You're the Coach (7/10/12)

[dell71]

Since there's no actual football right now and no coaching decisions to make fun of I thought this might be a fun exercise. It's simple, vote on and discuss what you would do in this situation if you were the coach of an NFL team:

Your team has the ball on your opponent's 45 yard line with 5 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. You're down by 4 points and it is 4th down and 5. You have all three timeouts and weather is not a factor.

(To keep things interesting, let's say that both teams are average on both sides of the ball)

Do you punt? Straight out go for it? Fake punt?

 

[July 4 1776]

4th and 5 is a no brainer. 4th and 2 is a better question but still, anything short of fourth and inches I punt with the time and field position. I might even punt on 4th on inches because that would put them in ridiculous field position if I take a sack or dont get it. Its 5 minutes. Unlesss of course youve messed up and used all your time outs, but even then you probably punt.

 

[Youk]

Punt all the way. At this point I'm hoping my defense will stop them and force a turnover, or hold them to a field goal. I have to rely on my offense to score a touchdown no matter what, whether it is with 5 minutes left or 2 minutes left. With 5 minutes left, I think it is too early to risk it with 5 yards to go for the first down, especially with all 3 timeouts.

 

[EmpireWF]

Without knowing who my QB is, punt. 4th and 5 on their 45 isnt good enough to go for it with 5 min.

 

[dell71]

Someone voted 'go for it'. Will that brave soul please step forward & expand on that?

 

[Aso]

Most likely punt. It could vary depending on the teams though.

 

[Obst]

My mans Couch Paterno would not take the risk, so punt.

 

[bucky]

If I'm close to the opponents 40, I'm almost tempted to go for it, unless I have a really good, accurate, inside the 10 punter. Otherwise, you really don't lose that much field position. Close to the opponents 40 and I think the risk/reward is very close to worth it. I wouldn't criticize a coach either way. Now inside your own 40 like the hooded one did, I wouldn't have the guts to do that.

 

[spiker]

Punt and play defense. Still plenty of time left on the clock and all my timeouts.

Didn't Belicheck get chastised for going for it and failing in a similar situation against the Colts a few years ago?

 

[bucky]

Punt and play defense. Still plenty of time left on the clock and all my timeouts.

Didn't Belicheck get chastised for going for it and failing in a similar situation against the Colts a few years ago?

I think he was inside his own 40 and that's why he got chastised.

 

[spiker]

I can't remember exactly but if that's the case, then his smug ass deserved to get blasted for that.

 

[kmanharris]

I voted go for it, for a few reasons.

1) From their 45 your punter is probably kicking it through the back of the endzone anyway. So your team, assuming the defense gets a stop, gained 20 yards of field position.
2) Even if you fail on 4th down you have 3 timeouts with them having the ball at midfield.

However, I suppose more information is needed. Most importantly, score of the game. In a 7-3 game where my defense has been stout, I punt. In a 42-38 game I go for it, no brainer. I am not trusting my defense to make a stop since they likely haven't all game.

 

[Aso]

Why would you automatically assume your punter is going to kick it through the back of the endzone? Some teams have excellent special teams and other terrible. That's another variable that all depends on the team you have.

 

[bucky]

I voted go for it, for a few reasons.

1) From their 45 your punter is probably kicking it through the back of the endzone anyway. So your team, assuming the defense gets a stop, gained 20 yards of field position.
2) Even if you fail on 4th down you have 3 timeouts with them having the ball at midfield.

However, I suppose more information is needed. Most importantly, score of the game. In a 7-3 game where my defense has been stout, I punt. In a 42-38 game I go for it, no brainer. I am not trusting my defense to make a stop since they likely haven't all game.

I had the same kind of reasoning. It's such an offensive league today.

 

[dell71]

As far as the score, let's split the difference between a trench war and a shootout and say 24-20. Special teams are average as well.

With that, I'd probably take a delay of game and back up 5 yards to give my punter more room and hope he can pin them deep. Even if it's a touchback, I'd much rather them get it on the 20 as opposed to the 45.

BTW, the Belichick decision was curious to say the least. He was up 6 with 2 min left on his own 28 yd. line, 4th & 2 and Indy had only 1 TO.

 

[Derrville]

If im using the Cowboys defense Ill probably go for it because even if I do punt it away the defense will just give up a 99 yd drive anyway.

If its a solid defense thats not ripped to shreds by even the most mediocre QBs in the league then Ill punt it away.

 

[kmanharris]

Why would you automatically assume your punter is going to kick it through the back of the endzone? Some teams have excellent special teams and other terrible. That's another variable that all depends on the team you have.

Most of the time it's a touchback. I don't know the exact statistics on that but from what I have seen I feel like it has to be >50%.

As far as the score, let's split the difference between a trench war and a shootout and say 24-20. Special teams are average as well.

With that, I'd probably take a delay of game and back up 5 yards to give my punter more room and hope he can pin them deep. Even if it's a touchback, I'd much rather them get it on the 20 as opposed to the 45.

BTW, the Belichick decision was curious to say the least. He was up 6 with 2 min left on his own 28 yd. line, 4th & 2 and Indy had only 1 TO.

With the way the league is tailored to high powered offenses I'd be inclined to still go for it. I also don't have the pleasure of watching a good defense, (Dallas fan) so I might have some bias.

 

[Saluki]

If my defense was terrible, or if i'm playing like Drew Brees or something it might affect my decision, but two average teams? Gotta punt, i'm not scared of an average offense even if i only have an average D.

 

[whuteva]

I'm going for it. they're not gonna stop me and that's what i'm telling my QB and O-line. We want the ball and we're gonna score!!

 

[Rayman]

I need more info. How's my defense played thus far? Who's the other team's QB? Can my punter nail the coffin corner?

It's never as simple as "go for it".