The Game Ball Thread: Wk. 8 at LAC

Ralphwiggum

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I missed the 4th quarter because of trick or treating and I didn’t set the DVR to record long enough so no game ball for me.

From what I saw:

Phillips
Judon
Folk
Harris (two big runs called back, would have made his day look a lot stronger)
Gunner
 

BigSoxFan

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Next week will be a grind against a good defense but it’ll likely be against the backup. This was a big win for the Pats. Decent chance of going to 5-4 after next week. That Dolphins loss continues to suck. They’d be 5-0 in conference and 5-3 right now had they finished it off. Ugh.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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That's a pretty unfair take. Credit can't all go to players when it goes well & blame can't all go to the coaches when it goes bad.
I don’t think that’s what I’m saying. I wasn’t a fan of the 3rd and 1 call to Meyers but it worked. I’m not really sure why they were throwing at all other than the run calls being completely ineffective. Maybe the Chargers D woke up on that drive and just kept stuffing the run but my knee jerk reaction was the running plays that were being called we’re just bad because they were going nowhere.
Earlier in the game Mac couldn’t hit a single throw. I don’t think that had much to do with McD. Mac was just off. I don’t think Josh is all bad. I just don’t understand the majority of his calls.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Next week will be a grind against a good defense but it’ll likely be against the backup. This was a big win for the Pats. Decent chance of going to 5-4 after next week. That Dolphins loss continues to suck. They’d be 5-0 in conference and 5-3 right now had they finished it off. Ugh.
Counterpoint. They have essentially improved week over week from that game. Perhaps that doesn't happen if they win.

In any event, we can't change history or else your list probably would not start with that event.

Their D is looking really good. They may have something this year and I would be surprised if other teams like facing them. That could just be the win talking though.
 

CFB_Rules

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It is pretty hard to take advantage of the rule about the clock stopping on penalties intentionally. Usually it just happens where it inadvertently favors someone like today. But here are two situations I have thought of.

1. Third and short. Offense has lead by 1 on their own 10 yard line. Defense is out of time outs. Needs a stop to force a punt. 2:30 to play. Runner pushes through the line and crosses the line to gain. Defender might as well grab his face mask. If he just tackles him, the game goes to the 2 minute warning, offense kneels three times, game over. With the penalty, clock stops and the offense has to run the first down play before the two minute warning, leaving it a chance to still force a punt with 30 seconds.

2. Offense is down by 2 in the red zone and out of time outs. Second down. QB is about to be sacked. Offense will never get to the line in time to spike it to stop the clock and kick. QB should just grab the sacking player’s face mask and pull it very obviously. Or lineman can just punch someone. Click stops. 15 yards. Kick.

Maybe the commissioner calls it a palpably unfair act and forfeits you. And the sports books go crazy. Not sure how much discretion the on field refs have though.

I would be pretty critical if my team did the second scenario and think it would be totally unsportsmanlike. But the defensive intentional foul to save a time out? If they don’t try to injure anyone it seems like good situational awareness like the obvious foul in basketball.
There is serious risk with number 2. If an official has ruled forward progress/in the grasp or for any reason signaled the ball dead, then the foul becomes a dead ball foul and would qualify for a game-ending runoff. And if the offense knows the QB is about to be sacked the officials do as well.

But there are loads of situations where fouling can benefit a team. My favorite:

A 1st/10 @ A-20. A22 breaks a long run down the field. At the B-20, A88 commits a block in the back. A22 scores. Ordinarily, that is enforced from the spot and it would be A 1st/10 @ B-30. But if B cynically commits a foul (say, tackling by the facemask), then the fouls offset and the offense goes all the way back to the A-20.
 

CFB_Rules

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The easiest way to fix the NFL timing rule is to just give the offended team the option for clock on the ready/snap. They do this in NCA/high school. 99% of the time the officials wouldn't even have to ask.
 

Ferm Sheller

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A 1st/10 @ A-20. A22 breaks a long run down the field. At the B-20, A88 commits a block in the back. A22 scores. Ordinarily, that is enforced from the spot and it would be A 1st/10 @ B-30. But if B cynically commits a foul (say, tackling by the facemask), then the fouls offset and the offense goes all the way back to the A-20.
I could be wrong, but it seems like variations of this occur somewhat frequently. Perhaps mostly on KO and punt returns?
 

BigSoxFan

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Counterpoint. They have essentially improved week over week from that game. Perhaps that doesn't happen if they win.

