4th and two - what would you call?

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BreakTheGopherCurse

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Almost every time I find the Gophers (or any team for that matter) in a critical 3rd or 4th and 2 or 3 yards, I immediately think of one play, and one play only. Inevitably, however, the play I think of never, ever gets run. And I don't get. Here's my call: either with or without play-action (I prefer play-action), qb roll-out to his throwing-arm direction with at least 4 receivers down field. One receiver actually goes long. All four receivers are moving in the same direction as the qb. The qb is empowered to make the decision to throw or run and is even entrusted to throw to the deepest receiver for a big gain if indeed that receiver is wide open. Essentially, you have five potential opportunities to find that first down.

I had to leave the game when I saw what they called on 4th and two. They pitched the ball 3 or 4 yards behind the line, to the short side I believe which was of course very crowded, forcing the back to now have to gain 6 yards for the first down. Basically, you're putting all your chips on one number with a play like this. Seems so foolish to me. Anyways, what would you have called?
 

Off the top of my head I can think of at least a half a dozen calls that Chilly has personally made for the Vikings that were worse than that call. Get over it. We have a game against USC at Gophers Stadium to get ready for.
 


UpnorthGo4 said:
Off the top of my head I can think of at least a half a dozen calls that Chilly has personally made for the Vikings that were worse than that call. Get over it. We have a game against USC at Gophers Stadium to get ready for.
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Screw you ass-wipe!
 

Unnecessary cursing aside, I think most fans would agree with you that the play they ran was not exactly optimal for the situation.

I like the roll out idea in general, but in a situation like that the defense is likely to have a lot of guys up in the box, and if they decide to bring someone off the QBs strong side on a blitz (which wouldn't be surprising in that situation), the play can get blown up very quickly.
I personally was thinking run, but right up the gut, because that feels to me like a situation where you tell your guys if they're better than this team (and they should be) they can push them off the line and get the two yards they need.
I'd like to hear whoever made the pitch call explain their reasoning.
 


Play action never to the short side of the field if possible

Run a counter pitch to the strong side right hashmark with the tailback, with a hard sell from the QB for a crossing route or slant pattern pass. I also like a tight end drag from the left hashmark to the right faking the stretch play or toss sweep to the left as play action prior to the pass.
If you had a good enough QB with good head fake deception, one that could really sell the deak handoff and then take off with a naked reverse boot to the right side of the field, if it is there for the QB take the yards, if they play the boot out hard, pull it up and pass to the nearest leaking, tailback or TE in the flat. Naked boot would be for a defense slanting heavy to the short side and run blitzing, obviously a QB that can make them miss or one they think will not run.

I like anything that involves a boot out away from the strength of the defense and gives the QB multiple options.
 


I would call Art Vandelay to finally come to our rescue.
 

BreakTheGopherCurse said:
Almost every time I find the Gophers (or any team for that matter) in a critical 3rd or 4th and 2 or 3 yards, I immediately think of one play, and one play only. Inevitably, however, the play I think of never, ever gets run. And I don't get. Here's my call: either with or without play-action (I prefer play-action), qb roll-out to his throwing-arm direction with at least 4 receivers down field. One receiver actually goes long. All four receivers are moving in the same direction as the qb. The qb is empowered to make the decision to throw or run and is even entrusted to throw to the deepest receiver for a big gain if indeed that receiver is wide open. Essentially, you have five potential opportunities to find that first down.

I had to leave the game when I saw what they called on 4th and two. They pitched the ball 3 or 4 yards behind the line, to the short side I believe which was of course very crowded, forcing the back to now have to gain 6 yards for the first down. Basically, you're putting all your chips on one number with a play like this. Seems so foolish to me. Anyways, what would you have called?
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Well, theoretically that would work, but we have a QB who can't pass and can't run (nevermind can't hold onto the ball) and we have WRs who can't catch. So that leaves us with running plays. Or, maybe we could play someone else and try your play, such that it has a fair possibility of working.
 





