Thoughts on the Fake FG . . .

[TeufelHog]

I personally thought it was a horrible call . . . I gotta know what you think and why?

[PORKULATOR]

If it would've worked, we'd have talked about what a great call it was.

[soso]

Playing for the win. I loved it. But hated  the clock management at the end of the first half. Basically two mediocre teams.

[yraciv]

I thought Hedlund was kicking the ball low all night, so I understand not having confidence in him. Obviously it's easy to say we should have kicked the FG when it didn't work, but I can see the thought between trying to catch them off guard. Get it, we punch it and it is all but over.

Only thing I don't get is why McFain was in there for it.  I think that tipped them off!

[arkansasrazorback]

Rather go for it with offense on the field.

[regi]

It was a calculated good call, Tennessee kid beat Sprinke's block or it is a great call. We were up by more than a FG. Tennessee had 13 Offensive points, If Dak Prescott, Allen at A&M, or Mahomes is the QB at UT, you kick it, but Dobbs and UT do not have a good enough passing game to get in end zone. It was a great gamble, if you are a gambler.

[aar0n]

It was only about 2 feet short of being a "genius" play call/gamble.  A TD there would've put the game out of reach by far, and we'd be celebrating either way.

[Arkansas Fan]

We have no faith in Hedlund, I know that. But, we had the momentum, and as the announcer said, it would've been like a PAT. Make it and you have a seven point lead. I really thought we were gonna end up losing 27-24.

[regi]

Rather go for it with offense on the field.

....because BA has been so good in those situations late in the 4th

[Hogarusa]

Didn't get it or like it live.  Didn't hurt the Hogs as Tennessee went 3 and out and the D saved the bad play call.  It's all good in the end

[Baconomics]

Obviously, we wanted the points.  But failure to convert was not the catastrophe that the announcers claimed.  UT was deep in their own territory.  Most teams go conservative deep in their own territory. We nearly got the turnover, and forced the punt.  This played well into our run-out-the-clock philosophy.  Had the offense converted on the ensuing possession, it would have been harmless.

In contrast, connecting on the FG would have led to a kickoff which may have alleviated their field possession problem.  Still, you want the points, but the decision was not as silly as some claim.

[upperdeck_hawg]

Going for the win. I liked it. If we kick it there and TN ties it, BB knows BA isnt going to pull it out in a late game situation. Trying to go up 11 was the right call there.

[jackflash]

I have no problem with it. BB was trying to win the came has work before for us

[reddogjcss]

I think it was a call from a team determined to win, didn't work but was dang close and help set the tone for winning

[STLHogFan]

It was a bad call. But hey we survived and won.

[the END.]

I appreciate the guts to go, but question the call. You put new personnel out there and you're basically saying, "Hey! Look at me!"

I agree it's better than a miss as it pins them deeper than a missed FG would have done. Just would have preferred to line it up and try to draw them off then just go for it. Biggest line in football, right? (Everyone playing the game take a drink)

[Hogsmo Kramer]

Not a fan of it.

If we're gonna go for it I'd rather just line up the O and go for it that way.

[verticalhog]

Totally stupid call.  You play the percentages.  To add insult to injury, you tipped off Tenner by putting in a different kicker.  This was some terrible coaching.  If they had gone for it with regular offense, I would have had no problem with the call.

[pigture perfect]

It was actually a great call that was poorly executed. A bad snap tipped UT off to an alternate play. Also if McFain would have cut it back a little earlier his momentum would have carried him a yard or so further upfield, which would have given us the 1st down. We were playing to win, and not to lose. Isn't that what some of our fans were complaining about?

[aar0n]

Totally stupid call.  You play the percentages.  To add insult to injury, you tipped off Tenner by putting in a different kicker.  This was some terrible coaching.  If they had gone for it with regular offense, I would have had no problem with the call.