In any event, we can't change history or else your list probably would not start with that event.

Their D is looking really good. They may have something this year and I would be surprised if other teams like facing them. That could just be the win talking though.
They’re basically looking like the team we all envisioned this summer. A strong running game with a solid defense and just enough of a passing game to make things interesting. Next 3 games are CAR, CLE, and ATL so 3 very winnable games coming up, albeit 2 on the road.
 

Old Fart Tree

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Judon was everywhere.
Philips obviously.

Honestly, I’m kinda excited about this team again. They haven’t been getting their closers’ coffee so far, but they’ve played good teams tough and just knocked one off on the road with them coming off a bye.

Feel like maybe we can snag a wild card and win a playoff game, best case.

Same here.46021
 

lexrageorge

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So, no angst about Belichick costing the team draft position?

Game balls to the defense and special teams units, especially Phillips, Judon, Gunner, Folk, Bailey. Honorable mention to the OL for at least grinding enough to give the running backs a chance to pick up 131 yards on the ground.

Goat horns to the officials for not flagging the egregious post-whistle hit on Mac Jones. Belichick should send the tape of that hit to the league office.
 

richgedman'sghost

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Jones had a very good 2nd half, obviously Philips, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but McDaniels.
McDaniels gets too much shit thrown his way. Although I disagreed with some of his goal line calls today for the most part I think he is one of the better coordinators in the game.
My game balls go to Judon, the OL line, and the running backs in general. HM to Harry of all people for catching a ball and making an appearance.
 

richgedman'sghost

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Holding can never create a runoff. The NFL stops the clock for all penalties under 5 minutes in the game.
It's my biggest pet peeve with NFL so called smart fans. Under 2 minutes left there is a holding or pass interference call on the offense which is trailing. Everyone is screaming for a 10 second run off. The only penalties which result in a 10 second run off are illegal procedure or false start or illegal formation.
The 10 second run off is not stupid rule. The reason it's not called on those other plays is that the offense has already lost time simply by the running of the play.
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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Game ball to Damien Harris, who had two of his best runs negated, but still smashed into the line over and over again and should have gotten the ball from the 2 and had a second touchdown. It was clear the Chargers couldn't stop him - that they went away from him was criminal.
 

Jimbodandy

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One for the whole DL. Stupid good today.
Phillips

Honorable mention to the OL. Great run blocking and acceptable pass protection.

We owned the trenches today (except that early TD run). Everything worked off that.
 

BaseballJones

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What I like is that this was maybe Mac's worst game - his "rookie" game - and the Pats still won.

The Pats have won three out of four. Coming up: at Car, vs Cle, at Atl. Three very winnable games.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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What I like is that this was maybe Mac's worst game - his "rookie" game - and the Pats still won.

The Pats have won three out of four. Coming up: at Car, vs Cle, at Atl. Three very winnable games.
Maybe his worst game but that 44 yard ball to Agholor was perhaps his best throw of the season. Not a QB guru but he appears to be making improvements each week which is encouraging. This isn't to say that Jones is going to be great or anything but even in his "rookie games" he is showing positive things.
 

radsoxfan

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I don't think it is really an advantage - at least not one that the offense can choose to deliberately exploit. If there is offensive holding, then any potential positive result of the play (other than stopping the clock) is nullified. So its only potential value is stopping the clock. But the QB if he wanted to stop the clock could just spike the ball or throw it away.
Just because a rule can't be deliberately exploited doesn't mean it's a good rule. I understand teams wouldn't intentionally commit a holding penalty to get an advantage.

But the point remains if you get sacked, it shouldn't be preferable that you got called for a hold (that was declined) rather than never getting called for a penalty at all.

Teams should be able to decline the penalty and have the clock run as if they sack occurred without the flag.
 

Rook05

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I love Adrian Phillips. He and Judon have the attitude and swagger this team needs. And they can ball out too.
Phillips was asked if having a big game against his old team is a little sweeter.
“You know,” he said, and paused with a grin. “Yeah. I love it out here, every time we get to play them. Everybody kind of wants to stick it to their former team. This is a great organization that we played against today. Just to be able to go out there and play against them and ended up having the game that I had — it was sweet. I loved it.”

https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2021/10/31/mac-jones-late-hit-jerry-tillery/?p1=hp_secondary

This whole thing is great. Seems like this team is taking some steps.
 

