Can someone please explain....

**Thyrl** · 12-06-2010, 01:56 PM

I understand that coaches have to deal with lots of dumb questions from the media, and as a result I get it when Harbaugh takes media members to task for asking what he perceives to be stupid questions but here's what I want to know....

When asked about not trying a 49-yard field goal, Harbaugh asked the questioner if they saw the wind out there, then went on to say in his typical condescending tone that he's been doing this a long time....agreed.

However, as someone who has been doing this a long time (particularly on special teams) after determining that the wind in that direction was preclusive to long field goal attempts, why not take the wind at your back for the 4th quarter? Why give the Steelers the wind for the 4th? This seems especially true for a team that has led in the 4th quarter of every game this season, and given away that lead on 4 occasions now.

Harbaugh is quick to point out to fans and media that there's a lot that we're not equipped to understand. How about explaining why he made an inexplicable decision selecting endzones for the second half, when anyone with 4 or 5 games of Madden under their belt would have known better?

**Corey** · 12-06-2010, 02:00 PM

Arrogance maybe? He thought we could jump on Pitt big and not need a game tying field goal? Only plausible explanation, I've got.

**Jeremiah W** · 12-06-2010, 02:02 PM

It is a fair question. I thought Cundiff had enough leg to give it a shot with about as good a chance or better of converting the 4th and then trying a closer FG.

I was pissed we lost, but tend to credit the Steelers a lot more for making less costly mistakes than beating the Ravens up for the few they made.

To me it all came down to the one sack fumble.

Nakumura whiffing on a free rush, Landry not even slowing down the back on the TD, Nakumra holding Miller and so on. The Ravens made too many small mistakes while the Steelers made very few.

**Corey** · 12-06-2010, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremiah W

It is a fair question. I thought Cundiff had enough leg to give it a shot with about as good a chance or better of converting the 4th and then trying a closer FG.

I was pissed we lost, but tend to credit the Steelers a lot more for making less costly mistakes than beating the Ravens up for the few they made.

To me it all came down to the one sack fumble.

Nakumura whiffing on a free rush, Landry not even slowing down the back on the TD, Nakumra holding Miller and so on. The Ravens made too many small mistakes while the Steelers made very few.

I wouldnt have minded seeing Sam Koch pull his RB impersonation again on a long field goal attempt. But any chance of the Steelers falling for that was blown on the blown fake punt.

Our boys just cant put together a full game. Our D gives up 30 some points and our O bails them out by putting up more. Our D holds an opponent 13 or 15 (in week 2), our O cant muster more than 10.

Something's gotta give.

**Jeremiah W** · 12-06-2010, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by Corey

I wouldnt have minded seeing Sam Koch pull his RB impersonation again on a long field goal attempt. But any chance of the Steelers falling for that was blown on the blown fake punt.

Our boys just cant put together a full game. Our D gives up 30 some points and our O bails them out by putting up more. Our D holds an opponent 13 or 15 (in week 2), our O cant muster more than 10.

Something's gotta give.

It is frustrating and all, but all you have to do is look at Indy or SD for some perspective.

I really wanted a top seed, and expected the Ravens to get one, but at least we are still in position to make the playoffs without help, and can still win the division if we win out and get some.

**camdenyard** · 12-06-2010, 02:27 PM

When asked about not trying a 49-yard field goal, Harbaugh asked the questioner if they saw the wind out there, then went on to say in his typical condescending tone that he's been doing this a long time....agreed.

I haven't been coaching ST for a long time but my kick return teams probably wouldn't be last in the league (as his are), either.

**bretts** · 12-06-2010, 02:45 PM

steelers won the toss and chose field position i thought...

also, i heard the wind got stronger as the night went on....

**Thyrl** · 12-06-2010, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by bretts

steelers won the toss and chose field position i thought...

also, i heard the wind got stronger as the night went on....

The Steelers won the toss and deferred, so the Ravens took the ball in the first half, and Steelers selected the end zones. In the second half, as a result, the Steelers took the ball (they could have chosen a to kick there, or pick an end zone instead, but of course they took the ball) meaning the Ravens got to choose the end zones for the second half.

I agree too that the wind probably picked up, but Harbaugh said that he and Cundiff determined 44 to be the edge of his effective range, maybe 47, after taking some kicks that way in second half warm ups.

I just can't fathom why a team that has led in the 4th quarter of every game this season, and have squandered that lead in 6 of them, wouldn't put the wind at their backs for the 4th quarter, if for no other reason, simply to put the wind in Suisham's face for a potential game winner.

