Answering a skeptic on the last kickoff

[Albany,n.y.]

I received an e-mail from a friend who was critical of the Jacksonville kickoff in the last minute of the game, here's his e-mail & my response.

 

Del Rio should have tried an onside kick. It would have gone the same distance. What a bonehead decision after their kicker was kicking them out of the end zone earlier. That's what makes it so hard to gauge if the Bills and JP are really any good. Too many gift wrapped victories from stupid teams and stupid coaches.

 

Totally wrong conclusion because you needed to be there to understand why he

didn't try a conventional kickoff. The wind was blowing west to east, it

was strong enough to affect the kicking decisions. The kickoffs that were

touchbacks were all in the east end zone (my seat). He was kicking west at

the end of the game (towards the scoreboard). The reason it worked so well

for the Bills is, once again, the brilliant special teams coaching. Instead

of the 1st guy grabbing the kick, the team waited until a guy who could be

close enough to lateral it to McGee got it & then it went to McGee, the guy

they were trying to kick away from. It was actually agonizing watching the

ball pass the guys without them picking it up, all I could think of was how

are they going to get the yards back that they're giving up by not having

one of the up guys take it. It worked out because the Jaguars didn't expect

the Bills to have a plan to get it to McGee.

The Jags can be faulted for being outcoached on the planning of the kickoff,

but the fact that their kicker was kicking it for touchbacks, with the wind,

in the east endzone, should not be used as a reason for trying to get a

touchback against the wind in the west endzone.

Here’s the NFL.com play by play of that kick:

J.Scobee kicks 49 yards from JAX 30 to BUF 21. S.Williams (didn't try to advance) to BUF 21 for no gain. Lateral to T.McGee to BUF 40 for 19 yards (D.Webb).

[JM57]

I received an e-mail from a friend who was critical of the Jacksonville kickoff in the last minute of the game, here's his e-mail & my response. 

 

Del Rio should have tried an onside kick. It would have gone the same distance. What a bonehead decision after their kicker was kicking them out of the end zone earlier. That's what makes it so hard to gauge if the Bills and JP are really any good. Too many gift wrapped victories from stupid teams and stupid coaches.

 

Totally wrong conclusion because you needed to be there to understand why he

didn't try a conventional kickoff. The wind was blowing west to east, it

was strong enough to affect the kicking decisions. The kickoffs that were

touchbacks were all in the east end zone (my seat). He was kicking west at

the end of the game (towards the scoreboard). The reason it worked so well

for the Bills is, once again, the brilliant special teams coaching. Instead

of the 1st guy grabbing the kick, the team waited until a guy who could be

close enough to lateral it to McGee got it & then it went to McGee, the guy

they were trying to kick away from. It was actually agonizing watching the

ball pass the guys without them picking it up, all I could think of was how

are they going to get the yards back that they're giving up by not having

one of the up guys take it. It worked out because the Jaguars didn't expect

the Bills to have a plan to get it to McGee.

The Jags can be faulted for being outcoached on the planning of the kickoff,

but the fact that their kicker was kicking it for touchbacks, with the wind,

in the east endzone, should not be used as a reason for trying to get a

touchback against the wind in the west endzone.

Here’s the NFL.com  play by play of that kick:

J.Scobee kicks 49 yards from JAX 30 to BUF 21. S.Williams (didn't try to advance) to BUF 21 for no gain. Lateral to T.McGee to BUF 40 for 19 yards (D.Webb).

850189[/snapback]

 

 

I agree with you. In a tied game, del Rio took what he THOUGHT was the safe way out. Squib kick it to keep it away from the talented McGee, let the defense do the rest and get it to OT.

 

...and then we know what happened. Not only did the Bills get the ball to McGee, Losman stepped up, made the throw...and IT'S GOOD.

[AnthonyF]

Actually if I was the Bills, you call timeout at first and goal. You want time on the clock if they score. Jacksonville still had 1-2 timeouts and if they score, I want the ball not a flip of the coin starting overtime to decide the game.

 

Always amazes me coaches thought process.....

[Fezmid]

The kickoffs that were touchbacks were all in the east end zone (my seat).

Actually, they did get a touchback going against the wind once as well... I remember thinking it would be good field position for us, but instead the ball bounced in the endzone. It wasn't out of the EZ and was ugly getting there, but it did...

 

CW

[JCBoston]

I was a bit suprised they didn't go for two after their late TD, but they were on the road, probably OK.

 

Squib kick == Coaches out-thinking themselves.

[eball]

I was a bit suprised they didn't go for two after their late TD, but they were on the road, probably OK.

 

Squib kick == Coaches out-thinking themselves.

850362[/snapback]

When a PAT will tie, going for two and the win is something you do if you are a clearly inferior team and don't believe you have a reasonable shot at winning in OT. It's also a great way for a HC to lose his job.

[CFLstyle]

I was surprised Jauron didn't have Losman just come out and take a knee, lol.

 

It's getting rediculous how conservative he's being heading into half time.

[AnthonyF]

I was surprised Jauron didn't have Losman just come out and take a knee, lol.

 

It's getting rediculous how conservative he's being heading into half time.

850402[/snapback]

 

Whole second half they shut him down again. Case in point 3rd and 7 from the Jax 35 and they run a draw, lose 3 yards and kick from the 38.

 

Here was their second half drive cahrts and end of frist half....

 

01:11 1:11 BUF 20 2 8 End of Half

15:00 2:03 BUF 15 3 -5 Punt

08:41 2:23 BUF 37 5 13 Punt

14:56 1:37 BUF 20 3 9 Punt

12:00 4:24 BUF 38 7 24 Punt

05:13 2:15 BUF 16 3 6 Punt

00:28 0:28 BUF 40 4 36 Field Goal