You realize that everybody and their brother absolutely lambasted Butch Jones last week for "playing the percentages" and using his chart, right?  Percentages can tell you a lot, but they can't tell you the circumstances in their entirety.

We kick the field goal, assuming we make it (and that's a pretty big assumption) we have to kick it off, and we've already seen what can happen on a kickoff once this game. 

Even if Tennesee gets a decent return, the field position is infinitely better than pinned deep, almost making a missed FG more worthwhile.  Well if your best/equal option is a missed field goal to pin them deep, why not go for the first down anyway?  Any forward yardage without actually getting the 1st down only pins them even deeper and puts even more pressure on a failing offense, so it's a win/win.  Either way Tennessee needed a touchdown, and we felt the odds of that happening were much slimmer with their backs to their endzone. 

Like I said earlier, it was literally only 2 feet shy of being a genius, heralded decision across the board.  But there wasn't much to lose to begin with, even with "failure" on the play. 

[the END.]

You realize that everybody and their brother absolutely lambasted Butch Jones last week for "playing the percentages" and using his chart, right?  Percentages can tell you a lot, but they can't tell you the circumstances in their entirety.

We kick the field goal, assuming we make it (and that's a pretty big assumption) we have to kick it off, and we've already seen what can happen on a kickoff once this game. 

Even if Tennesee gets a decent return, the field position is infinitely better than pinned deep, almost making a missed FG more worthwhile.  Well if your best/equal option is a missed field goal to pin them deep, why not go for the first down anyway?  Any forward yardage without actually getting the 1st down only pins them even deeper and puts even more pressure on a failing offense, so it's a win/win.  Either way Tennessee needed a touchdown, and we felt the odds of that happening were much slimmer with their backs to their endzone. 

Like I said earlier, it was literally only 2 feet shy of being a genius, heralded decision across the board.  But there wasn't much to lose to begin with, even with "failure" on the play. 

Then just run a play with the vaunted line. You fail, Whatever. Putting a "trick" they see right through into the hands of a nervous person playing one or two downs? That's way outside percentages. That's inviting disaster.

Again I love they went for it. I just would have preferred a line them up, hard calls, switch a player or two, and run. You miss it's the same.

But it all worked out and as Hogs... We all know deep inside we loved it

[hawgmasta]

I definitely yelled WTH?! When it didn't work but if it did we would be calling him an ole maverick.

[redeye]

I don't think it was a bad call, but I would have preferred the FG.  Hedlund has to get his kicks up, but after the block, I think he would have.

[FANONTHEHILL]

Hedlund was getting no elevation on his kicks, so putting McFain out there didn't tip off anything.  If he gets another yard, it's a great move. They were more dangerous in their kickoff return game than their offense. And finally, what does a 1-3 team have to lose when there's a chance to put a team away?

[bennyl08]

It was a solid call. I personally would have probably kicked it, but I can't complain about the call.

Case 1: You kick it. We've had a couple kicks blocked now this season so there is no guarantee we even get the ball off. The previous kick attempt, I believe on the previous drive was just blocked. If you make it, it does nothing to guarantee a win, it only helps you to not lose in regulation. Make the fg or miss it, tenner still has to get a td regardless. Making it doesn't change what they have to do, only gives you an out (overtime) if you can't stop them.

Case 2: You go for it with the actual offense. Could have worked, but it wasn't exactly just 4th and 1. That would have been a tough conversion to pick up and it keys the defense by telling them explicitly you are going for it.

Case 3: Fake FG. You just had your last fg blocked and blocked kicks haven't been an anomaly for us either, so it makes sense not to trust it completely. Two, making the fg doesn't put us better position to win, only to delay the game into overtime if we can't stop them. If that happens, the crowd comes alive and making the td there is probably going to be harder than finishing the game here. However, it is a position where a FG is logical enough that a fake isn't obvious. It's not like, oh-no, we're faking the 68 yard fg or something. Now, there is the issue of the new kicker. However, Bielema does have a history of changing kickers and McFain was mostly our guy last season and Hedlund again just had one blocked. I agree that may have made the defense more cautious seeing a new kicker, but it wasn't out of the blue. Heck, we may see McFain next week as our kicker still.

