Do you disagree with it? I'm a big believer you should be able to get an inch if you need it. Although it didn't work out - I don't think it was that wrong of a call. Discuss.
Mike Smith call in Saints/Falcons...
- Thread starter dawgstudent
- Start date
It was the wrong play call, but it was the right thing to do because the Saints would have more than likely drove down the field and scored.
First of all, the Falcons D had been playing a great couple of series. I let them have another shot.
Secondly, everybody in the world knew Turner was getting it. A play actioin bootleg with a dragging tight end or something would have been something to better to go with. Even a qb sneak would have been a better play.
Secondly, everybody in the world knew Turner was getting it. A play actioin bootleg with a dragging tight end or something would have been something to better to go with. Even a qb sneak would have been a better play.
During the review on the 3rd down catach, I was saying "****, I'd go for it... the Saints haven't stopped the run all year."...
I mean... it was an inch, if that. If you've watched the Saints defense for one series this year, you've got to feel your chances are roughly 99% that your'e picking up that inch.
HOWEVER, in that situation:
A.)you're on your own 30 yard line, in that 1% chance that you don't pick it up, that game is more or less over.
B.)Your defense has alaredy shut the Saints O down once in OT, so I like the Falcons' chances there.
Hindsight is obviously 20/20, but I think I would've ended up punting.
But if you insist on going for it there, I think you AT LEAST have to try a hard count there to see if you can pick it up the cheap way... if it doesn't work, you've still got two timeouts, take one if need be.
I mean... it was an inch, if that. If you've watched the Saints defense for one series this year, you've got to feel your chances are roughly 99% that your'e picking up that inch.
HOWEVER, in that situation:
A.)you're on your own 30 yard line, in that 1% chance that you don't pick it up, that game is more or less over.
B.)Your defense has alaredy shut the Saints O down once in OT, so I like the Falcons' chances there.
Hindsight is obviously 20/20, but I think I would've ended up punting.
But if you insist on going for it there, I think you AT LEAST have to try a hard count there to see if you can pick it up the cheap way... if it doesn't work, you've still got two timeouts, take one if need be.
It's the percentage play to go for it there. The Saints' run defense is not great. If I was Smith, I would have called a sneak instead of a run to Turner. It was the right decision, regardless of the outcome, but he could have bettered his chances with a sneak. As a Saints fan, glad we stopped it though.
1) Game situation: The main thing that can change with a call on 4th down like that is momentum. It certainly rang true yesterday with the Saints. I know you have to show confidence in your team's ability to gain an inch, but I would not want to flirt with that so much as the prospect of giving the other team momentum in key situations. In a sudden death overtime, momentum is huge. Also, Atlanta's Defense was playing very well.
2) Field position: If I'm on my side of the field, I punt it unless I HAVE to score on the drive. I know what Mike Smith was thinking at the time, but given the field position which the Saints eventually got, I would have punted every single time in that situation. MAYBE in the middle of a game if we were steadily moving the ball, I might go for it once in a blue moon, but to save face and momentum, plus play field position in a sudden death overtime where a turnover on downs puts the Saints in field goal range, I would have punted every time in that situation.
2) Field position: If I'm on my side of the field, I punt it unless I HAVE to score on the drive. I know what Mike Smith was thinking at the time, but given the field position which the Saints eventually got, I would have punted every single time in that situation. MAYBE in the middle of a game if we were steadily moving the ball, I might go for it once in a blue moon, but to save face and momentum, plus play field position in a sudden death overtime where a turnover on downs puts the Saints in field goal range, I would have punted every time in that situation.
I agree that the chances of you getting the yardage should be high, however the drawback of what IF you dont is too high. The reward of making it isnt really that great either. Hell, they could go 3 and out on the next set of downs anyway, so its for nothing. Like others have said, there was not sure thing that the Saints were going to drive the ball anyway. I punt every time presented that circumstances. As a Saints fan, i loved the call though.
I agree that the risk/reward was kind off the scale on this one. If you make it, your still a good 40 yards away from field goal position. When you fail, you have lost the game.
While the decision may have shown great confidence in his offensive line, it also kind of showed a lack of trust in his defense. They had just held NO to a 3 and out in OT, so why assume that Brees would have driven the ball with his second possession?
I actually think Smith was just pissed off at the spot of the ball (which was the correct spot IMO). The play happened on the NO side of the field, so he probably never saw the ball get bobbled and fumbled. Then he saw how close they were and just decided they would make it.
But, clearly, they should have run the QB sneak. No sense in handing it off in that situation, and definitely no sense in running the same exact play they have run every time they have faced 4th and short this season, including earlier in the same game.
While the decision may have shown great confidence in his offensive line, it also kind of showed a lack of trust in his defense. They had just held NO to a 3 and out in OT, so why assume that Brees would have driven the ball with his second possession?
I actually think Smith was just pissed off at the spot of the ball (which was the correct spot IMO). The play happened on the NO side of the field, so he probably never saw the ball get bobbled and fumbled. Then he saw how close they were and just decided they would make it.
But, clearly, they should have run the QB sneak. No sense in handing it off in that situation, and definitely no sense in running the same exact play they have run every time they have faced 4th and short this season, including earlier in the same game.
