About damn time the Lions won a game
Don't get too used to it, it was only The Bears.
The next two games against the Vikings and Chiefs are winnable. If they only win one more game this year I hope they go to Lambeau and kick the Packers ass.
ya know, I've been thinking, is there a team or coach in the NFL that runs more gadget plays and fake kicks than Pagano and the Colts? it just seems like he/they are always looking to do something weird every game, whether it is needed or not. I would not be afraid to wager that the Colts have had more onside kicks than any other team since Pagano was hired.
I wonder.
ya know, I've been thinking, is there a team or coach in the NFL that runs more gadget plays and fake kicks than Pagano and the Colts? it just seems like he/they are always looking to do something weird every game, whether it is needed or not. I would not be afraid to wager that the Colts have had more onside kicks than any other team since Pagano was hired.
I wonder.
Just looked it up. The Colts were 3 for 3 on onside kicks last year. Since Pagano's first year (2012, of which they attempted none), they have a attempt/success rate of 7-3.
In that timeframe, though, no one comes close to the Raiders, 17 onside attempts, none successful.
Interesting aside, "surprise" onside kicks carry about a 60% success rate. "Expected" onside kicks carry just a 20% success rate.
If the Chiefs play Division III teams the rest of the year, I'm taking the Division III team.
even if they're favored... 😛
I don't know why it seems like more. thanks bhawk, checks in the mail.
If the Chiefs play Division III teams the rest of the year, I'm taking the Division III team.
even if they're favored... 😛
Probably a safe bet.
Haven't watched a Chiefs game since the Week 2 loss to Denver. As a matter of fact, I haven't watched any NFL game in its entirety since. Highlights when I come across them. Further away from the NFL than I've been in my entire life.
In that timeframe, though, no one comes close to the Raiders, 17 onside attempts, none successful.
That about sums up the last few years for the Raiders.
About damn time the Lions won a game
Don't get too used to it, it was only The Bears.
Packers were lucky to get ahead of the Chargers early - allowing 500+ passing yards from Rivers feels almost like a loss, but we'll take a W any way we can.
Is there any team that has underachieved more than the Chargers in the past 10 years? The Giants would be a dynasty (more than 2 underdog Super Bowls) with Philip Rivers had they not had their blinders set on Eli.
Yeah that Packers/Chargers games was a good one to watch.
That is a very true statement about SD being underachievers...cant figure them out.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
That play has a couple names, The Swinging Gate, The Muddle Huddle. For it to work, the ball has to be snapped immediately.
Don't think it's even been run with any success in the NFL. I grew up with that play in local lore because the high school I went to, our rival beat us once in the late 70s with it.
The percentage of success I think is higher on two-point conversion attempts or other situations by the goal line with a much shorter field.
yea I don't think it has ever worked in a pro game either. I think pagano sealed his fate with that one. funny, harbaugh's name has been thrown around as his replacement and they had a wonderful punt play this weekend also.
Yeah ..I was thinkiog about that this morning about Chuck. I like the guy, but I think that did him and Peo Hamilton in for sure.
I thought the onside kick was a good call and the ref's blew it . The Patriots player fell on it never had possession. Donte got it, and had it when he got up. There was an angle that clearly showed it. But thats the way things go some time ..you win some calls and you lose some calls. 😉 😉
Oh well...on the next game!!
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
This just in...
Yeah ..I was thinkiog about that this morning about Chuck. I like the guy, but I think that did him and Peo Hamilton in for sure.
The good news is the Colts are in the AFC South and have no natural enemy.
This just in...
That would be funny if it wasn't so close to the truth. Matt Cassell to save the day! Geezzzzz.........
If the Chiefs play Division III teams the rest of the year, I'm taking the Division III team.
even if they're favored... 😛
Probably a safe bet.
Haven't watched a Chiefs game since the Week 2 loss to Denver. As a matter of fact, I haven't watched any NFL game in its entirety since. Highlights when I come across them. Further away from the NFL than I've been in my entire life.
same here. I watch the Patriots because at this point, they're worth watching but I'm otherwise a casual observer now. Too much on the plate.