Actual: The fake by and large did catch their defense by surprise. Watching it, it looked like there was clear sailing to a first down, if not a td. However, it was just an excellent play by their defender to get there and make the tackle. Further, it put them in very bad field position which our defense took advantage of.

[pigture perfect]

I don't think we would have made the fg because of the bad snap. Man! I'm pumped about beating Tennersee.

[Soooie21]

If we could make a fg...

[sickboy]

I would have kicked, but Bielema said they made the call because the kick was from the hash mark that Hedlund was struggling with. I get why they made the call. Thankfully it didn't hurt us.

[ronmahony]

I am all for going for it there, but I believe if it was me, I would have left the offense in. Like someone above said, try to pull them off. I think a quick pitch like they did to get that last first down would have worked. What happened to our kicking? Isn't this the guy everyone was talking about last year? The guy that was supposed to be the best in the country?

[sickboy]

I am all for going for it there, but I believe if it was me, I would have left the offense in. Like someone above said, try to pull them off. I think a quick pitch like they did to get that last first down would have worked. What happened to our kicking? Isn't this the guy everyone was talking about last year? The guy that was supposed to be the best in the country?

Good point

[SoonerSooie]

My immediate reaction was "Gutsy call!" Given the circumstances, with our problems at kicker, and having them so deep in their end, I felt that it was a great call.

[The real Hogules]

I had no problem with the call, now the execution could have been better.
Additionally, as another poster mentioned had the kicker cut back just a little earlier he would have had the first down.
We were deep in UT territory, so even though we didn't make it Tennessee had the length of the field to go to score and as it turned out we held them to a 3 and out.
It will also give future opponents a little something extra to prepare for.

[Sow Lancelot]

I had no problem with the call, now the execution could have been better.

Apparently, you are unaware, as has been pointed out hundreds of time over the past three weeks, that a lack of execution on a play is 100% CBB's fault. As we've been told, he doesn't teach these things in practice; just gives them days off.

/sarc

To the point of the post, I loved the call. Try to break their back when you have the opportunity.

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

I thought Hedlund was kicking the ball low all night, so I understand not having confidence in him. Obviously it's easy to say we should have kicked the FG when it didn't work, but I can see the thought between trying to catch them off guard. Get it, we punch it and it is all but over.

Only thing I don't get is why McFain was in there for it.  I think that tipped them off!

I would have had McFain in there regardless, but that's just me. I also would have tried the FG prior to the last previous 4th down play.

[urkillnmesmalls]

I liked the call.  They had sold out to get the block previously, so I'm sure the thought was that they would be expecting us to kick to get up 7 and the staff hoped they would sell out again and it would be a stroll in the park for a TD.  That didn't happen, but it was actually not a bad situation on the edge, but the blocking just wasn't executed well.  They needed to either ride them wide to give him a lane inside, or pin them to give him the edge.  They did neither. 

With our inability to kick the ball deep into the endzone on most kickoffs, and their obviously good return game, it probably wasn't a bad gamble to go for it so that they were at least pinned back if it failed.  They hadn't proven they could pass it well enough to go 90 yards. 

I still have HUGE concerns about our play calling in the red zone.  When the field shrinks, we just seem to continue running the same plays.  I haven't yet figured out why our TE's are always 1" from the back line of the endzone, giving zero margin for error on the throws.  Our receivers just aren't able to get clear of the jams at the LOS, so the quick slants and things that other teams use just don't work for us.  For us to get it that close TWICE and not score a single point...was the most disconcerting thing about the game.     

[code red]

Horrible call.Kick it and go up 7.

[SemperFi]

It was a great call that we came up just a little short on. A TD there and the game would have been over. Coach B played to win and I was glad to see the aggressive play calling.

