Yeah, you keep proving my point. It was such an easy catch for a psychologically tough cousin of Lamar Jackson that he was obviously able to make several times in practice, yet he dropped it in the game when it counted. Gee, I wonder what was different about that live situation. Hmmmm. Nervousness? Pressure? Naw, couldn't be.
And Waitman’s punts were perfect in practice and then he shanked a punt instead of the fake.
You can't compare rote special teams activity to a fake punt which has never been attempted under real game conditions, with 15 yards to convert from their own 16 yard line.
To me, that's all the more reason to do it. NOBODY runs that play there. Yet the Steelers did.
It’s not rote. You act as if every punt goes 50 yards and has a 5 yard return. You also act as if giving up 40 yards of field position in the first half is a death knell.
Believe me, I'm not complaining about seeing Tomlin being aggressive and thinking outside the box. It was refreshing in that sense. I just disagree with the time, place, and personnel used. Other than that, it was perfect.
I'm not acting like that at all. You obviously don't know what the word "rote" means.
Like Sarge pointed out, Field position and distance is exactly what made that call brilliant. Like I said in an earlier post, NO ONE on the face of the planet would have expected that. Obviously neither did the Commanders. These players get paid Millions to make those types of plays. The other reason why I think the play was perfect is we were up by 7 and it was very early in the game.
How do you know how many times they practiced that play? It could be multiple times every practice and maybe he makes that catch 99.9 percent of the time just like a FG kicker makes that extra point or close field goal 99.9 percent of the time but occasionally misses one in his career that actually cost the team a win.
OK then what was your point in a punt supposedly being habitual?
or most other words.
Dri Archer is unimpressed by the length of this thread
Yes, they should eliminate the center/QB exchange, stop handing the ball off to running backs, not throw the ball on their side of the field, and stop kicking field goals, because, you know, those plays are as just risky as a fake punt with a safety throwing the ball to a defensive back when they need 15 yards.
I know that James Pierre said he practiced the play all week and caught it every time. And we all know that he dropped it when it counted on Sunday. I'm sure it was purely coincidence, and he'll catch it the next 999 times.
My point was that the special teams unit spends a whole lot more time practicing its normal punting operation than it does fake punts. And it is exponentially that way during actual games. The average team punts 63 times a year, whereas you might see them run one fake punt during a season.
I've explained my view clearly enough times. I do have a problem with the call because of the timing and the personnel, and yes, for those reasons I do have a problem with the result. You and others don't, and that's fine. God bless you.
Right, because the only way a fake punt works is if it’s unexpected AND… wait for it… the EXECUTION is there.
Again, I immediately defended the decision.
Cowher would automatically be a better coach now since you can't surprise onside kick in the Superbowl anymore...
No shlt.
Good for you and Bill Cowher.
Timing, referring to the down/distance and location on the field. As previously explained ad nauseum.
