To kick or not to kick

RaceBannon

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Normally I am Dan Lanning all coked up when it cones to going for it on 4th down. I like to say that settling for field goals will lose you the game. I like to say that

However Oregon State last year, Oregon this year, and UW against Utah has got me to thinking

DeBoer took the points. At 28-24 early in the 2nd half when we didn't know that the Utah offense had got on the plane, I thought kicking that field goal - the 2nd one of the game- might be a mistake

Nothing is linear so we don't know if not kicking and getting stopped would have changed the game It was 6 points in a 7 point win but you have a failed 2 point conversion and Leon Lett to muddy the waters

When possessions are at a premium as they are in both college and pro ball with the clock rules - points matter. Most NFL coaches kick and add on points

And ANALYTICS have never said shit or told anyone what to do. Its a bunch of numbers. A guide. You still need the head coach to make the call. Announcers are retards

I think going for it on 4th down across the 50 makes sense. Starting to think that kicking a field goal when in range makes sense too. DAWG sense. Had they made the third one those who had UW minus 9.5 would have went home happy

Another phantom blowout lost. If Leon Lett scores it is 40-28 and I could see a 20 point win

One of these days they will stop leaving points on the field. CCG day
 
I understand what analytics say. But it takes the psychology completely out of it.

Driving down and getting absolutely nothing can be mentally demoralizing.

Unless you just have horses and know you are gonna score 40 anyways….
 
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I feel like the last few weeks the “going for 2 before crunch time” has jumped the shark. Success rate was low and ended up prematurely killing the chances of the team involved.
 
27-28 with tons of time left is essentially a tie game. So is up 31-28. Going down 11 is not. They did the right thing there.
 
Normally I am Dan Lanning all coked up when it cones to going for it on 4th down. I like to say that settling for field goals will lose you the game. I like to say that

However Oregon State last year, Oregon this year, and UW against Utah has got me to thinking

DeBoer took the points. At 28-24 early in the 2nd half when we didn't know that the Utah offense had got on the plane, I thought kicking that field goal - the 2nd one of the game- might be a mistake

Nothing is linear so we don't know if not kicking and getting stopped would have changed the game It was 6 points in a 7 point win but you have a failed 2 point conversion and Leon Lett to muddy the waters

When possessions are at a premium as they are in both college and pro ball with the clock rules - points matter. Most NFL coaches kick and add on points

And ANALYTICS have never said shit or told anyone what to do. Its a bunch of numbers. A guide. You still need the head coach to make the call. Announcers are retards

I think going for it on 4th down across the 50 makes sense. Starting to think that kicking a field goal when in range makes sense too. DAWG sense. Had they made the third one those who had UW minus 9.5 would have went home happy

Another phantom blowout lost. If Leon Lett scores it is 40-28 and I could see a 20 point win

One of these days they will stop leaving points on the field. CCG day

Wonder if Lanning will find a Heisman QB that doesn't go 0/3 passing on crucial 4th downs
 
Live by the sword, die by the sword.

These big dick coaches didn’t get where they’re at with beta thinking. To kick goes against their big dick strategy. Being an alpha is cool and everything but without logic you’re left with L’s that could’ve been W’s.

I’m glad our? Insurance salesman is 81% alpha, 9% emotional intelligence, and 10% logic.
 
Live by the sword, die by the sword.

These big dick coaches didn’t get where they’re at with beta thinking. To kick goes against their big dick strategy. Being an alpha is cool and everything but without logic you’re left with L’s that could’ve been W’s.

I’m glad our? Insurance salesman is 81% alpha, 9% emotional intelligence, and 10% logic.

Don James always kicked the field goal or punted.

(In before Race: 1991 at Nebraska)
 
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Don James also faked a punt from his own 20-yard line in the 1978 Rose Bowl.

And there was a game somewhere between 1987-88 where the offense was struggling mightily vs Oregon State, that UW went for it while ahead on their own 15-yard line. Don James later explained, "I figured if we couldn't gain half a yard against Oregon State then we didn't deserve to win the game."
 
Live by the sword, die by the sword.

These big dick coaches didn’t get where they’re at with beta thinking. To kick goes against their big dick strategy. Being an alpha is cool and everything but without logic you’re left with L’s that could’ve been W’s.

I’m glad our? Insurance salesman is 81% alpha, 9% emotional intelligence, and 10% logic.

Don James always kicked the field goal or punted.

(In before Race: 1991 at Nebraska)

You are correct

Adding points is a pretty good policy over the long run

James gambled when you least expected him to
 
Also watching Husky games I recall many a time when a USC was going down field and there would be a 3rd down stop and punt on 4th down I would think - why? You can gain a yard in your sleep on our DAWGS

That's why I defend Lanning on going for it at midfield. We? couldn't stop them, allegedly, and they weren't going to stop us

USC had to punt from midfield and Penix went 91 yards
 
‘That's why I defend Lanning on going for it at midfield. We? couldn't stop them, allegedly, and they weren't going to stop us‘

Exactly, everybody in the stadium knew that if Washington got the ball back, they were going to score…
 
‘That's why I defend Lanning on going for it at midfield. We? couldn't stop them, allegedly, and they weren't going to stop us‘

Exactly, everybody in the stadium knew that if Washington got the ball back, they were going to score…

But you and Race are forgetting that Oregon had all the momentum at that moment. Was it possible for a noticeably wincing Penix to drive 90 yards and score? Of course! Was it a slam dunk? Not at all.

But we've already litigated this before.
 
Yes, people forget Penix had his rib cage removed in the third quarter.

People forget that.
 
‘That's why I defend Lanning on going for it at midfield. We? couldn't stop them, allegedly, and they weren't going to stop us‘

Exactly, everybody in the stadium knew that if Washington got the ball back, they were going to score…

But you and Race are forgetting that Oregon had all the momentum at that moment. Was it possible for a noticeably wincing Penix to drive 90 yards and score? Of course! Was it a slam dunk? Not at all.

But we've already litigated this before.

Not a slam dunk, but it was a home run guarantee. Punting would have just ensured that Oregon had no clock left to try to tie.
 
I'm usually in the kick it camp if you need more than a yard, your kicker is competent, and it's under 45 yards. Outside 45 I'm not kicking unless there's something about the situation that forces you, like the end of the half or game.
 
Live by the sword, die by the sword.

These big dick coaches didn’t get where they’re at with beta thinking. To kick goes against their big dick strategy. Being an alpha is cool and everything but without logic you’re left with L’s that could’ve been W’s.

I’m glad our? Insurance salesman is 81% alpha, 9% emotional intelligence, and 10% logic.

Don James always kicked the field goal or punted.

(In before Race: 1991 at Nebraska)

Call me old school but my 80 yr old dad gets sick of me saying “take the points.” He actually just laffs but same difference.
 
If you have a great defense, field goals make sense. If you don't and/or are competing against an offense you are struggling to stop, then you go for it. That's why Lanning went for it. He knew he likely needed the points. The only questionable one was right before the half, because they get the ball back anyway. Other than that, he made the right decision.
 
I feel like the last few weeks the “going for 2 before crunch time” has jumped the shark. Success rate was low and ended up prematurely killing the chances of the team involved.

The nerds have convinced them that their probability of failing twice in a row are less than the odds of failing on the first attempt, i.e. losing two consecutive coin flips is a 25% chance and a 50% chance of winning the first one. I agree they've jumped the shark here a bit. Your second 2-point play is probably a worse one than your first play. Add to that, sometimes going up 1 with 1:30 left on the clock can be worse than being tied as opponents now have 4 downs and have a sense of urgency to move the ball and take risks.
 
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