[TNRazorbacker]

It seemed retarded last night but now that Ive thought more about it I think it kind of made sense being 4 up and the defense playing well. We adjusted at half time to seal off the edge and that essentially ended TN's offense. We were winning the ineptitude battle between their passing game and our pass defense. We were up by 4 and the likilihood of them driving for a TD was in our favor. I also liked the aggressiveness. Conservative play calling alone has lost us a few of these close games.

[DeltaBoy]

I love it cause we Won.

[lefty08]

I am on board with the call, one thing i didnt want to see is us kicking off again in a 1 score game.....

[3kgthog]

Bad decision and a bad play call. I never want to see a slow FG kicker trying to beat any defender to the edge. Take the points when you have a kick that close and that late to put you up a TD.

UT hadn't shown any ability to really hurt us with the pass, so take the chance on the FG and the D stopping an average QB after the kickoff. If they were worried about the returner, sky kick it short and away from him or squib it at someone else. Problem solved.

[JenksHawg]

I personally thought it was a horrible call . . . I gotta know what you think and why?

I don't think a field goal gets us anything there - puts us up 7, if they come down and score we're tied up and we end up losing end of regulation or OT - coach knows BA is incapable of winning when it counts so he goes for it to put us up 2 scores.  BA's never won us a game in OT, we always get beat by QBs that rise to the occasion, so yes it seems like a stupid call, but I think BB knows being up 7 is not better than being up 4.

[BigBrandonAllenFan]

Totally agreed with the call.  I was not for setting up for OT.   OT is not where you want to be on the road.  If you make the fake, you put the dagger in Tennessee, whereas, if you take the 3 points, you set youself up for OT.  Either way, the defense has to rise to the occasion, so go for the kill.

The coaches that pull out tight games in the SEC are usually not scared to gamble.  We've seen losses that Beilema wished he would have gambled here and there when he didn't.  To see the gut to gamble is a good thing..

[jlhogfan]

The Hogs D bailed out the call.  I thought it was definitely gutsy, he showed some faith in the defense. 

[mckinneyhog5]

Great call and we should have got the first down if Mcfain would have cut up the field earlier. Shows BB has some balls, especially after all the criticism he has taken over the last few weeks. 

[The real Hogules]

Bad decision and a bad play call. I never want to see a slow FG kicker trying to beat any defender to the edge. Take the points when you have a kick that close and that late to put you up a TD.

UT hadn't shown any ability to really hurt us with the pass, so take the chance on the FG and the D stopping an average QB after the kickoff. If they were worried about the returner, sky kick it short and away from him or squib it at someone else. Problem solved.

I don't understand how pushing the lead out to 7 with a FG and then giving Tennessee a short field to cover for a tie is a well thought out plan.
I liked us going for the jugular with the fake punt.

[Laughing Hog]

I don't think it was a bad call, but I would have preferred the FG.  Hedlund has to get his kicks up, but after the block, I think he would have.

He short strokes his kicks. If he doesn't learn to get a full stroke and get the ball up, we will see more blocked kicks in the future.

[Pig In The City]

I understand the need to be less conservative so I was not too out of joint about it, but at that point in the game you go for the FG. You play percentages and trying a fake FG that close to the goal isn't high percentage just for the mere sake that defensive players have less room to cover at the goal line. A coach doesn't ever want to be the reason a team loses. We got lucky.

[ricepig]

Call of the game, only thing he should have done was have Collins, RWIII, or Reed in as the kicker. Seriously, I see it both ways, I've got no problem with the call.

[Choctaw Hog]

I personally thought it was a horrible call . . . I gotta know what you think and why?

If it works, the self-proclaimed football experts on message boards thump their chests and revel in how great a call it was.  Pulling out all stops, not being conservative, etc.

If it doesn't work then the "experts" starts posts about what a horrible call it was.