This isn't a post to criticize the decision to take the safety at the end of the game, but it's the off week and was more just curious what my fellow arm-chair coaches would have done in the same situation. The 4th down decision take the safety freaked me out a little because I was concerned about: - Dropped snapped (Mertz likely wouldn't have time to pick it up, turn the other way and outrace the defense to the endzone) - Mertz slipping, tripping before the goalline or fumbling before making it to the back of the endzone - but most of all, if our punter shanked the safety kickoff (we've had a few shanks this year) it would leave USC with the chance for a long FG for the win. I think I would take my chance with punting on 4th down up 4. The hangtime on the punt, even if shanked would eat up time and still require a hail mary for the win. And if the punter drops the snap, he at least still has the option to pick it up and kick it. And a bad punt snap more likely results in a safety than a bad shotgun snap. It worked out great and was probably the right call, but I keep wondering if that's what I would want us doing again.
It was absolutely 100% the right call. The probability of a shanked punt, or even worse having it blocked, was much greater and would have sealed our fate.
I would have punted also. But beforehand I would have run positive running plays on 1st, 2nd and 3rd down. Would have taken more time off the clock and could have possibly given us a first down.
Not using time on the first down was an oversight I think. Use 4 seconds and safety drains the clock.
I heard somebody say the chances of giving up a score punting from deep were like 3x higher than taking the safety and doing the free kick. Assuming that's anywhere near accurate then safety is the way to go.
Safety is the way to go. SC and Beamer Ball is known for their special teams so a punt block would’ve been no good.
Almost the same thing... Michigan had 10 seconds, and they were at mid field. All they had to do was get the punt off. They did not- and MSU scored as time expired.
Of course, then you had this one in 2012. The game was tied, but goes to show how a punt at the end of the game can be disastrous.
The overall EOG management was a 10/10 from me. I loved the time outs when USCe had the ball. That saved a good 40+ seconds which gave our O some time to breath and work with for that drive. The TOs, plus the drive, plus the use of snaps and safety where damn near perfect coaching, IMO. You can't completely eliminate risk.
Seems more likely to shank a punt under pressure than on a free kick. There's no risk free scenario at the end of that game as victory formation was impossible. I think risk mitigation was performed about as well as possible. The only thing I question is why our placekicker punted.
You're concern he would shank a punk when he's just holding on to the ball with no rushers.. No way the chance of shanking a punt in that scenario is higher than a block punt.
Probably more hang time so the coverage team gets there quicker if they decides to try to return it. Which turns out exactly what happened. Team got down there in a hurry and was able to also cover the lateral. I'm more curious of why SC didn't fair catch and try a hail mary instead.
