A Question about the Squib Kick at the End of the Game

[ChevyVanMiller]

I apologize if this has been covered already, but I was at the game and couldn't believe that the Panthers could field the squib kick before 2 seconds expired. It appeared that the fielding player got the ball and immediately took a knee in the field of play (I had no idea you could do that).

 

I thought that the play could only be blown dead once a Bills' player touched him down.

 

The result was that Carolina had a shot from a point on the field where their QB could reach the endzone. (Thankfully, Kiko ended that threat with a huge sack). So, I assume that means that in a similar situation teams should not squib.

 

Also, the Bills ST coach should have known about this rule, don't you think?

Edited September 17, 2013 by ChevyVanMiller

[The Big Cat]

I apologize if this has been covered already, but I was at the game and couldn't believe that the Panthers could field the squib kick before 2 seconds expired. It appeared that the fielding player got the ball and immediately took a knee in the field of play (I had no idea you could do that).

 

I thought that the play could only be blown dead once a Bills' player touched him down.

 

The result was that Carolina had a shot from a point on the field where their QB could reach the endzone. (Thankfully, Kiko ended that threat with a huge sack). So, I assume that means that in a similar situation teams should not squib.

 

Also, the Bills ST coach should have known about this rule, don't you think?

 

Yeah, confused the **** out of me, too.

 

I thought that was the whole !@#$ing point of a squib kick...

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

I've seen it done before, not alot, but some. How do you know he didn't know the rule? They may have still been willing to take a chance on one last play, though admittedly I would have rather seen more of a pooch kick over the first line of players, so if the ball were downed, would be too far for a hale Mary to reach the endzone.

[The Big Cat]

Section 3 Starting the Game Clock

Free Kick Down

Article 1 The game clock operator shall start the game clock (time in) after a free kick when the ball is legally touched in the

field of play. The game clock shall not start if:

(a) the receiving team recovers the ball in the end zone and does not carry the ball into the field of

play;

(b) the kicking team recovers the ball in the field of play; or

© the receiving team signals for and makes a fair catch.

A.R. 4.1 a) With three seconds remaining in the second quarter, A1 attempts an onside kick from the A35. The kick is caught

or recovered legally at the A46: a) by A2, b) by B1 who signals for and completes a fair catch, c) by B1 on his feet and he

immediately goes to the ground, or d) by B1 on the ground and he makes no effort to get up or advance.

Rulings:

a) A’s ball, first-and-10 on A46. Three seconds on the clock. (No time runs off the clock).

b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on A46. Three seconds on the clock. (No time runs off the clock).

c) B’s ball, first-and-10 on A46. Two seconds on the clock. (One second runs off the clock).

d) B’s ball, first-and-10 on A46. Two seconds on the clock. (One second runs off the clock).

A.R. 4.2 b) During the last two minutes of the game the offensive team safety kicks from the A20.

Ruling: Time in starts when the safety kick is legally touched by any player in the field of play.

Note: No extension of the automatic timeouts in this section shall be allowed unless any player requests a team timeout, or a

Referee orders a team timeout or suspends play himself

[DefenseWinzChampionshipz]

So is that rule in effect? I thought you can only take a knee in the endzone. As far as I know, on a kickoff, if you have the ball and you have no opposing team player contact you, the ball is live and you can drop and roll over on the floor if you like but the clock should still be ticking as the play is still "live"...

 

I know you can't do that in madden unless you call a fair catch.

[DallasBillsFan1]

That is a great question ... I thought the same thing. I guess it was a lower risk to allow defenders to get to return guy versus having get a head of steam. But those hail mary's are nail biters. We would be cursing special teams and lighting up this board if Panthers caught the pass in the end zone.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

So then it was the correct call based on 4.1.c

[ChevyVanMiller]

I've seen it done before, not alot, but some. How do you know he didn't know the rule? They may have still been willing to take a chance on one last play, though admittedly I would have rather seen more of a pooch kick over the first line of players, so if the ball were downed, would be too far for a hale Mary to reach the endzone.

 

I say he didn't know the rule because of what you just said. A pooch over the first line would have eliminated the threat of a hail mary.

[The Big Cat]

I say he didn't know the rule because of what you just said. A pooch over the first line would have eliminated the threat of a hail mary.

 

It might have been a poorly kicked ball.

 

But if I'm reading the rule right, it would have been impossible to expire the clock with only 2 seconds remaining...

[Beerball]

I apologize if this has been covered already, but I was at the game and couldn't believe that the Panthers could field the squib kick before 2 seconds expired. It appeared that the fielding player got the ball and immediately took a knee in the field of play (I had no idea you could do that).

 

I thought that the play could only be blown dead once a Bills' player touched him down.

 

The result was that Carolina had a shot from a point on the field where their QB could reach the endzone. (Thankfully, Kiko ended that threat with a huge sack). So, I assume that means that in a similar situation teams should not squib.

 

Also, the Bills ST coach should have known about this rule, don't you think?

If a player gives himself up the play is over. But...that kick should have been a lot deeper.

[The Big Cat]

If a player gives himself up the play is over. But...that kick should have been a lot deeper.

 

Then why squib at all?

[l< j]

I think they were respecting Ginn, too. Better a non-returnable kick in that situation, knowing it left them one shot at the end zone.

[NoSaint]

So is that rule in effect? I thought you can only take a knee in the endzone. As far as I know, on a kickoff, if you have the ball and you have no opposing team player contact you, the ball is live and you can drop and roll over on the floor if you like but the clock should still be ticking as the play is still "live"...

 

I know you can't do that in madden unless you call a fair catch.

 

You can surrender yourself wherever- think a qb kneel as another example

[dave mcbride]

Yeah, I would have preferred that he kick it to around the 20 yard line. Having said that, that's exactly what we did in the Music City Miracle ...

 

Actually, the best thing to do is simply kick it out of the end zone if your kicker has the leg.

[plenzmd1]

 

 

I say he didn't know the rule because of what you just said. A pooch over the first line would have eliminated the threat of a hail mary.

 

Did we not see that kick in Tennessee 13 years ago ? Just saying

[NoSaint]

 

 

Then why squib at all?

 

Bounce it off a player or mishandle it and times over.

[ChevyVanMiller]

Then why squib at all?

 

Exactly. The only way a squib would work in that spot is if it bounced off of the Panthers player's hands and time expired.

[K-9]

Not deep enough.

 

And it didn't bruise the sides, either.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Captain Hindsight]

Bounce it off a player or mishandle it and times over.

Yup

 

Doesn't let them set up a return and a backup TE or Olinemen might drop it

[NoSaint]

 

 

Exactly. The only way a squib would work in that spot is if it bounced off of the Panthers player's hands and time expired.

 

That (which is very possible on a well kicked ball) or a panther tries to return it - big guys do that sometimes too.