Apologies for making this its own thread, but it's a specific point that I don't think has been mentioned anywhere else so wanted to give it its own show.
After hearing the Cowboys claim in defense of the play that they had practiced it every Friday for weeks and were confident that 14 seconds was enough time to execute it successfully, I wonder if they practiced it with a referee. The lesson learned could be that when practicing a play in which the referee has a role, you damn well better have someone playing that role in your practice session and he better be lined up where he would be in a real game.
Now perhaps it's the case that they did have someone playing that role in practice. In which case, there is very little excuse for their poor execution. Every player should've known about the need to make space for the referee to touch/place the ball (since when does the team's center get to determine the spot?). And if they didn't include a "referee" when practicing the play, well, shame on them and lesson learned.
That is all, I'll delete this thread if someone can point me to a thread with this discussion on it. And, again, my apologies for the attention whoring.
I definitely don't think McCarthy and the boys practice that. Especially committing 14 penalties.
However, they die on that hill that they should have had more time to run another miracle play. And the fans will eat it up and believe they were robbed.
All that money spent on Dak Prsecott and he can't throw the ball to win a playoff game? All those receivers? Zeke?
I love it.
The umpire knows his job is to get the ball marked as fast as possible, and if Prescott had gotten up and handed the ball to him and the center had cleared a path, they'd have gotten the ball spiked in time.
The fact that Prescott was under center with his back to the umpire suggests this was an error in preparation.
I'm surprised they didn't take 2 shots into the end zone from the 40 instead of trying to get closer and have 1 shot from the 30.
But, then again, McCarthy.
(2) The biggest issue is that Dallas spotted the ball like 2 yards ahead of where it should have been spotted. The NFL generally allows a 1 yard grace when you are spiking the ball. In addition to handing the ball to the official, they should have looked at the sideline where the DJ or LJ (didn't see which one it was) was clearly marking the correct Line of Scrimmage.
The play was to gain about 10 yards
If it had been 10 yards it would have worked with time to spare
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why do you guys always refer to the Umpire as the Referee?
I was actually going to say umpire but since a practiced play may possibly involve a referee or line judge I decided to go with the all-inclusive generic term.
This was always the biggest knock on McCarthy was situational football.
With 14 seconds everything has to go perfect.
And why does the umpire need to behave differently on this play than on normal plays? In every play, the play is not allowed to proceed until the umpire has spotted the ball and assumed his position behind the line, opposite the referee.
The play was to gain about 10 yards
If it had been 10 yards it would have worked with time to spare
Exactly. I think Dak got greedy. The hole was bigger than expected and he took it and it cost them time. They practiced it? They practiced it with how many seconds left ? 20? 18? 14? doubt they practiced it for every time situation. As Archer said my guess they had it practiced to go for ten yards and they knew approx how long it would take. Dak ran to far and doubled the mistake by not giving the ball to the ref. That is important. I doubt they practiced it as often and as efficient as they needed to.
But the thing that gets lost here, is that even if they were able to stop the clock, the Cowboys still had to convert on a 24-yd TD play against one of the better defenses in the league. What are the odds on that kind of conversion? 1 in 1,000?
I would also add that Prescott (or a coach) should have told the umpire that this was a possibility prior to the play so the umpire would know to hurry to place the ball as soon as possible. My guess is he was just as surprised as everyone else when he saw Dak just take off.
I would also add that Prescott (or a coach) should have told the umpire that this was a possibility prior to the play so the umpire would know to hurry to place the ball as soon as possible. My guess is he was just as surprised as everyone else when he saw Dak just take off.
If true than he's even dumber than I thought. Dak should have handed the ump the ball, just like every other play in the game of football. The rules don't change because you are in hurry up mode at the end of the game.
But the thing that gets lost here, is that even if they were able to stop the clock, the Cowboys still had to convert on a 24-yd TD play against one of the better defenses in the league. What are the odds on that kind of conversion? 1 in 1,000?
Better than a 41 yard one?
BOOM!
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that ref in practice knows what is coming. In a game they have no idea. So to sprint down, get between the OLmen to get to the ball and still have time is asking a lot!
The umpire knows his job is to get the ball marked as fast as possible, and if Prescott had gotten up and handed the ball to him and the center had cleared a path, they'd have gotten the ball spiked in time.
The fact that Prescott was under center with his back to the umpire suggests this was an error in preparation.
That isn't the point, the point is you are asking for a LOT of moving parts to be right. Plus, it is not exactly a given that the ball gets set and they spike it there.
Dak's obvious mistake is not even looking for the ref who arrives in the picture at 4 seconds. If he had handed him the ball to him instead of the center who was grabbing for it, they probably would have had time to line up and spike it.
So the mistake, as discussed, is in not finding the ref and handing him the ball.
Dak's obvious mistake is not even looking for the ref who arrives in the picture at 4 seconds. If he had handed him the ball to him instead of the center who was grabbing for it, they probably would have had time to line up and spike it.
So the mistake, as discussed, is in not finding the ref and handing him the ball.
Yep. They were in desperation mode and these things happen, even if practiced as they said.
Nevertheless, given the circumstances facing them on that last drive, I thought Dallas did a pretty good job in even getting it to that point...
He had to spot it where Dak was marked down. His knee hit at the 25, and they put the ball nearly to the 23. You don't just get two free yards because you're in a hurry.
It is pretty apparent that these thrown together officiating crews didn't work out. Boger was his predictable self, and I am sure the League was not happy with 23 flags thrown in a playoff game. I imagine we will see a change in emphasis for next week.
c'est la vie
I hadn't realized that at first. They got the snap off just in time. Would have been even crazier if he hadn't spiked it and made a play instead.
It has to be out there. I mean if Indy can find the holy grail and the arc someone has to be able to find the "unholy frail of Jerruh"
c'est la vie
It looks like the main reason the umpire ran into Dak was that he expected him to hand him the ball, too. He seems to be putting his arms out to take the ball and then is surprised when Dak turns his back in front of him to get under center.
I hope they sign McCarthy to a 10 year extension.