I'm with you guys on the Chargers. I feel bad for Rivers. 44 completions against the Packers. Wow.
me too. I like Rivers. A stand up guy. Chargers get there but just can't seem to get over the hump...
So that explains it...
Colts Look Even Dumber For Calling Fake Punt After Punter Clarifies Play
by Doug Kyed on Tue, Oct 20, 2015 at 12:53PM
The original intention behind the Indianapolis Colts’ fake punt was fine. The execution, however, was idiotic.
Colts punter Pat McAfee broke down the play Tuesday morning on Westwood One’s “The Bob and Tom” radio show. The Colts’ original goal was to force the Patriots to panic and sub their defense onto the field when they saw Indianapolis’ punt team run toward the sideline. The Colts would then snap the ball, and the Patriots would be flagged for having too many men on the field. (Of course, the Colts still would have been flagged for an illegal formation, but that’s besides the point.)
The Patriots kept their special teams unit on the field and quickly matched up with the new formation. That’s where everything went wrong for the Colts.
Colts safety Colt Anderson, who was behind “center” Griff Whalen, then was supposed to draw the Patriots offsides. If the Patriots didn’t jump, the Colts would eat a delay of game penalty and punt on the replay of downs.
Whalen didn’t know this, however, because he wasn’t supposed to be on the field for the play. Whalen snapped the ball and Anderson was dragged down for a 3-yard loss. The Patriots scored on the ensuing drive, and the game suddenly was out of reach for the Colts, who lost 34-27.
“The gunner who became the center all week was (safety) Clayton Geathers,” McAfee said, via Colts.com. “Clayton Geathers gets injured in the second quarter. Insert Griff Whalen who had never done it before. So Griff Whalen is now the new center in a play he’s never practiced before.”
Apparently he was never told what to do on the Colts’ sideline either.
“Last week (in practice), Griff is at the other end catching my punts,” McAfee said. “We added something to try and draw them offsides if they don’t do their substitution. Griff never got the heads up this was happening because it’s not in the playbook. Stanford guy, reads the playbook, knows everything he has to do, but if he’s not there for an audible that’s added, he can’t know. …
“Griff has no idea we’re trying to draw the guy offsides because in the play it says if we get under center, snap it. So Colt Anderson is trying to draw a guy offsides to pick up an easy five yards. If not, we just don’t snap it. We take a delay of game. …
“Griff goes… ‘If I feel him right now, I’m supposed to snap it.’ So this is a 100 percent miscommunication. It’s literally a miscommunication.” Whalen is off the hook.
Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, however, is not since it’s asinine to try and run that play with one of the key components injured.
Perhaps the most bizarre part of all of this is why Colts.com felt the need to post McAfee’s quotes, which makes their team look even dumber.
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2015/10/colts-look-even-dumber-for-calling-fake-punt-after-punter-clarifies-play/
IMO, a really hilarious thnig is that they set the formation up perfectly.
If they run the play as it is classically designed, they probably get the first down.
IMO, a really hilarious thnig is that they set the formation up perfectly.
If they run the play as it is classically designed, they probably get the first down.
Ummm, yeah, perfectly...except for the fact that it was an illegal formation because the only Colt on the line of scrimmage was the player snapping the ball. Other than that though, yes they set up the formation perfectly. 😛
And not for nuthin but according to the punter they never intended to run the play, it was only an attempt to catch the Pats with too many men on the field or if that failed, to draw them offsides. Interesting strategy to use against the best coached team in the league. 😮
[Edited on 10/20/2015 by gondicar]
Ummm, yeah, perfectly...except for the fact that it was an illegal formation because the only Colt on the line of scrimmage was the player snapping the ball. Other than that though, yes they set up the formation perfectly.
Ah, yes. Good point. All I'm really trying to say is that play can work.
And not for nuthin but according to the punter they never intended to run the play, it was only an attempt to catch the Pats with too many men on the field or if that failed, to draw them offsides. Interesting strategy to use against the best coached team in the league.
Yes, of course. All the other teams would have fallen for it.
The truth finally comes out, from the punter on a morning radio show lol. I wonder why the coach couldn't just own up to what the mistake was.
Yes, of course. All the other teams would have fallen for it.
