Superbowl Replay + SoundFX (Merged)

[RavensQB]

Who cares...... We won

[admartian]

Yes, you can attempt a free FG attempt (with no defensive rush or line) after a fair catch there (can put the holder at the fair catch spot, no need for snap backwards). So we couldn't kick it too short.

No, you cannot fair catch a kick if it hits the ground (a squib), but we were kicking from the 20, so a line drive squibber that gets 'blocked' by an up man, could feasibly be recovered by them in FG range or, at minimum, in Hail Mary range, so that too is a bit risky.

All things considered I think we chose the least risky way to deal with that kick. Koch would have really had to shank it for them to attempt a free FG attempt or an easy Hail Mary. Punters take their snap like 15 yards or more behind the line, and the distance of punts are measured from the line of scrimmage. So your typical 35 yard punt (shank) has traveled 50 yards. With Koch punting from the 20, even a short one from him was going to be too far for a free FG attempt, and very likely too far for a real Hail Mary attempt (considering any return could only last 3 seconds at most).

Sorry I didn't get what you meant there - did you mean they can take a FG at the punt of the Squib bounce or at the point of recovery? And they don't have to snap it backwards?

If we were going to squib it, we would have used Tucker and a holder. After a safety you can a) punt it, b) drop kick it, c) place kick it (without tee).

A drop kick would be entertaining. Would love to see that from an NFL kicker/punter. Not too sure if this is something regularly practiced. Might have to specially hire a rugby player (a back) for that.


Though in any case; NFL footballs are considerably pointier (for throwing) and thus the return bounce will not always have the desired height for a decent drop kick to travel very far.



RE: Flacco's tackling suggestion - even though I wouldn't agree with it; I love the tenacity and will to win. Also, slowly but surely, we're becoming more of a fanbase as a whole that takes the win ("It ain't always pretty but it's us" mentality) no matter what.

Which I think the NFL crowd/bandwagoners/fairweathers don't always appreciate due to things like "ooh the passing game loks pretty" or "let it always be a shootout/blowout" crowd and/or the fantasy football stats geeks. (Not stats-lovers/geeks in general just the Fantasy football frat-guy mentality).


I've learned to appreciate the value of a 'W' with the numerous teams I support. You take it as a fan - there's no style points in it; and whether you win ugly/controversially - you can argue till yer blue in the face it still won't change anything.

[RavenScallywag]

The only thing I disagree with about Flacco's comment...It makes us look like we'll take it by hook or by crook. I'll take it by hook, but we don't want to be known as a team that would stoop to cheating to win.

[Mista T]

On the play, I think there was some suspense there, which was unnecessary. They should not have kicked it deep IMO. Field position was not an issue, unless they could fair catch it (I am not sure on that), so why not squib it? Why put the ball in the hands of their return guy with a head of steam? Dangerous.

Field position was not an issue, but 0:04 on the clock was. Squib kicks can go anywhere, including out of bounds without changing the clock. Or If SF had returned a squib kick reception to the sideline in three seconds, an Akers FG would have been in the offing. This option was rendered moot by kicking the ball deep, out of FG range.

The deep punt was the only play that made sense to me.

With Koch punting from the 20, even a short one from him was going to be too far for a free FG attempt, and very likely too far for a real Hail Mary attempt (considering any return could only last 3 seconds at most).

Yes.

[leachisabeast]

Lol when he's shouting to Yanda, Yandas just like, huh? I think Marshall and Pitta are his two best buddies on the team.

[jaydee414]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSteCSinjTs


1954 Cotton Bowl. Dicky Moegle tackeld by Tommy Lewis who came off the Alabama bench, (literally), to make the play.

[HoustonRaven]

I think some are reading too much into Flacco's comments. I took them as a joke and Joe being Joe. I don't think he was serious.

Even if he was, the penalty for such is player ejection and an automatic TD.

[moose10101]

Sorry I didn't get what you meant there - did you mean they can take a FG at the punt of the Squib bounce or at the point of recovery? And they don't have to snap it backwards?

Neither. You can't fair-catch a ball that's hit the ground. If they had recovered a squib kick, assuming time hadn't run out, they'd be able to run a play from scrimmage, i.e. with the Ravens' defense right in front of them. With no squib kick, they can call a fair catch, and then attempt a kick from that spot, with the Ravens being required to stay 10 yards back until the ball is kicked.

[Hammerhead]

Neither. You can't fair-catch a ball that's hit the ground. If they had recovered a squib kick, assuming time hadn't run out, they'd be able to run a play from scrimmage, i.e. with the Ravens' defense right in front of them. With no squib kick, they can call a fair catch, and then attempt a kick from that spot, with the Ravens being required to stay 10 yards back until the ball is kicked.

