It seems to me that the major implications of the new OT rules is that if you get the ball first and have the opportunity to get a FG, you should punt or go for it instead. Why? Think about it: 1. If you get down to the 40 yard line and it's 4th down, you can try a 57 yard FG or punt. If you make the FG, the other team gets the ball with 4 downs every time to get another FG. If you don't make the FG, the other team now only has to drive 25 yards for a FG to win. So you should punt and try to pin them deep. 2. If you get down to around the 5 yard line and it's 4th down, you can try a 22 yard field goal or go for it. The field goal gives the other team the ball. Since they have to score at least a FG, they'll go for it on 4th down every time, so it's going to be much easier for them to score a field goal. Or you can go for it. Even if you don't make it, there's a decent chance you can make the other team punt, giving you great field position, or maybe even get a safety, allowing you to win right there. 3. Say you have the ball around the 25 yard line and it's 4th down and 17. I would do a really short pooch punt rather than kick the FG. That way, a stop means you win. A made FG doesn't do all that much (gives the opposition 4 downs all the way down the field to score a FG) and converting doesn't seem likely. So what does this have to do with us? First, it makes short punts a lot more valuable. Pinning the opposition inside the 10 is going to be a HUGE asset at the first drive of OT. Weatherford is good at it. Second, I think we can use him on a fake in FG situations. 4th and 4 from the 15, make them think we're kicking a FG and run with Weatherford instead. Thoughts?
First preference is to get points on board. Getting a TD instead of a FG is secondary. They only time we should go for it on 4th down is if we are at the 1 yard line. It makes much more sense to go for it then. You don't punt the ball away on 4th down if you are in FG range.
Maybe you missed something in that paragraph. If not, you are not making any sense. If we pooch punt, how do we win with a stop?
Exactly. Now, if you want to say at the 36 yardline, we should punt instead of kick, I can live with it. But we're in a dome. This is perfect kicking conditions for Folk, and he has a bigger leg than Vinatieri. You obviously want to get a TD. If you have 4th and short on the other side of the field, you have to be more aggressive early in the quarter and try to get that gamewinning touchdown. But you still want points. If it's 4th and 10 from the 35 yardline, I'd rather have Folk try the long field goal in the dome. Then all you need is one more field goal to win. And if it gets late in the overtime period, then all you need to do is protect the lead.
First, if you miss the FG, you're a 30-40 yard drive away from losing. Second, a FG doesn't win. There's a good chance (guessing at least 30% higher than normal) of the opposition getting at least a FG on their next drive since they will go for it on 4th down. Third, if the opposition does get a FG, you have to kick ANOTHER field goal to win. At least with our team, it would be much better to pin them inside the 10 and make them drive 60 yards to get a chance at a field goal. You also have a decent shot at a 3 and out, whereas if you kick a FG, the opposition is going to go for it on 4th down. You HAVE to punt it there. I believe this is going to be the strategy of most coaching staffs. They'll either go for it on 4th down or pooch punt since a FG on the first drive has significantly diminished value.
I was talking about a 3 and out. Presumably, they punt and we get the ball in really good field position. A first down basically puts us in FG range to win.
I was talking specifically about the first possession of OT and what we do if we get it, not to game situations. But to put it simply, here are the options on a short FG on the first possession of OT: Option 1: We give Peyton Manning (or Tom Brady or Ben Rothlesberger) the ball at the 25-35 yard line with 4 downs. A FG ties, A TD wins. So they have to drive roughly 35+ yards with 4 downs. Option 2: We give the opposing QB the ball at the 1-10 yard line with 3 downs. Any score wins. So they have to drive roughly 65+ yards with only 3 downs. Which is easier for the defense? I know which one I'd take. And that's not even factoring in the small, but real chance of a safety to win in option 2.
That is assume the placement of the ball is where you punt it or leave it at. I thought this was like college ball and they get the ball at a set placement in the field every time to stop the scheming like this
Would it make any sense, assuming we won the coin toss, to defer the ball and let them have it first. That way when we get the ball we know if we can win with a field goal or if we need to get a TD. Plus there is always a chance we could get a turnover.
No, a touchdown on the first possession ends the game, so you can't risk that. Take the ball, score, win. If you can only make a FG, take it, then stop them, win. Simples.
Which probably factored in when the league decided to institute this in just the playoffs. I'm looking forward to see it in action.
Im sure im just not understanding what you wrote here, but if they go ten yards in 4 downs they get a first down and 4 more tries just like in regulation.
Yea double OT. Unless the opening possesion was an long time eating FG drive, and the other team had a long time eating drive of their own and time expired before they got into FG range and made an attempt, which is possible by the rules but almost impossible that it would ever actually happen.
Yep was just using your post as a benchmark. The second part was in reference to "protecting the lead"
a touchdown on any possession ends the game is the rule that a fg on your second possession ends the game? if so i think the op is correct
Basically, if you are trailing by a FG in OT, you're not going to punt, so you have an extra down and higher probability of getting the tying FG or winning TD.