A pass of some kind, doesn't really matter what. They were burning them with the pass all day and yet we kept going back to running it up the middle. Then they get cute with a fake FB handoff pitch outside and its stuffed.
 

cncmin said:
Well, theoretically that would work, but we have a QB who can't pass and can't run (nevermind can't hold onto the ball) and we have WRs who can't catch. So that leaves us with running plays. Or, maybe we could play someone else and try your play, such that it has a fair possibility of working.
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21 out of 31 with three TD passes.
 




On Mattel Talking Football, I always called the "flea flicker pass" in that situation.
 

I'd hand it off to Earl Cambell every time
 


Jon Hoese - you need 2 yards, he'll get you 2, you need 3 yards, he'll get you 2.
 



Somebody actually wants to go back and armchair QB this one? Wow. Brewster already admitted that call was a mistake in his postgame press conference. Let's not beat a dead horse here. Sure there are a multitude of calls that could have been made here. No way of knowing if they would have worked or not. Leave it at that.
 

Gopher Bandanna Guy said:
Somebody actually wants to go back and armchair QB this one? Wow. Brewster already admitted that call was a mistake in his postgame press conference. Let's not beat a dead horse here. Sure there are a multitude of calls that could have been made here. No way of knowing if they would have worked or not. Leave it at that.
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This thread reminds me of when Richard Nixon, as POTUS, sent Don Shula a play to run in the Super Bowl one year.
 

FireCosgroveGuy said:
A pass of some kind, doesn't really matter what. They were burning them with the pass all day and yet we kept going back to running it up the middle. Then they get cute with a fake FB handoff pitch outside and its stuffed.
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wasn't it just last year that the gopher coaching staff got ridiculed during the Illinois game for attempting a pass and getting sacked during a similar situation as the one being talked about now?

Note: I'm almost always in the camp of run it up the gut in these situations. Last year maybe not as much but this year i would be.
 

josh087 said:
With at least four drops of ridiculously easy catches.
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particularly liked the football off the head. He was even watching it and ready for it. thankfully it was gray since his plethora of catches makes up for it a tad.
 

yeah, successful running game, huge right side with good push, Hoese. It all adds up to KISS. Not sure what Brew was thinking.
 

Gopher Bandanna Guy said:
Somebody actually wants to go back and armchair QB this one? Wow. Brewster already admitted that call was a mistake in his postgame press conference. Let's not beat a dead horse here. Sure there are a multitude of calls that could have been made here. No way of knowing if they would have worked or not. Leave it at that.
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Arm chair quarterbacking is fun. If you don't enjoy it, then move on. No one asked for your opinion. It was a sincere question trying to find out what others would call in that situation. I think it's kinda fun to hear how others would handle it. You must be on the coaching staff or somehow affiliated with the team.
 

like it

I actually like this play and I like it on 3rd down too with any mobile qb. Gray might even be better at it. In the last game the fb up the middle is the best option. But against really good defensive teams we probably wouldnt get any yards so your roll out is a better option.

Back when Culpepper was young I wished the Vikes would roll him out instead of him fleeing the pocket in desperation.
 

since TJack to Tahi for 2 yds isn't an option...

I would put Hage in the game on O, in that shuffle motion facing the D and have Hoese follow him behind Burris and Carufel.
 

I don't hate the chosen call, but to the wide side with a Noel Devine type speed guy makes that an easier get.
 

BreakTheGopherCurse said:
Almost every time I find the Gophers (or any team for that matter) in a critical 3rd or 4th and 2 or 3 yards, I immediately think of one play, and one play only. Inevitably, however, the play I think of never, ever gets run. And I don't get. Here's my call: either with or without play-action (I prefer play-action), qb roll-out to his throwing-arm direction with at least 4 receivers down field. One receiver actually goes long. All four receivers are moving in the same direction as the qb. The qb is empowered to make the decision to throw or run and is even entrusted to throw to the deepest receiver for a big gain if indeed that receiver is wide open. Essentially, you have five potential opportunities to find that first down.

I had to leave the game when I saw what they called on 4th and two. They pitched the ball 3 or 4 yards behind the line, to the short side I believe which was of course very crowded, forcing the back to now have to gain 6 yards for the first down. Basically, you're putting all your chips on one number with a play like this. Seems so foolish to me. Anyways, what would you have called?
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Play action or bootleg quarterback run pass option. A good defensive end will stuff you everytime though.
 

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