Not saying that. But there seems to be a pretty strong consensus both in and out of New England that BB is the best or at least one of the best football coaches to ever walk the planet, so perhaps trying THAT play in THIS game was a bad decision. Is that not obvious? Do the actual results not make it obvious? Hmmm...
Yes, of course. All the other teams would have fallen for it.
Not saying that. But there seems to be a pretty strong consensus both in and out of New England that BB is the best or at least one of the best football coaches to ever walk the planet, so perhaps trying THAT play in THIS game was a bad decision. Is that not obvious? Do the actual results not make it obvious? Hmmm...
Since I do not believe that players are actually mindless robots until they arrive for programming by Emperor Belichick, I will disagree.
The defense smelled a rat from the get-go. Have no clue how much the head coach had to do with it. Does playing a game since you are eight years old have anything to do with it?
The Redskins have the rest of the league right where we want them.
Doyel on Colts fake punt: Pagano watches as we laugh at Griff Whalen
gregg.doyel@indystar.com 7:01 p.m. EDT October 20, 2015
Chuck Pagano isn’t the one who buried Griff Whalen. But he is the one who stepped aside and watched it happen.
For two days Pagano has jutted out his chin and given the impression of shielding Whalen — and the rest of the special teams unit behind that laughably bad fake punt Sunday night against New England. Blame me, Pagano said. My fault, the Indianapolis Colts coach said.
How noble, we said.
How misleading, we now know.
Pagano might have thought he was using himself as a human shield to protect Whalen from the national onslaught that ensued. But what he was doing — and Chuck Pagano is dumb like a fox — was watching in silence as the world laughed at Griff Whalen.
Because now we know the rest of the story. The story behind that awful fake punt, when the Colts faced fourth-and-3 from their own 37. Late third quarter. Trailing 27-21. Punt team on the field. Nine players line up wide right – punter Pat McAfee and eight blockers.
Two players stay with the ball. Colt Anderson and Griff Whalen.
Four Patriots are hovering near the ball. Whatever the Colts are trying to do — get the Patriots to jump offside, force a timeout, catch them with too many men on the field — it didn’t work.
Once the bluff failed, I’m told by people familiar with the play’s design, Anderson was wrong to crouch behind Whalen and extend his hands for the ball. Because the worst thing Whalen can do, at that moment, is snap the ball to Anderson.
Whalen snaps the ball to Anderson.
The Patriots swallow up Anderson, the crowd is in disbelief, the game is about to be irretrievably lost.
The world is about to laugh at the Colts.
Appearing to be noble, Pagano told the media: My fault. Bad coaching. Blame me. By hiding behind Leadership 101 clichés, Pagano was leaving Whalen’s neck out there.
And the guillotine has fallen.
The country has spent the last 24 hours mocking Griff Whalen. Hell, so have I. On a handful of national radio shows, I’ve rationalized the mistake like so:
“There were 70,000 people at Lucas Oil Stadium the other night,” I’ve been saying. “Only one of them thought it was a good idea to snap the ball to Colt Anderson.”
Pause.
“Unfortunately, that one person was the snapper.”
Rim shot. Aren’t I funny? Nah, not funny at all.
Because I didn’t know. None of us knew. Because Pagano never came out and said what he should have said, what we now know, that Whalen was the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. What Pagano said was this: The Colts worked on that play all week in practice.
“It wasn’t desperation,” he said after the game. “It was stuff that was practiced.”
… just not by Griff Whalen.
Did Pagano forget that part?
The snapper all week in practice on that awful play, a play that will live forever in infamy — right up there with the Mark Sanchez butt fumble — was Clayton Geathers.
Not Griff Whalen.
Pagano never said that. Not Sunday, not Monday, not ever. And Griff Whalen, to his credit, hasn’t said it either. Not once has he used the excuse — the truth — that he was filling in for an injured player.
We know it only because Pat McAfee went on the syndicated radio program “The Bob & Tom Show” Tuesday morning and told the backstory behind the play. And while McAfee hasn’t participated in the national firestorm his comments created, I feel confident saying this, after having come to know McAfee fairly well: He was only defending Whalen, not blaming Pagano.