Euclis20

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Myers reminds me a lot of David Givens, but probably with a little surer hands.
I will brook no David Givens slander in this thread. He had great hands.

(And I think it’s apt comparison)
Fantastic call
I don't see it, though it's been awhile. Givens was more of a deep threat (14 ypc as a Patriot vs 11.7 for Meyers) while Meyers is a possession slot guy (caught 69.6% of passes vs 58.3% for Givens), although interestingly enough their yards per target are identical (8.2). Meyers is a couple of inches taller, and is best known for not having a TD catch despite 130 career catches (that's a record). Givens may be most known for having TD catches in 7 straight playoff games (not a record, but pretty damn close).
 

RG33

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This Oline feels like it is gettinf healthy and rounding into shape into what we expected it to be. Ground and pound which opens up the play-action, and solid protection for the Rook to make high-percentage throws.

Phillips and Judon are playmakers.

Folk and Gunner are so consistent and trustworthy.

Barmore and Harris keep rising.
 

phenweigh

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I'll second all the Gunner mentions for game balls. He's got a great ability to avoid the first potential tackler. But his overall success is very reliant on his teammates effectively blocking while avoiding the all too common penalties during punt returns. Honorable mention to the entire punt return unit and special teams coordinator, Cameron Achord.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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I'll second all the Gunner mentions for game balls. He's got a great ability to avoid the first potential tackler. But his overall success is very reliant on his teammates effectively blocking while avoiding the all too common penalties during punt returns. Honorable mention to the entire punt return unit and special teams coordinator, Cameron Achord.
This is how well he played:

View: https://twitter.com/MarkDanielsPJ/status/1454971531285696512?s=20


Gunner Olszewski is the first Patriots player to have three 20-yard punt returns in a game since Troy Brown (2000)
 

Bowhemian

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Game ball to Damien Harris, who had two of his best runs negated, but still smashed into the line over and over again and should have gotten the ball from the 2 and had a second touchdown. It was clear the Chargers couldn't stop him - that they went away from him was criminal.
To be fair though, he never would have gotten much further than the line of scrimmage on the first holding penalty. It was a very egregious hold, and the guy was in the right place to make the tackle.
 

BaseballJones

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So far the 2021 draft is looking incredible.

Mac, despite a down day for much of yesterday, got it done. He's been fantastic as a rookie for the Pats.
Barmore is an absolute beast.
Stevenson is a keeper. A monster who pushes the pile and can catch out of the backfield too.

Obviously the rest of the draft is TBD, but these three alone make it a great draft.
 

Import78

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I understand that McDaniels has more autonomy than, say, the DC, but both coordinator positions make the calls over the comms, and I’d have to think Bill Belichick has veto power over any egregiously stupid play calls, particularly in key situations like, say, 3rd and 4th down, 1.5 yards from the end zone. I hated those calls, too - if you’re going to go for it on 4th down from so close to the goal line, just run it both times, duh - but I assume BB was cool with those plays calls, and I hope EVERYBODY involved learns a lesson from it. Awful.
The problem with this is our lack of information. For all we know McDaniels called a run and Bill changed it. I tend to think Bill isn't second guessing that much, I think he decides to go for it or not and lets the OC call from there. There's also a chance they wanted to see how Mac handles things, or any number of other possibilities. Unless we get a Butler pick level of post hoc analysis we will never know for sure.
 

DJnVa

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Maybe his worst game but that 44 yard ball to Agholor was perhaps his best throw of the season. Not a QB guru but he appears to be making improvements each week which is encouraging. This isn't to say that Jones is going to be great or anything but even in his "rookie games" he is showing positive things.

Yeah—it was big for him to follow up that bad first half with a 10 for 13 second half and that long drive. Good stuff.
 

Saints Rest

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This Oline feels like it is gettinf healthy and rounding into shape into what we expected it to be. Ground and pound which opens up the play-action, and solid protection for the Rook to make high-percentage throws.

Phillips and Judon are playmakers.

Folk and Gunner are so consistent and trustworthy.

Barmore and Harris keep rising.
David Andrews deserves something bigger than a game ball. A) he's been there each and every game, even when all the other starters were out. B) he's kept the line improving even thru all the various issues. C) he continues to show outstanding leadership both on the field and off in terms of supporting Mac Jones (he regularly has praised MJ in the press all the way back to training camp, and he was the first one sticking up for him when Tillery took that cheap shot post-whistle yesterday). And D) his own play has been pretty consistently strong all season.
 

GB5

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The good: In no particular order, just stream of consciousness:

1. MAC very early and very late
2. Damien Harris
3. OLINE
4. Hunter Henry: big catch, and the onside kick recovery
5. Phillips
6. MCCourty for stripping ball out on a 3rd down catch by Allen
7. Gunner
8.Barrmore
9. Judon
10. Belichick(s)

The bad:

1. Bailey's first punt
2. Goal line play calling. Worst run defense you will play all year and you run a fade to a guy who has never caught a touchdown pass?
3. Hightower. This seems like a weekly
4. Beli's coach challenge. That was awful. Awful communication on all levels. Zolak explained it well, that two olineman held on the play. One was in the end zone. The penalty was called on the other one, who held at the two yard line. Pats didnt pay attention to which number the penalty was called on, and just figured there was a hold in the end zone. Need Ernie back.
5. Jonnu presnap again
6. Herron's hold
7. Pats being out of timeouts in a one score game with 6 minutes left. Burning one coming out of a tv timeout because you have too many players on the field is what we have mocked for years. Not that is us..Seems to be happening weekly.
8. Ref calling the late hit on Mac which was pathetic, and missing the one that was very clear after the whistle
9. Jakobi's fumble. That was a huge swing play.
10. Letting Ekelor's temmates chauffeur him in from the five yard line. Again, those effort plays are the bedrock of the NEP franchise.
 

Silverdude2167

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10. Letting Ekelor's temmates chauffeur him in from the five yard line. Again, those effort plays are the bedrock of the NEP franchise.
I feel like this play should have been blown dead.
That pile was not moving for a while and D players let up for fear of getting a personal foul, is my guess.
 

ShaneTrot

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He's got 8 sacks in 8 games so far. On pace for 17 on the season (obviously...even *I* can do that math). His career high in sacks is 9.5.
Are you saying Judon is having a better year with the Pats than any of his years with the Ravens? How could this be true? I was told the Ravens coaching staff (who have won 1 playoff game since 2014) is one of the best there has ever been at putting their players in a position to succeed. Yes, I hate still hate the Ravens.
 

GB5

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also picking more nits, but the Pats having their players slide inbounds to keep the clock running(even when it would have been running anyways) and then having your QB snap the ball on a few consecutive snaps with 10-12 seconds left on the play clock, is just a small thing that the attention to detail and execution used to be flawless, but now isnt where it needs to be.
 

Mystic Merlin

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also picking more nits, but the Pats having their players slide inbounds to keep the clock running(even when it would have been running anyways) and then having your QB snap the ball on a few consecutive snaps with 10-12 seconds left on the play clock, is just a small thing that the attention to detail and execution used to be flawless, but now isnt where it needs to be.
I disagree with this.

You actually do kill more clock by not going OOB, even outside of 5 minutes in the fourth (and outside of two minutes in the second quarter), because if a ball carrier goes OOB the game clock resumes when the ball is re-spotted; the game clock does not keep running without interruption. You can shave another few seconds off the clock per play by going down in bounds where you don’t realistically stand to gain material additional yards by committing your path to OOB, as a result. I don’t recall any play where I felt the ball carrier fucked up on this.

Also, I think they snapped the ball with 10-14 seconds left on the play clock on several plays in order to take advantage of the Chargers D tiring, not allowing them to regroup and tee off on the snap count, and putting Mac in rhythm on some passing calls.

It’s a balance. In a perfect world - eg, Madden video game - you can bleed the clock down to one second on every play and get first down after first down by running three to four times every set of downs, but they’re trying to both bleed clock AND get more first downs there, all without a chance to actually kill the entire clock.
 

jmcc5400

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On the "sliding down" sequence, I thought Meyers made an excellent play. Harris, on the other hand, should have fought for a couple of more yards whether or not he stayed in bounds, since getting closer to a new set of downs was more important than the few seconds burned. And, then Harry made a nice catch and was fine going out of bounds after being pushed backward.
 

tims4wins

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I think the point was the receivers did an amazing job but Mac / the offense gave back some of those seconds by snapping with 10+ seconds on the play clock. Not that the receivers made bad plays.
 

Koufax

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I'm sure Mac will be forcefully reminded of this during the week. Brady would never have done that. Mac will get the point, I'm sure.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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I disagree with this.

