OK -- many of us have said that we'd like a little less conservative play calling. But some 4th down calls over the last few games have puzzled me a bit. For example, 4th and 17 near the end of the 1st half against Fresno State -- when we could have easily left enough time for Fresno to try and get a FG the other way. In the PC game, I thought we could have kicked a FG a couple of times (and everyone knows we darn well need the practice and confidence on special teams).

With the PC game, I think it was more about not kicking a field goal when leading by so much. Instead, run a rather vanilla play and give them the opportunity to stop any points from being scored. Although the cynic in me says running out the fg unit might have been the best way to keep points off the board.

A few times the field goal attempt would have been from the dirt part of the field so maybe that factored in also. Kickoffs sure weren't going very well from there.

Maybe we're going for it on 4th more often because our ST stinks!!!

Ever think of that one smarty pantses?

From my view, there's no real experience gain for us to warrant kicking a FG. We were already up big, so the FG was meaningless, and we all know Georgio can drill FGs...when they don't matter. Having to kick one in that position is no different that kicking one in practice (albeit the winds are stronger at ATT than CMS). It's probably more productive to give our 2nd and 3rd string offense some addition short-yardage reps.

Agreed about not rubbing it in to the opponent, but it would have been nice to get our kickers some live reps in game situations regardless of the score in a new stadium.

the_purple_drank;572283 said:

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Yep. If you're up by 50, the general rule for coaches is that you go for it on 4th down by running the ball with your backups. Unfortunately for them, on one fourth down, Deboskie ran behind the right side of the line in a simple zone blocking scheme and picked up 7 yards for a touchdown.

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They stopped it... and then all 22 players got into a scrum; an illegal play, and EXACTLY what the rule was intended to prevent.