Team scored a TD on its first drive. They then did an onside kick. Recovered. Scored another TD. Repeated this until the other team finally recovered. The other team was down 29-0 before their offense got onto the field.

 

Coach NEVER punts. Always does an onside kick. Never returns a punt.

 

Team is #3 overall in Arkansas.

Hmmmm!

whatever works.

Must have a really good defense.

Here is an old article from SI on his rationale.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1160256/index.htm?eref=sisf

Must have a really good defense.

 

Not necessarily. They won the game 64-34.

Here's a link to the story. http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Arkansas-power-leads-team-29-0-before-it-can-tou?urn=highschool-wp5870

Gutless football IMO. I don't mind teams onside kicking everytime because its great field position, but I think its honestly really sad. I'm of the mindset that I want to kick it deep, smack a team in the mouth for 3 plays & make them punt, and then drive it down the field to score and start it all over again.

 

I think the coach for this team is really creative, and I don't mind the random onside kick every now and then (Sean Payton's in the SB comes to mind), but I'm too much of a traditionalist to enjoy this type of strategy.

 

However I can endorse never punting, I like that mentality.

Gutless football IMO. I don't mind teams onside kicking everytime because its great field position, but I think its honestly really sad. I'm of the mindset that I want to kick it deep, smack a team in the mouth for 3 plays & make them punt, and then drive it down the field to score and start it all over again.

 

I think the coach for this team is really creative, and I don't mind the random onside kick every now and then (Sean Payton's in the SB comes to mind), but I'm too much of a traditionalist to enjoy this type of strategy.

 

I would argue the opposite. It takes a lot of guts to do what he does. It takes no guts to do what everyone thinks is safe.

I would argue the opposite. It takes a lot of guts to do what he does. It takes no guts to do what everyone thinks is safe.

 

I can see that argument. But to me it seems like a sign of weakness.

I whole heartedly agree with his entire mindset, however, I would maybe tweak a couple things as needed:

 

1) I agree totally with onside kicking, the only time I couldn't see doing it is if you have a guy that automatically can get it to the endzone, even then, I'd still kick it onside a fair share. I've seen and still see several teams over the years who actually have fairly good defense, but the opposing team returns the kickoffs to the 40-50 yard line on average. You show me a great defense and Ill show you a team that has a kicker that makes the opposing teams start on the 20 everytime more times than not. Granted, there are crappy defenses who have kickers get it to the endzone, too.

 

2) I agree completely about not fielding punts. I see way more kids in high school that have a greater chance of fumbling the punt than they do of catching it and getting any sort of positive yardage that makes any difference. Now, if you have a HS version of Devon Hester, then return the thing.

 

3) I agree with not punting, to an extent. I can't rationale not putning on your own 8 yard line when it's 4th and 15+. However, that's one of those situational things. If you have a HS version of Ryan Tydlacka (sp?), then boot it; if you have a kid that struggles to net 20 yards a punt; to heck with it, roll the dice.

 

4) Go for 2 everytime! I saw an article a couple years ago about a coach in Illinois I think, where he goes for 2 all the time and his rationale was great. He said, even if you only get 1/2 of your 2 pt conversions, then that's the same as being automatic at PAT. I think his teams were something like 70% on 2 pt conversion rates.

 

This is great stuff.

I can see that argument. But to me it seems like a sign of weakness.

 

He is playing %s.

He is playing %s.

 

He's scared to play defense.

He's scared to play defense.

 

Do you get points for playing defense?

I can see both of your viewpoints, but in the end, he's winning. Like the first poster said, "whatever works."