ADVERTISEMENT

Ohio State Decision To Kick Final Field Goal

Crossblock

Senior
Jan 8, 2019
2,193
4,292
113
I would like some feedback from all the armchair Coaches on this. To reset the situation, OSU is leading 31-23 with approximately 15 Seconds left in the Game. They have 4th down at the Notre Dame 5 Yard line. Notre Dame has no timeouts remaining. If You successfully kick the field goal, as OSU did You put the game out of reach. If You run an Offensive Play and don't get the Touchdown, You give Notre Dame the ball on their own 5 Yard line with 15 Seconds left in the game, with the ability to stop the clock by getting a ball carrier out of bounce at the end of a Play, getting a first down, or spiking the ball at the line of scrimmage. With that amount of time on the clock, They may be able to run 3 plays at the most. Also this is College Rules so a pass interference penalty is 15 yards, not a spot of infraction foul.
If it is my decision, I avoid attempting the field goal. Here is my reasoning. If the opponent blocks the field goal, ,their players have all their momentum headed toward the other hand of the field, and They will be the first to see where the ball is going following the block. My field goal kicking team has 9 guys blocking at the line of scrimmage who have to turn around to find the ball after the block and start running from a flat footed standing start. I also have a holder on his knee and a kicker following through, neither of Whom is in a position to get into the Play. With a good bounce, one of the defenders can scoop and score with a clear field ahead of Them.
I would rather rely on the ability of my Defense to Defend 95 Yards of the field for 3 plays to prevent a Touchdown and tying 2 point conversion.
I'm interested in what decision You would make as a Coach.
 
I would like some feedback from all the armchair Coaches on this. To reset the situation, OSU is leading 31-23 with approximately 15 Seconds left in the Game. They have 4th down at the Notre Dame 5 Yard line. Notre Dame has no timeouts remaining. If You successfully kick the field goal, as OSU did You put the game out of reach. If You run an Offensive Play and don't get the Touchdown, You give Notre Dame the ball on their own 5 Yard line with 15 Seconds left in the game, with the ability to stop the clock by getting a ball carrier out of bounce at the end of a Play, getting a first down, or spiking the ball at the line of scrimmage. With that amount of time on the clock, They may be able to run 3 plays at the most. Also this is College Rules so a pass interference penalty is 15 yards, not a spot of infraction foul.
If it is my decision, I avoid attempting the field goal. Here is my reasoning. If the opponent blocks the field goal, ,their players have all their momentum headed toward the other hand of the field, and They will be the first to see where the ball is going following the block. My field goal kicking team has 9 guys blocking at the line of scrimmage who have to turn around to find the ball after the block and start running from a flat footed standing start. I also have a holder on his knee and a kicker following through, neither of Whom is in a position to get into the Play. With a good bounce, one of the defenders can scoop and score with a clear field ahead of Them.
I would rather rely on the ability of my Defense to Defend 95 Yards of the field for 3 plays to prevent a Touchdown and tying 2 point conversion.
I'm interested in what decision You would make as a Coach.

I'd kick the FG and End it there... It's for the NC.

Hate to say it but Day made a good decision there.
 
I would like some feedback from all the armchair Coaches on this. To reset the situation, OSU is leading 31-23 with approximately 15 Seconds left in the Game. They have 4th down at the Notre Dame 5 Yard line. Notre Dame has no timeouts remaining. If You successfully kick the field goal, as OSU did You put the game out of reach. If You run an Offensive Play and don't get the Touchdown, You give Notre Dame the ball on their own 5 Yard line with 15 Seconds left in the game, with the ability to stop the clock by getting a ball carrier out of bounce at the end of a Play, getting a first down, or spiking the ball at the line of scrimmage. With that amount of time on the clock, They may be able to run 3 plays at the most. Also this is College Rules so a pass interference penalty is 15 yards, not a spot of infraction foul.
If it is my decision, I avoid attempting the field goal. Here is my reasoning. If the opponent blocks the field goal, ,their players have all their momentum headed toward the other hand of the field, and They will be the first to see where the ball is going following the block. My field goal kicking team has 9 guys blocking at the line of scrimmage who have to turn around to find the ball after the block and start running from a flat footed standing start. I also have a holder on his knee and a kicker following through, neither of Whom is in a position to get into the Play. With a good bounce, one of the defenders can scoop and score with a clear field ahead of Them.
I would rather rely on the ability of my Defense to Defend 95 Yards of the field for 3 plays to prevent a Touchdown and tying 2 point conversion.
I'm interested in what decision You would make as a Coach.
Kick it. Glorified extra point in terms of distance. Almost no chance to block it. You don’t overthink it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: red hornet
I would like some feedback from all the armchair Coaches on this. To reset the situation, OSU is leading 31-23 with approximately 15 Seconds left in the Game. They have 4th down at the Notre Dame 5 Yard line. Notre Dame has no timeouts remaining. If You successfully kick the field goal, as OSU did You put the game out of reach. If You run an Offensive Play and don't get the Touchdown, You give Notre Dame the ball on their own 5 Yard line with 15 Seconds left in the game, with the ability to stop the clock by getting a ball carrier out of bounce at the end of a Play, getting a first down, or spiking the ball at the line of scrimmage. With that amount of time on the clock, They may be able to run 3 plays at the most. Also this is College Rules so a pass interference penalty is 15 yards, not a spot of infraction foul.
If it is my decision, I avoid attempting the field goal. Here is my reasoning. If the opponent blocks the field goal, ,their players have all their momentum headed toward the other hand of the field, and They will be the first to see where the ball is going following the block. My field goal kicking team has 9 guys blocking at the line of scrimmage who have to turn around to find the ball after the block and start running from a flat footed standing start. I also have a holder on his knee and a kicker following through, neither of Whom is in a position to get into the Play. With a good bounce, one of the defenders can scoop and score with a clear field ahead of Them.
I would rather rely on the ability of my Defense to Defend 95 Yards of the field for 3 plays to prevent a Touchdown and tying 2 point conversion.
I'm interested in what decision You would make as a Coach.

Kick it EVERY SINGLE TIME.

IMO, the chances are small that they would score and get a two conversion in your scenario but the chances of them blocking the FG are even less.

What game was it - OSU's last one? - when the commentator was going on about how the running back on his way to a TD, should have went down at like the one to take more time off the clock. Same response from me - Take the points. The cases where you don't take the points are few and far between.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT