Not Kick the FG at the end?
Looks like Gibbons could have used some more practice with wind. Why not let him kick there to try and build confidence?
I'm probably for trying to kill clock, but FG kicking definitely appears to be a problem area.
And damn you Brian for asking just how bad it could be!
September 4th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
Edsall 0-5 vs RR.
September 4th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
1-0. Just repeat that to yourself please.
September 4th, 2010 at 6:56 PM ^
Agree with you there. That shanked XP probably shook his confidence even more after the missed FG.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
give our kicker a break - XP was a bad snap (was behind the holder) and holder never got it down - wouldn't read much into that other than snapping needs some extra work (had a similar poor snap earlier but holder did a great job to get it down anyway
September 4th, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
Just to be fair to Gibbons, if you watch the extra point in slow-mo, that was a very tough hold. The holder didn't handle it well and the ball was basically sideways on the ground when Gibbon hit it. I can't believe it still almost went through. And maybe the snapper could have snapped it better, too. Tough to figure out, but the hold was way off.
Also, the slow-mo helped me see that Ryan van Bergen (a number 53) appeared to partially block the field goal attempt that put Connecticut up 3-0. Tough angle but I thought he redirected the ball when it was kicked live and that's the way it looked upon armchair review. The ABC announcers just said, that was a wobbly kick, but that was why.
I feel like normally these types of things are shown as an instant reply, even after commercial, once someone figures it out, but not today.
September 4th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
I don't have a problem with it. The wind was making things dodgy, and with a 20-point lead late, we don't need to be in the business of creating opportunities for the opposition unneccessarily. Let them have the ball and make them go the distance with a short clock rather than risk a block.
September 4th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
I don't have a problem with it. The wind was making things dodgy, and with a 20-point lead late, we don't need to be in the business of creating opportunities for the opposition unneccessarily. Let them have the ball and make them go the distance with a short clock rather than risk a block.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:13 PM ^
The shanked PAT was 100% on the holder (didn't catch who it was). You could see him on TV receive the snap, put it down, and then move it to the left (looking from the endzone) about 6-10 inches, and replace it on the ground.
That shank was not on Gibbons. His foot would have been in the right place, but he wound up kicking the side of the ball because of the phantom hold.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
me that Since UConn calling the timeout before the 4th down to stop the clock made RR wanna go for it. Just a theory.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
I wouldn't read too much into our placekicking from this game. It's hard to kick in a typhoon.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:25 PM ^
I would have liked to have seen him get the extra work ... more than likely he'll be called on to make one, if not two FGs down in South Bend and he could have used the practice in a game situation.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:36 PM ^
Are we searching for things to be upset about?
They played great! We are 1 - 0. We don't need to give the kicker practice at the end of the game. They can simulate that enough in the practice.
September 4th, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
The success rate of that field goal wasn't really high, and there was a possibility for a block and a quick score going the other way (at least better than putting the offense on the field). Going for the first down in that situation to run more clock out was the right decision in my mind and RR was probably just playing his odds on what he thought was best for the team.
Also, IIRC, I remember Lloyd going for it on forth down late in games sometimes as to not "run up the score" by kicking field goals. Because honestly there isn't much reason to throw a player out there in that situation to get 3 more points. I don't think RR was worried about running up the score when only up 20, but that sometimes happens as well.