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re: Kirby’s Decision to Fake Punt

Posted on 12/2/18 at 6:50 am to
Posted by Rhino5
Atlanta
Member since Nov 2014
30192 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 6:50 am to
quote:

I'd put it up there with Pete Carroll throwing on 2nd and goal against the pats a few years ago.


Very good reference. With so much on the line, that call ranks at or near the top of worst calls of all time.
Posted by PorkSammich
North FL
Member since Sep 2013
15700 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 7:25 am to
Has to be one of the dumbest big game coaching moves of all time.

He cost his team an SEC Title and spot in the college football playoffs.

You make the back-up QB drive the entire field.
Posted by Mizz-SEC
Inbred Huntin' In The SEC
Member since Jun 2013
20985 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 7:57 am to
quote:

I'd put it up there with Pete Carroll throwing on 2nd and goal against the pats a few years ago.


Oh no. Kirby's Shart was much, much worse.
Posted by jryanw
Bham, AL
Member since Dec 2013
4735 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 8:01 am to
quote:

Where does it rank on all time coaching blunders? 4th and 11. You put Fields in on ST for the first time all year. Bama is in safe formation. Hurts is hot, but he would still have to drive the ball 80 or so yards against your Top 10 defense. Just an unbelievably bad decision given what was on the line.


Pretty low. We were going to drive down the field regardless. Just like how last year his defense wasn't prepared for Tuas arm this year they weren't prepared for Jalens mobility.
Kirbys big blunder was not having his team prepared for a backup qb who won SEC player of the year.
Posted by Crimson K
Tuscaloosa
Member since Dec 2018
5821 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 8:06 am to
If he was so confident in the play, he made a really dumb move putting Fields in since he had never been in on punts before. Basically tipped off that the fake was coming. Just go for it with your starter who has thrown for 300+ and 3 tds
Posted by Perfect Circle
S W Alabama
Member since Sep 2017
7518 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 8:13 am to
Kirby's decision was a head-scratcher for sure.

He'd seen Bama come back from a two score deficit, again. He was watching another game against his mentor slip away, and I think emotion overcame logic.
Posted by MrCarton
Paradise Valley, MT
Member since Dec 2009
20231 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 8:19 am to
Kirby wasn't aggressive enough in the second half. He should have been worried about scoring points and not worried about field position (which the dominated the entire game) or TOP (which he dominated the entire game), or turnovers (which he dominated the entire game.

I think he realized too late that he'd made the same mistake and kinda bundled all that risk into one big play.
Posted by easy money
Member since Feb 2005
14658 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 8:39 am to
Worst decision ever made in a championship type game. The odds of converting 11 yards on a fake on punt safe are slim to none. Stupid. It actually gave your team little chance to win although he claims it was his push to win the game.
Posted by TheTideMustRoll
Birmingham, AL
Member since Dec 2009
9639 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 8:53 am to
I think before last night I would have told you that the dumbest coaching move I’ve ever seen was Mike Shula’s decision in the 2003 OU game to defend punts by putting ten men bunched up along the line and completely ignoring both OU gunners - and by “ignoring” I mean not bothering to put anyone within ten yards of either of them. The first time or two he did it, OU had already called punt and simply kicked it away, but eventually they did the obvious and had the punter throw to one of the wide open gunners for an easy first down. That successful fake broke open what had been a close, hard-fought game, which ended in an OU win. After the game, Stoops said something along the lines of, “Well, if they were going to keep leaving them open, we decided we were going to throw to them.” Just a brain-meltingly stupid move by Shula and his special teams staff.

But that was before last night.
Posted by ArkLaTexTiger
Houston
Member since Nov 2009
2539 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 8:53 am to
The Saints going for it on 4th and goal in the 1st quarter this week against the Cowboys was pretty dumb. It was too early in the game. Kick the field goal and get your points.
Posted by Gustave
Member since Nov 2015
3392 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:00 am to
Underrated thing was Saban knew it was coming. Master/apprentice.
Posted by FairhopeTider
Fairhope, Alabama
Member since May 2012
21849 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:06 am to
quote:

He'd seen Bama come back from a two score deficit, again. He was watching another game against his mentor slip away, and I think emotion overcame logic.


I think that is exactly it. I knew Kirby would try to do something in the game to “outsmart” Saban. Smart is a hell of a coach and has UGA at a high level, but he isn’t a mature coach yet and panics at some times. His insecurity to “out Saban” Saban is a major flaw.
Posted by JackTraven
Maryland
Member since Aug 2016
6186 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:10 am to
I’m totally fine with Kirby having the nads to go for it but, oh man, that play call was so, so bad. I was stunned.
Posted by piggilicious
Member since Jan 2011
37309 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:11 am to
I just finally saw it, what a shitty play call. Not even anything besides a dumb fake steps to the left and then right up the middle nothing even sneaky.
Posted by westide
Bamala
Member since Sep 2014
2882 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:12 am to
I could not believe it when it happened. He will regret that one for a long time.
Posted by ArkLaTexTiger
Houston
Member since Nov 2009
2539 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:13 am to
quote:

Underrated thing was Saban knew it was coming. Master/apprentice.
He's got access to the opposing team's communications. He learned that from Belichick.
Posted by Dawgsontop34
Member since Jun 2014
44801 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:14 am to
It’s twice this season when he’s gotten far too cute.

The fake FG was on 4th and 9. The fake punt was on 4th and 11 from midfield when Bama was in a punt safe.

It really makes zero sense and it’s incredibly frustrating. Obviously Kirby is an elite recruiter and our team is going to get better, but he can’t keep bailing the other team out with his unbelievably stupid play calls. It’s unreal.

Our punter had been poor but at least try to pin them deep. Make Bama punt it back to you and give yourself a chance for the win.
Posted by AirbusDawg
Milton, Ga
Member since Jan 2018
2755 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:14 am to
I look at it the exact opposite. I look at it as he trust his defense to stop them even starting on the 50. Bama did covert two pretty long third downs on that drive I believe.
Posted by AirbusDawg
Milton, Ga
Member since Jan 2018
2755 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:17 am to
Swift was pretty open coming across the middle. Fields just doesn’t have the confidence yet to throw the ball to an open space and anticipate the receiver getting to that spot. I was mad as hell at the time, but watching the replay, Georgia waited to long to snap the ball and Fields held it to long.
Posted by mls4bama
albertville,al
Member since Sep 2015
1539 posts
Posted on 12/2/18 at 9:36 am to
STUPID CALL !!!
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