You actually do kill more clock by not going OOB, even outside of 5 minutes in the fourth (and outside of two minutes in the second quarter), because if a ball carrier goes OOB the game clock resumes when the ball is re-spotted; the game clock does not keep running without interruption. You can shave another few seconds off the clock per play by going down in bounds where you don’t realistically stand to gain material additional yards by committing your path to OOB, as a result. I don’t recall any play where I felt the ball carrier fucked up on this.

Also, I think they snapped the ball with 10-14 seconds left on the play clock on several plays in order to take advantage of the Chargers D tiring, not allowing them to regroup and tee off on the snap count, and putting Mac in rhythm on some passing calls.

It’s a balance. In a perfect world - eg, Madden video game - you can bleed the clock down to one second on every play and get first down after first down by running three to four times every set of downs, but they’re trying to both bleed clock AND get more first downs there, all without a chance to actually kill the entire clock.
Even during Brady times I can remember often wondering why the Patriots would snap the ball with several seconds left on the play clock in that exact situation. They've been doing it for a while right up until they are that point where a second or two is the difference between getting to the two minute warning or not. I think it must be coaching. That, as you say, getting the play right is more important than getting those last few seconds off the clock. I do think you're right that the defense can tee off when you take it all the way down and often the offensive line has some fatigue by sitting in the crouch for 20 seconds not moving at risk of a false start.

On the first point about the clock, one of those little things that seems kind of lame is that if a receiver goes out of bounds at 5:01, the clock can run down all the way to about 4:30 or so on the next play depending on how fast they make the ball ready for play. But if he goes out of bounds at 4:59 it stops. I hate little incongruities like that. Why should a guy who goes out with more time on the clock be allowed to take the game further down without a stop than a guy who goes out bounds with less time left? I think what they should do in that situation is wind the clock on ready for play but then stop it again at 5:00 (but keep the play clock going).

There used to be a thing like this in college basketball. After a made basket the clock would run. The defense could take its sweet time gathering up the ball and then moving to the spot to inbounds and between the time the ball went through the hoop and the ref completing the 5 second call it could take 10 seconds or even more. The rule used to be that the clock stopped on a made basket only under 1:00 left in the game. So, if the ball went through the hoop at 1:01 it might not be until :50 or so that the defense would actually have to inbound. But if it went through at 59.9, the clock would stop. That really bugged me.

I mentioned it once when a bunch of guys were watching the tournament and tried to make the case that the clock should always stop at 1:00 if they are inbounding. It got ugly. Nobody understood what I was talking about and they ended up making fun of me for like the next three games asking if I was ok with the clock at random times, like 14:50 or whatever. Much like will probably happen to me in this thread, now.

I'm sure Mac will be forcefully reminded of this during the week. Brady would never have done that. Mac will get the point, I'm sure.
Edit -- sorry, you posted while I was posting. But I can totally remember Brady doing. There were times when he would snap with like 20 seconds left and we would lose our shit in game threads. I think it even happened more than once in the playoffs.
 

Ralphwiggum

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Finally was able to catch the fourth quarter highlights. The first “slide down” play was outside of five minutes so it was totally unnecessary. Love the situational awareness generally but it always amazes me how few fans and even players are aware of the actual rule there.
 

Red Right Ankle

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Even during Brady times I can remember often wondering why the Patriots would snap the ball with several seconds left on the play clock in that exact situation. They've been doing it for a while right up until they are that point where a second or two is the difference between getting to the two minute warning or not. I think it must be coaching. That, as you say, getting the play right is more important than getting those last few seconds off the clock. I do think you're right that the defense can tee off when you take it all the way down and often the offensive line has some fatigue by sitting in the crouch for 20 seconds not moving at risk of a false start.

On the first point about the clock, one of those little things that seems kind of lame is that if a receiver goes out of bounds at 5:01, the clock can run down all the way to about 4:30 or so on the next play depending on how fast they make the ball ready for play. But if he goes out of bounds at 4:59 it stops. I hate little incongruities like that. Why should a guy who goes out with more time on the clock be allowed to take the game further down without a stop than a guy who goes out bounds with less time left? I think what they should do in that situation is wind the clock on ready for play but then stop it again at 5:00 (but keep the play clock going).

There used to be a thing like this in college basketball. After a made basket the clock would run. The defense could take its sweet time gathering up the ball and then moving to the spot to inbounds and between the time the ball went through the hoop and the ref completing the 5 second call it could take 10 seconds or even more. The rule used to be that the clock stopped on a made basket only under 1:00 left in the game. So, if the ball went through the hoop at 1:01 it might not be until :50 or so that the defense would actually have to inbound. But if it went through at 59.9, the clock would stop. That really bugged me.

