View Full Version : Punting in Enemy Territory for a net of 20
ClericBlackDave
10-22-2007, 08:17 AM
Will someone please send Brian Billick to Bill Bellicheck football 101.
Tell me why, yesterday, TWICE, were we in Bills territory after some good intermediate throws out of shotgun by Boller, just to turtle back into the i-formation, lose yardage with Mike Anderson, and then punt for a net of 20?
With this defense being as stout as it is against the run, and as vuneable as it is without c-mac and without Pryce against the pass, why are we valuing 20 yards of field position?
Honestly, at some point you have to go for it on 4th down to change momentum, to sustain a drive, and that point can't always be when you're down by more than a posession in the 4th quarter. By then, its a bit late.
Who knows, maybe Boller could have thrown a TD like his 4th down TD to Mason, but in the 1st half. And then it'd be a closer game.
On those 2 drives we needed to get at least field goals, not play for 20 more yards of field position.
On offense, it is probably time for Billick to give the reigns to Neuheisal. As a head coach, Billick needs to monkey see, monkey do sometimes.
Punting for a next of 20 is a waste when you're down by more than a possession. Play with some balls and some conviction sometimes.
camdenyard
10-22-2007, 09:27 AM
Or, at least, the punter could (gasp!) aim for a coffin corner punt instead of blasting it down the middle and through the EZ.
I swear, I think sometimes strategy is lost on these guys.
festivus
10-22-2007, 09:45 AM
At least one of those kicks looked like it went where it was supposed to but spun forward. Sam Koch did a hell of a job yesterday, maybe better then anyone else on the team I thought.
ravensfan1996
10-22-2007, 10:10 AM
Both of those punts came in the 2nd quarter when we were only behind 9-0. there was still alot of football to go and not down by much. We punted from the 38 and 39 yard lines, if you miss those FG's they get the ball at the spot of kick, meaning our 47yd line. If you go for it and dont make it, yes those 18-19 yds make a difference by not helping them getting into FG range. They have a very good FG kicker.
If this was the 3rd or 4th quarter i could see you point, but you dont take those chances in the 2nd quarter.
Filmstudy
10-22-2007, 11:54 AM
The FG is not the only other option. Those were situations where the Ravens should have gone for it, particularly on the 4th and 2.
When you get around that around, the opponents 40 or so, you should be thinking 4 downs and not be afraid to run the ball on 3rd and 6 or so. The punt is almost worthless and the 18 or 19 yards don't make much difference. The defense couldn't stop the Bills until they got into the red zone.
ravensfan1996
10-22-2007, 02:14 PM
the first one was 4th and 3 on the bills 38 with 5:20 to go. They had just kicked 3 fg's on us and they have a good fg kicker. So why give them the ball on the 38 and have another chance of them getting another fg before half, when you can kick it and make them need anohter 18-19 yards, thats a huge amount of yards in fg kicking game.
The other punt came on 4th and 10 on the bills 39 with 1:30 or so left. Same deal, why give them a chance at another fg, kick it go in to the locker room only down 9-0. With our offense thats what you go to do.
(yes i do realise that im right, and every post in here is correct as well since no one can prove or say what "would have happened" if...) Just IMO those were the right calls at that point of the game, and the ravens did go for on 4th downs in the 4th quarter.
Galen Sevinne
10-22-2007, 02:17 PM
and if you are going to punt, at least punt to the corner. I don't understand why he would kick straight away unless there is a worry that he will shank it out of bounds outside of the 20.
festivus
10-22-2007, 02:26 PM
If you are kicking to the center of the field here, presumably you are trying to get it to your gunners to down inside the 10. Didn't *happen*, but it oftentimes does.
flraven
10-22-2007, 04:03 PM
If you are kicking to the center of the field here, presumably you are trying to get it to your gunners to down inside the 10. Didn't *happen*, but it oftentimes does.
:iagree:
Yes, you'd like to thing he could get enough hang time to get our guys down there to down it or stuff any run back.
jonboy79
10-22-2007, 05:14 PM
Don't forget a missed FG is a loss of 7 or 8... so it is a net of 26 or 27 yards... That said, in a week we see our first fake play in years(Clayton - Boller- I loved it, and it almost worked), I think either of those punts would have been excellent locations for a direct-snap fake to MA or Musa...
festivus
10-23-2007, 08:35 AM
pooch out of bounds inside he 5 would be easy and nice!!
EASY??!!
What exactly is "easy" about pooching the ball out of bounds inside the five? What makes it easier then kicking it to gunners who might be able to down it on the same yard line?
Neither one sounds "easy" to me.
Merlin
10-23-2007, 04:26 PM
Speaking of fourth down calls -- there were several plays where it was clear that we needed to go for fourth down. Why we didn't run it on third and long to narrow down the yardage and make the fourth down conversion easier I don't know. Think you need to KNOW that you are going to go for it and adjust the play calling accordingly.