Pierre dropped the ball. There are also instances of Jerry Rice and Chris Carter dropping balls. From what I recall, he dropped it because he tried to run before securing the catch. It was an easy first down if he catches it.