**Fanman** · 12-06-2010, 03:24 PM

Our playoff chances are still solid...but winning the div is almost totally gone.
Pitts would have to lose one of their final games to Cincy or Cleveland and we would have to win out to both finish at 12-4. I don't see us being better than 11-5 and prolly more like 10-6. I am basing the below on Pats beating NYJ tonight:

AFC Seeding

1. Patriots
2. Steelers
3. Kansas City
4. Houst / Jax / Indy
5. NY Jets
6. Ravens

What we really need is for Pats to win tonight and then Jets beat Steelers.

FM

**Fanman** · 12-06-2010, 03:34 PM

Quick look at remaining schedules:

Team==== / Ravens / Steelers / NY Jets
=============================
Week 14==at Houston / vs Cincy / vs Miami
Week 15==vs Nola / vs Jets / at Pitts
Week 16==at Cleve / vs Carolina / at Chicago
Week 17==vs Cincy / at Cleve / vs Buffalo

No question the Jets have the toughest remaining schedule.

**festivus** · 12-06-2010, 03:46 PM

Jets & Steelers is an interesting matchup because they both seem to win over and over by receiving a gift from the opponent & not blowing it. One of them will have to blow it.

**Fanman** · 12-06-2010, 04:03 PM

I would be pretty surprised if the Jets beat NE tonight.

NE will move to 10-2, Jets to 9-3.

After tonight AFC playoff hunt would look at follows:

Div leaders:
East: Pats 10-2
North: Steelers 9-3
West: Chiefs 8-4
South: Jags 7-5

Wildcard teams
Jets 9-3
Ravens 8-4
Dolphins 6-6
Colts 6-6
Raiders 6-6
Chargers 6-6

FM

**CJ__** · 12-06-2010, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by Thyrl

The Steelers won the toss and deferred, so the Ravens took the ball in the first half, and Steelers selected the end zones. In the second half, as a result, the Steelers took the ball (they could have chosen a to kick there, or pick an end zone instead, but of course they took the ball) meaning the Ravens got to choose the end zones for the second half.

I think I need a rules clarification here.

My understanding is that a team who defers and then kicks picks the endzone to defend which carries over through the game. Thus, if team A defers, Team B obviously receives. Team A is given the choice of which end zone to defend...Team A defends the west end zone (for example). Thus, in the 2nd half they would receive and again defend the west endzone (and move offensively east).

That might be a crappy way of explaining it, sorry. I don't think there is an option to change which team defends which goals in the 2nd half? Please correct me if I am wrong.

**bretts** · 12-06-2010, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Thyrl

The Steelers won the toss and deferred, so the Ravens took the ball in the first half, and Steelers selected the end zones. In the second half, as a result, the Steelers took the ball (they could have chosen a to kick there, or pick an end zone instead, but of course they took the ball) meaning the Ravens got to choose the end zones for the second half.

I agree too that the wind probably picked up, but Harbaugh said that he and Cundiff determined 44 to be the edge of his effective range, maybe 47, after taking some kicks that way in second half warm ups.

I just can't fathom why a team that has led in the 4th quarter of every game this season, and have squandered that lead in 6 of them, wouldn't put the wind at their backs for the 4th quarter, if for no other reason, simply to put the wind in Suisham's face for a potential game winner.

either i am retarded or you are way wrong about this. steelers deferred so that they could pick the endzone specifically for the 4th quarter to have the wind at there back. there is no new decision at halftime

**Thyrl** · 12-06-2010, 04:21 PM

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/cointoss

Coin Toss
The toss of coin will take place within three minutes of kickoff in center of field. The toss will be called by the visiting captain before the coin is flipped. The winner may choose one of two privileges and the loser gets the other:
(a) Receive or kick
(b) Goal his team will defend
Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the officials of their respective choices. The loser of the original coin toss gets first choice.

**bretts** · 12-06-2010, 04:26 PM

guess that makes me retarded

**NCRAVEN** · 12-06-2010, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by bretts

guess that makes me retarded

**Thyrl** · 12-06-2010, 04:31 PM

I wouldn't say that homie...and that link is probably a bit outdated because it doesn't refer to the new defer rule. Still there 2 choices to be made at the start of each half, possession and direction. By deferring, the Steelers took first choice for the second half and gave it to the Ravens to start the game. At that point if the Ravens choose anything other than to receive, the Steelers could have gotten the ball to start both halves. Instead the Ravens took the ball in the first half and Steelers were left choosing an end zone. In the second half Pittsburgh took the ball and Baltimore chose the direction. If the Steelers had decided to choose direction, the Ravens could have taken the ball again.

**Brtnder81** · 12-06-2010, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Thyrl

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/cointoss

Coin Toss
The toss of coin will take place within three minutes of kickoff in center of field. The toss will be called by the visiting captain before the coin is flipped. The winner may choose one of two privileges and the loser gets the other:
(a) Receive or kick
(b) Goal his team will defend
Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the officials of their respective choices. The loser of the original coin toss gets first choice.

I think this is old because you also have the right to defer to the 2nd half