I mentioned it once when a bunch of guys were watching the tournament and tried to make the case that the clock should always stop at 1:00 if they are inbounding. It got ugly. Nobody understood what I was talking about and they ended up making fun of me for like the next three games asking if I was ok with the clock at random times, like 14:50 or whatever. Much like will probably happen to me in this thread, now.



Edit -- sorry, you posted while I was posting. But I can totally remember Brady doing. There were times when he would snap with like 20 seconds left and we would lose our shit in game threads. I think it even happened more than once in the playoffs.
You basically want to treat 5 minutes like the 2 minute warning. Makes sense. Those guys were dopes.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Finally was able to catch the fourth quarter highlights. The first “slide down” play was outside of five minutes so it was totally unnecessary. Love the situational awareness generally but it always amazes me how few fans and even players are aware of the actual rule there.
As noted, it did result in running about 10 to 15 seconds more that wouldn't have been run if he had gone out of bounds. The interesting thing (or one of the interesting things) about driving on offense to try to keep the clock going is that one second earlier in the drive can actually be as good as 40 seconds. Think about the impact of just one second on the plus side of the 2:00 warning for example. You get tackled with 2:41 on the clock, and you have to run a play with 2:01. If instead you get tackled at 2:40, the "free" time out that your opponent gets at the two minute warning is essentially useless and they lose 40 seconds because you wait until after the 2:00 warning to run your play. So who knows what running off an extra 10 seconds with just over 5:00 to play might ultimately help you do. Agree it's a little thing but all other things being equal if you can get down without injury and it doesn't cost you yards you need, why not?

But it's right that people don't understand clock management. It's hard because so much of it needs to be decided on the fly. Coaches get it wrong all the time too. Even the one that most coaches and players seem to understand now -- thanks in part to Belichick -- they sometimes screw up. Not scoring when you can just take a knee. In the Saints Bucs game, the Saints picked off Brady with like 1:20 left and the Bucs only had one time out. So, three kneel downs and the game is over. Instead, the guy scored. But that only made it an 8 point game. They needed the extra point to make it a two score game. Imagine the kicker misses the extra point and Brady marches down and gets 8 points and sends it to overtime. (I think the kicker had missed earlier.) He didn't, but the Saints were celebrating like it was game over. Assistant coaches were running down hugging Payton and everything even though it was only an 8 point game at that point.

You basically want to treat 5 minutes like the 2 minute warning. Makes sense. Those guys were dopes.
In their defense I say a lot of stupid shit so it's easy to miss the good ones sometimes.
 

Eddie Jurak

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I think sometimes they don't run the play clock down that far because doing that makes it easier for the defense to time the snap.
 

Spelunker

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I think sometimes they don't run the play clock down that far because doing that makes it easier for the defense to time the snap.
That was alluded to upthread, and it's so simple and obvious that I was mad I'd never thought of it before. Of COURSE snapping at 1 makes it much easier for the D to pin their ears back, and likely increases the chance of a false start.

I can see how wanting to allow for some snap unpredictability would lead to various 10-20 second outcomes.
 

Eddie Jurak

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On the play clock topic, Bedard made an interesting point about the 2-point conversion. After Phillips' touchdown, the team did a lot of celebrating in the end zone and at some point the officials started the play clock. BB was on the sideline waving for officials to resett the clock, which they didn't do. Bedard speculates that BB might have been considering a timeout but obviously he didn't call one.

Meanwhile, Mac lined them up, got the team set, and went through his pre-snap stuff and the snap came with 2 seconds left on the play clock.
 

Silverdude2167

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On the play clock topic, Bedard made an interesting point about the 2-point conversion. After Phillips' touchdown, the team did a lot of celebrating in the end zone and at some point the officials started the play clock. BB was on the sideline waving for officials to resett the clock, which they didn't do. Bedard speculates that BB might have been considering a timeout but obviously he didn't call one.

Meanwhile, Mac lined them up, got the team set, and went through his pre-snap stuff and the snap came with 2 seconds left on the play clock.
The refs were terrible with the clock.

I think the 3rd timeout was because the Chargers D started a scrum and continued it for most of the play clock. Even if the Pats tried to line up the entire D was standing on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage and it would have been impossible.

How the clock was not reset and the Pats had to take a timeout was beyond me.