It was terrible strategy. Terrible!

I'm going to say no. If you know your coverage team will struggle with their return team, plus you know your defense can't stop their offense, whether it's 80 or 50 yards, and you know your offense cannot be stopped, why not do an onside all night. A few of us were hoping Dixie would last week against Henry Clay. That extra possession or two that you could possibly get from the onside kicks could be the difference on the game.

1212, I understand totally but from your own 20? Give the D a little bit of a field to work with so that a single first down puts you in the red zone.

I'm going to say no. If you know your coverage team will struggle with their return team, plus you know your defense can't stop their offense, whether it's 80 or 50 yards, and you know your offense cannot be stopped, why not do an onside all night. A few of us were hoping Dixie would last week against Henry Clay. That extra possession or two that you could possibly get from the onside kicks could be the difference on the game.

If you think your coverage team will struggle, you still don't need to onside kick every time. there are many other options such as squib kick, short kick etc. It sounded like going into the game the coach didn't trust his defense at all and wanted to get the ball back as many times as possible. So instead of allowing FC to have long sustained drives that ate the clock, he wanted his defense off the field.

 

Just doesn't make sense to me at all. Trying an onside a couple of times is one thing, but 10 times? Really?

As George W. Bush would say, poor strategery!

 

You can never have too many political references for me. Well done.

10 onside kicks. Franklin had a short field the entire game.

 

Did that strategy cost Conner the game?

 

Very, very likely it cost Conner the game! In my opinion, giving the opponent 9 short filed possessions is the same damage to overcome as a couple of turnovers. He must of had no faith in the kick off coverage and thought their best chance to win was to on side kick every time.

 

Also, it seems to me that this strategy is one of a major underdog, just trying desperately to do anything to level the playing field with their opponent. Was Conner that much of an underdog?

 

Maybe it was like betting black on the roulette wheel, you just keep doing the same thing, thinking that eventually the odds have to start to be in your favor.

To be fair to Dave he has not really kicked deep much this year from the games I've seen. He often pooches it. This was just to a different extreme.

 

I would ask why he didn't have his kicker blast it after the first couple when FC was bringing their back guys up to the 20 or 25.

 

Note: My next game as a head coach will be my first so FWIW.

The strategy can be debated but it was really the execution that killed them.

 

Some kicks when OOB. A few never made it 10 yards. At least 2 were touched early by Conner. Some were kicked so fast and direct that Conner never had a chance to recover.

 

FC's kicker was really good at getting the bounce needed to have a chance.

I'm going to say no. If you know your coverage team will struggle with their return team, plus you know your defense can't stop their offense, whether it's 80 or 50 yards, and you know your offense cannot be stopped, why not do an onside all night. A few of us were hoping Dixie would last week against Henry Clay. That extra possession or two that you could possibly get from the onside kicks could be the difference on the game.

 

If you think your coverage team will struggle, you still don't need to onside kick every time. there are many other options such as squib kick, short kick etc. It sounded like going into the game the coach didn't trust his defense at all and wanted to get the ball back as many times as possible. So instead of allowing FC to have long sustained drives that ate the clock, he wanted his defense off the field.

 

Just doesn't make sense to me at all. Trying an onside a couple of times is one thing, but 10 times? Really?

 

I am going with nees1212 in this debate. The difference between a pooch kick and an onsides kick might be 10 yards. Why not take a shot at recovering one and stealing a possession in a game where neither team can stop the other? That extra possession is just like a turnover and we all know that is usually the difference in close games.

 

I agree that this strategy says my defense can't stop them and my special teams will give up a big play if we let them return it.

 

Here is my thought on this strategy. Why not punt the ball? Tell your punter you don't want distance, you want hang time. A 30 yard elevator shaft punt is probably your best bet. Force them to fair catch the ball 30 yards down field and hope they mishandle one with your return team standing there.

I am going with nees1212 in this debate. The difference between a pooch kick and an onsides kick might be 10 yards. Why not take a shot at recovering one and stealing a possession in a game where neither team can stop the other? That extra possession is just like a turnover and we all know that is usually the difference in close games.

 

I agree that this strategy says my defense can't stop them and my special teams will give up a big play if we let them return it.

 

Here is my thought on this strategy. Why not punt the ball? Tell your punter you don't want distance, you want hang time. A 30 yard elevator shaft punt is probably your best bet. Force them to fair catch the ball 30 yards down field and hope they mishandle one with your return team standing there.

 

I agree, the punting strategy would have been a good one, considering Fogle is the punter, and he is averaging 40-50 yards per punt, with some serious hang time...

I'm not saying it cost them, but Timmons and mccaskill have each returned multiple kickoffs. Timmons has been kicked to twice and has 3 returns for touchdowns...may have tried the pooch to the second line, but they also returned a couple this year

I am going with nees1212 in this debate. The difference between a pooch kick and an onsides kick might be 10 yards. Why not take a shot at recovering one and stealing a possession in a game where neither team can stop the other? That extra possession is just like a turnover and we all know that is usually the difference in close games.

 

I agree that this strategy says my defense can't stop them and my special teams will give up a big play if we let them return it.

 

Here is my thought on this strategy. Why not punt the ball? Tell your punter you don't want distance, you want hang time. A 30 yard elevator shaft punt is probably your best bet. Force them to fair catch the ball 30 yards down field and hope they mishandle one with your return team standing there.

Great point about the punt. Never thought of that, would give plenty of time for the kicking team to get down field to cover the returner.

Hilton did this same thing at Borboun CO when they won it all.

I am going with nees1212 in this debate. The difference between a pooch kick and an onsides kick might be 10 yards. Why not take a shot at recovering one and stealing a possession in a game where neither team can stop the other? That extra possession is just like a turnover and we all know that is usually the difference in close games.

 

I agree that this strategy says my defense can't stop them and my special teams will give up a big play if we let them return it.

 

Here is my thought on this strategy. Why not punt the ball? Tell your punter you don't want distance, you want hang time. A 30 yard elevator shaft punt is probably your best bet. Force them to fair catch the ball 30 yards down field and hope they mishandle one with your return team standing there.

 

I agree, the punting strategy would have been a good one, considering Fogle is the punter, and he is averaging 40-50 yards per punt, with some serious hang time...

 

 

 

You can only punt the ball on a free kick following a safety.

I am going with nees1212 in this debate. The difference between a pooch kick and an onsides kick might be 10 yards. Why not take a shot at recovering one and stealing a possession in a game where neither team can stop the other? That extra possession is just like a turnover and we all know that is usually the difference in close games.

 

I agree that this strategy says my defense can't stop them and my special teams will give up a big play if we let them return it.

 

Here is my thought on this strategy. Why not punt the ball? Tell your punter you don't want distance, you want hang time. A 30 yard elevator shaft punt is probably your best bet. Force them to fair catch the ball 30 yards down field and hope they mishandle one with your return team standing there.

 

When are you talking about punting? You can't punt on a kickoff. You can on a free kick after a safety but not on a kickoff