|
Post by seagull73 on Mar 24, 2008 9:12:12 GMT -6
I was reading the 5 wide thread on the passing section and it got into taking chances so I thought I would start the discussion here.
What are you thoughts on: 1. Surprise on side kicks 2. Going for it on 4th down in situations that don't normally call for it. 3. Going for 2 when the chart says not to. 4. Using gadget plays.
We surprised on-side kicked 4 times this year and got 3 of them. Looking back we should have done it more because our kicker wasn't good and we were lucky to hold them to the 35 yd line anyway.
We didn't have even 1 attempt at a 2pt conversion all year (has to be a record for me) Didn't realize it until after the season.
Didn't run any gadgets at all this year & I love 'em
Faked 4 punts. 2 went for TD on 4th & more than 10.
|
|
|
Post by fbdoc on Mar 24, 2008 9:19:59 GMT -6
I think the "taking chances" part is all part of risk management. Yes there is a risk if you go for it on 4th and 4 from your own 35 yard line, but if you see something in their punt return that tells you the risk of a fake punt is worth taking (and you trust your defense) then the potential benefit outweights the risk. Keeping in mind that most football games are LOST rather than won, a good coach will manage the risks effectively to not put his team in too many positions where they are trying to make up for poor decisions.
|
|
|
Post by spreadattack on Mar 24, 2008 9:31:31 GMT -6
risk/reward
Working for you? Go for it. If you get 70% of your 4th and 1s inside their 20 then you should probably do it. If you get 70% of 4th and 1s on your own 5...maybe not? Maybe they keep scoring when you don't get it.
There are many coaches who don't take enough risks, but in football - as in life - the trick is for "calculated risks."
|
|
|
Post by lochness on Mar 24, 2008 9:46:07 GMT -6
I was reading the 5 wide thread on the passing section and it got into taking chances so I thought I would start the discussion here. What are you thoughts on: 1. Surprise on side kicks 2. Going for it on 4th down in situations that don't normally call for it. 3. Going for 2 when the chart says not to. 4. Using gadget plays. We surprised on-side kicked 4 times this year and got 3 of them. Looking back we should have done it more because our kicker wasn't good and we were lucky to hold them to the 35 yd line anyway. We didn't have even 1 attempt at a 2pt conversion all year (has to be a record for me) Didn't realize it until after the season. Didn't run any gadgets at all this year & I love 'em Faked 4 punts. 2 went for TD on 4th & more than 10. I think a great deal of this has to do with game situations, the "feel" for how your team is performing and what they may need, and for your estimation of how your execution will be. 1. Surprise Onside Kicks- I love this idea in theory, but it's a pretty low-percentage gamble. Huge momentum swing if it works, though. We'd likely use this if we felt our defense was having one heck of a night. 2. Going for it on 4th Down-This is the one we're most likely to do on your list. We have traditionally had a very good offensive line, and a good short-yardage run game. We'll take a risk here, as long as it wouldn't leave our opponent in great field position. 3. Going for 2- Lots of variables on this one. Depends on the reliability of my kicker. Sometimes you have a better chance of getting the 2 points, depending upon what kind of night your kicker / holder / snapper is having! 4. Gadget Plays- Not necessarily a big risk, because you have the ability to call them on your own terms (ex: 2nd and short). However, they can be an embarassment and/or momentum killer if they fail miserably. We're more likely to take risks on special teams than anywhere else. We'll run a lateral kickoff return, fake FG, etc.
|
|
|
Post by kurtbryan on Mar 24, 2008 9:53:51 GMT -6
Risk taking:
1. If your team is physically dominant and executes well, generally there is not much urgency to try out-of-the-box risky things
2. However, if your team is not imposing, and/or evenly matched vs. your opponents, then YES, often times it is the team willing to take risks that earns the victory
3. Also, during the week of game planning, it is important to I.D. what types of risks you want to take (fake punt/fg, etc.) and When you are willing to roll the dice?
KB
|
|
|
Post by khalfie on Mar 24, 2008 9:55:18 GMT -6
I love the gadget plays... try to teach 1 per week... find myself never using them though.
I am a big fan of the surprise onsides... as a matter of fact, we've instituted some rules, more than 10 yards back... a big gap... where we will try to take advantage of a situation, if it presents itself.
Going for 2. I'm a firm believer in FG's... and will utilize my extra pts as practice opportunities for FG's... therefore, I will only go for 2 when the game dictates as such.
Going for it on 4th... only if its 1 or 2 yards, or again the game is on the line. But i guess that's everyone...
I am not a fan of going on 4th for anything over 3 yds... I had 3 opportunities to get more than 2.5 yds... and if I couldn't, what makes me think I'm going to be able to get it on 4th down.. a money down...
However, I do believe in fake punts... its a different dynamic... defenses already think they have won, let their guards down... and bingo bango... first down.
|
|
|
Post by coachwoodall on Mar 24, 2008 10:43:59 GMT -6
4th and less than 5, then I am going for it.
2pt conversion. There really is no penalty for missing the 2 pointer. If you miss it, they cannot return an INT/fumble, you still have to kickoff, etc....
surprise onside KO, if it is there we will do it.
gadget plays, especially if you can do it as momentum changer. IE they just called their last timeout of the half and you come out in some wacky formation is great. They don't take a lot of effort, kids love them, and you just have to trust it. I think we don't do enough of this stuff if nothing else but to give next week's opponent something to worry about.
Calculated risk: I don't think you just run anything for the heck of it. For some coaches, passing on 1st &10 when your running game is clicking is too risky.
|
|
|
Post by flexspread on Mar 24, 2008 14:23:37 GMT -6
What about when you play a team that going into it you know they have a well coached, fundamentally sound team that is far superior to yours athletically? Do you run more gadgets and take more risks or do you try to play your best high percentage but less risky plays to give yourself a chance?
|
|
|
Post by lochness on Mar 24, 2008 14:57:04 GMT -6
What about when you play a team that going into it you know they have a well coached, fundamentally sound team that is far superior to yours athletically? Do you run more gadgets and take more risks or do you try to play your best high percentage but less risky plays to give yourself a chance? Totally depends upon your philosophy. In a game where you are "far outmatched and outcoached"...are you really going to win or even the odds on gadget plays? Probably not in MOST situations. We played a game a couple of years ago against a vastly superior opponent, and we ran some tomfoolery (reverse pass, special teams stuff, etc.) which was actually successful. We still got obliterated because it's not sustainable (not from a scheme standpoint OR an emotional standpoint). There was no Boisie State miracle that day. But, in the end, it's a philosophy question. There's no "right or wrong" answer.
|
|
|
Post by rattfink on Mar 26, 2008 15:16:16 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by coachbdud on Mar 26, 2008 20:38:39 GMT -6
we did a lot of onside kicks this year. Our ST coord is the HC dad, old school guy. A bad ass when he played, a bad ass still. Has a huge pair of you know what. Literally would onside everytime if HC would let him. But he talked his son into doing it a lot and it payed off for us big
|
|