All's well that ends well. But thank God Joe didn't try that "tackle Ginn if he breaks free" thing. It would have been tremendously illegal, would have lost the game and forever destroyed his reputation and the team's reputation.

Yanda's reaction was priceless. When Joe suggested this maneuver to him, he just smiled and said, "No, I'm not doing that." Good on him.

[RedSkins Fury]

Joe is The BEST!!
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/0...le-ted-ginn-jr

[mjones73]

All's well that ends well. But thank God Joe didn't try that "tackle Ginn if he breaks free" thing. It would have been tremendously illegal, would have lost the game and forever destroyed his reputation and the team's reputation.

Yanda's reaction was priceless. When Joe suggested this maneuver to him, he just smiled and said, "No, I'm not doing that." Good on him.

I think Joe was joking.

[RedSkins Fury]

Joe is The BEST!!
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/0...le-ted-ginn-jr

Sorry... Guess I should have searched the forum first. lol.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

And after his comments...bad deal for him.

I hope they'll put SoundFX on the NFL website, as I don't have NFL Network

It's on there...just click on the videos tab at the top and then go to team channels and then the Ravens video channel.

[cbaywolf]

Did anyone catch the quip by Ed where he was talking to Ray on the sidelines, and he specifically says to Ray, something to the effect of- This is going to be the last game for you and me? When I was first watching it, i was thinking that Ed was accepeting the fact that he wasn't going to be a Raven any longer- but now when writing this, I guess it's possible that he *could* have been saying that it's going to be the last game "for you and me" (together)? I didn't get a chance to hear it a 2nd time, so I'm not exactly sure what he was saying...

[Baltimoreboy]

FWIW,
It's up on tenyard's tracker.
Yea cbay,I took as the last time they play together.

[PurpleApocalypse37]

They could have also had Flacco go out there on 4th down to go for it and then either 1. Take safety or 2. Punt it, and since their defense would be on the field, if Flacco could get a 40 yard punt it would probably keep bouncing and the Ravens could probably down it with the clock at zero.

[JohnBKistler]

They could have also had Flacco go out there on 4th down to go for it and then either 1. Take safety or 2. Punt it, and since their defense would be on the field, if Flacco could get a 40 yard punt it would probably keep bouncing and the Ravens could probably down it with the clock at zero.

Please tell me you're joking...

[Hammerhead]

They could have also had Flacco go out there on 4th down to go for it and then either 1. Take safety or 2. Punt it, and since their defense would be on the field, if Flacco could get a 40 yard punt it would probably keep bouncing and the Ravens could probably down it with the clock at zero.

Way too risky. If he gets tackled outside of the end zone, or if he shanks the punt (since he has never punted in his NFL career), you are giving the Niners the ball back with a great chance to score the TD (particularly if he gets sacked). The best play in that situation was the one they drew up.

[Hammerhead]

In looking at the replay, particularly on that last series, it was clear to me that the 49ers intended to have their receivers make contact with every one of our DBs in an attempt to get separation. Just go back and look at the tape...

On 2nd down, Crabtree pushes Graham in an attempt to create space. No call for OPI.

On 3rd and 4th down, on the left side of the offensive formation, there is contact initiated by offensive players. On 4th down, Delanie Walker tries to obliterate Graham, who locks up with him before going down.

On that 4th down play, Crabtree initiates contact and then pushes off. You could make an argument for offsetting or for no calls given the 50-50 nature of the jostling. You cannot make an argument for DPI only.

And that's to say nothing of the other non-calls. The refs let them play this whole game. Why would they change up in the last two minutes to suit Jim Harbaugh? I think they did a good job letting the players decide the Super Bowl.

In listening to the FX tape, it really becomes clear how much of a whiner Jim Harbaugh is. I still have yet to hear him congratulate his older brother. I have no doubt if the shoe were on the other foot that John would congratulate Jim. Instead, he tries to diminish John's accomplishment and divert attention from their own bizarre playcalling by criticizing the refs.

[RavenScallywag]

Way too risky. If he gets tackled outside of the end zone, or if he shanks the punt (since he has never punted in his NFL career), you are giving the Niners the ball back with a great chance to score the TD (particularly if he gets sacked). The best play in that situation was the one they drew up.

Agree completely. The punt formation means a long snap, also gets 49ers to ease off and think about covering the punt deep. Joe goes out there in spread shotgun, they may bring a jailbreak blitz and that's a lot on Joe to try to buy time AND make sure he doesn't fumble on the hit.

In the end, the call that was made was absolutely the perfect one. Chances of returning a solid free punt from the 20 yard line? VERY unlikely.