Go for it on 4th Down
In this week's Sports Illustrated, a high school coach in Arkansas has taken the "go for it on 4th down" approach to an extreme. Statistics seem to be in his favor. I know Brian has addressed this subject in ealrlier posts. He argued persuasively to increase a team's tendency to go for it on 4th down. This high school coach, though, has taken it to a real extreme.
It is clear to me that we will be going for it on 4th down more often with Coach Rodriguez in charge instead of Coach Carr/Moeller/Schembechler. I wonder if Tressel will read this article. Too bad for him it came out after the USC game.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1160256/1/in…
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 PM ^
"Too bad for him it came out after the USC game."
zing!
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 PM ^
two points and four yards of field position. (tOSU punted from the USC 45, USC incurred a safety on the next position, and then tOSU returned the free kick to the USC 41.)
Also, the numbers will be different in college.
I do agree with the general conclusion, however.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:37 PM ^
Teams should be going for it on 4th and 1, 4th and 2 on just about every fourth down snap outside their own 35. The extreme is, well, extreme, but teams go for it on fourth down WAY less than they should.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:17 PM ^
I would move the point of no return to about the fifty, and I would almost always go for it, except in extreme cases of fourth-and-goal at the 45. I liked the quote by the opposing player in the article: "I wish we played like y'all."
If a defense knows they are going to have to defend four downs instead of three, it changes the psychology of the game immensely.
I would still kick field goals, though.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 PM ^
If you put out of the back of your end zone, you essentially give them a field goal any way. If you have confidence in your offense OR defense, it would make sense to try to stop them from scoring at all.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
Doesn't it just feeeel like we're ahead of the pack on many of these tactical questions?
The air is good here.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 PM ^
Depends on field position, obviously. Wouldn't be going for it on 4th and 11 on your own 19 or something like that. But if its a short conversion and on the other team's side, I would definitely be in favor of going for it.
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:42 PM ^
great teams like USC has been the last decade always seem to go for it on 4th and convert. Pete Carroll knows this is just going to extend drives and tire defenses. I agree teams should go for it more especially when they're beyond their own 40
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:46 PM ^
I have been living and dying by this philosophy since the existence of EA Sports games.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:20 AM ^
Let's not forget that Tate's spectacular touchdown in the ND game was on 4th and 3! This wasn't some sort of wussy attempt on 4th and inches, no sir! It took major cajones on RichRod's part.
The thing about going for it on 4th down, is that everyone - the players on both sides, the fans in the stands, broadcasters - all get jacked up for it. It's the essence of why we all love the game.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^
It makes me miss my Economics classes in Ann Arbor. Thanks for sharing.