But I’ll blame Pagano. And I like the guy, honest. Might not seem like it here, but so what. Pagano is more than what happened Sunday night, more than the aftermath of that botched play.
But that play did happen. The aftermath — and Pagano’s self-serving show of “blame me” loyalty — did happen. And must be addressed.
And Whalen must be defended. If not by Pagano — not nearly enough by Pagano — then by the rest of us. Whalen was given the most important role on the most important play in the most important game of the season — without practicing it that way. And yet the Colts called the play anyway. That’s coaching malpractice.
And people do make mistakes. All of us do. Writing mistakes? I’ve made them. Mechanical mistakes? Mechanics make them. Coaching mistakes? Chuck Pagano made one. It happens.
But this … I find it so hard to believe that this really happened.
Hard to believe that a player’s coach as loyal as Chuck Pagano has allowed — hasn’t created, but has absolutely allowed — the national narrative to proceed that Griff Whalen is the bonehead behind the biggest bonehead play of the 2015 NFL season.
The Colts love Pagano because he’s a friend as much as a boss. He barks when it’s time to bark, bites when it’s time to bite, and hugs when it’s time to hug. Players love — people love — a leader like that.
But this was false leadership. Pagano has said the play was his fault, perhaps knowing the world would admire his loyalty.
Pagano has not said why it was his fault, perhaps knowing the world would stop laughing at the player – and start laughing at the coach.
great time of the year 'round these parts...
leaves changing color, cool, crisp days and nights, an occasional bowl of chowduh (hey Doug 
) apple pickin' with the kinfolk...
and the Patriots knockin' the snot outta people.
Deal with it.
I have spoken.
Patriots move to 6-0, next up are the Dolphins on Thu evening. They seem to have righted the ship somewhat since the debacle in London, we'll see if they can come into Foxboro on a short week and make it interesting.
Speaking of interesting, yesterday Brady led the offense in passing yards (duh) and rushing yards (now that's different). The Pats ran only 9 rushing plays in total and 4 of those were by Brady so he only handed off 5 times the entire game. Hard to believe any team can be that one dimensional and win in this day and age, but the Jets d-line while good is not known for creating a big rush and BB must have figured his patchwork o-line could do better protecting Brady than trying to open holes. I guess he was right (no sacks in 2nd half). I would love to see Marshall and Decker in Patriots uniforms, even though Marshall cost them the chance for a final hail mary at the end.
Two majorly frustrating things...3rd down defense was brutal, and LaFell could not catch a cold never mind a football. The former is more of a concern and need to be corrected, the latter will hopefully take care of itself with more reps.
Still five undefeated teams (3 just had their bye) which is pretty amazing. Cincy at Pitt and Green Bay at Denver should be good games this week.
If the Chiefs play Division III teams the rest of the year, I'm taking the Division III team.
even if they're favored... 😛
I guess that makes the Steelers what, NAIA?
:P:P:P:P:P
need to rant....Chip Kelly the coach is fine. Chip Kelly the GM is a train wreck so far. He gets rid of pro-bowlers Maclin and Desean, and replaces them with Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff, 2 guys who can't get open, and drop the ball when it finally does come their way. Demarco Murray is surprisingly struggling to figure out this offense, but that I guess is offset by acquiring Ryan Matthews, who is been tremendous. But for some reason Chip gives most carries to Murray, when Matthews is clearly the better back for this system. And the Sam Bradford experiment is not working. Granted, his receivers have been awful, but he sure misses a lot of targets. His specialty is supposed to be accuracy, and we haven't seen much of that with him. Eagles will be nasty if they figure out their offense, because they might have the best D in the league.
[Edited on 10/26/2015 by BoytonBrother]
Still five undefeated teams (3 just had their bye) which is pretty amazing. Cincy at Pitt and Green Bay at Denver should be good games this week.
Really looking forward to watching Green Bay's D knock Peyton around the field.
If the Chiefs play Division III teams the rest of the year, I'm taking the Division III team.
even if they're favored... 😛
I guess that makes the Steelers what, NAIA?
:P:P:P:P:P
I took KC this week in the ABBSpread.
they'll get beat by 30. Bank on it. 😛
