Why didn't Fisher go for the FG and the win?

by oiler-texan diehard on Dec 17, 2008 4:04 PM CST Comment 13 comments

Had a conversation with a co-worker today about the Titans game, and he was wondering why Fisher didn't just go for the 49 yard FG to win the game. The TV announcers made mention of a swilrling wind but that was it. Hadn't Rob Bironas, the Titans pro Bowl caliber kicker, earlier made a 51 yarder? The answer goes back to the pregame warmups. I like getting into my seat early enough to watch the kickers go through their pregame routine (approx 60 minutes before kickoff). Most kickers do a very similar version of the following. They line up at the 17 yard line on a hash mark and make one kick. Some use the snapper-holder, some use the PVC pipe ball holder. They move back at 5 yard intervals, alternating from the left to the right hash mark at each move back. In addition to warming up their leg, this also allows them to determine their effective range for that game. Last Sunday was particularly windy, the most wind I can recall at a Texans game. The roof is almost always closed, and except for the Ike damage would have been closed on Sunday. The wind direction was predominantly from North to South, away from the end with the Texans player tunnel. Rob B made all of his kicks until reaching the 42 yard line (52 yd FG). Kicking into the wind, Bironas missed his 1st kick from the right hash. Made his 2nd. He moved to the left hash @ 42 and missed. He moved in just one yard staying on the left and missed one more kick. Two of the misses did not have enough distance. One was wide (right I think). This factored into the crucial decision at the end of the game. He had determined that his high % range did not extend beyond about 47-48 yards into the wind. On 3rd and 11 Collins completed an 8 yard pass to the 31-32 yard line. Bironas must have told Fisher that he could not guarantee that he would have the leg to get a 50 yarder up there. Hence Fisher goes for the 1st down, and the rest is history.

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Fisher said something to that effect

But a lot of people at MCM don’t seem to believe him. It’s awesome that you noticed this, and that it made a difference.

I think it’s a given that he would nail the kick if the roof were closed, meaning we really have Ike to thank for the fact that we beat the Tits.

Perverse, innit?

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on Dec 17, 2008 4:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I, at least, believe him.

Which doesn’t mean that the wrong call was made. A running play would have been a higher percentage play than a pass.

by hartley on Dec 17, 2008 4:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Or, you know,

Kerry Collins could have elected to throw a pass somewhere he could hit.

by Only_A_Lad on Dec 17, 2008 6:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Problem:

That place did not exist on Sunday.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Dec 17, 2008 6:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Solution:

Fisher should have brought in Vince Young. Vince could have gotten that pass off, led the game winning drive and once again shown why he should have been the #1 pick in the 2006 draft. Pity the Texans didn’t take him.

Wait, what’s that? Vince Young sucks? And the Titans don’t have an effective passing game? So all Fisher could do was tell his old QB – who apparently was battling a bad case of the shakes from forgoing his usual pre-game tankard of vodka – to try try try to get three yards. Damn.

by Only_A_Lad on Dec 18, 2008 1:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Vince would have

Thrown the ball to the corner of the end zone, run a corner route, stopped on the way to make out with Dickie Justice in the media box and jumped up to catch the ball, keeping both feet inbounds and scoring the touchdown.

Then he would line up on the hands team to recover the onside kick. After he recovered the kick, he would have taken the next snap, run underneath Mario Williams’ legs, hurdle DeMeco Ryans, stiffarm Jacques Reeves and take another one to the house, running all the way out of the stadium to smoke some ribs and brisket in one of the Blue lot. Texans lose 26-13.

I, for one, am glad that Fisher didn’t put VY in the game.

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on Dec 18, 2008 8:35 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

probably the only way

the win woulda been sweeter. Bring in VY. Rest assured, the margin of our victory would have been much larger, and a little sweeter.

VY is not the answer. Their offense is one dimensional and will be exposed in the playoffs.

Please draft some defensive stars for the next DC.

by texanphil on Dec 19, 2008 4:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Or to a receiver that could catch

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on Dec 17, 2008 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Collins had an off day (one of Tim's points in his post game breakdown)

He often threw too wide and/or late to the sidelines, and overthrew open receivers on deep patterns as well, including the critical 4th down play. Our D was sitting at the sticks expecting either a run or a short pass, but it looked to me that he saw McCareins (I think) one on one with Frenchy and looked nowhere else. The receiver had a half step on Frenchy, but again the throw was just a little too long. Our good fortune, because a better throw may have sealed our fate in an unkind way. Had Collins had the kind of day that Schaub did, we likely would have lost. Considering the amount of pressure and hits on Matt, his performance was exceptional. He is in the progress of silencing all the critics. All he needs to do now is avoid injury, and he will cement his place as an elite QB.

It was apparent that our defensive game plan was to not let the Titans beat us with their AFC leading ground game. Sound strategy, and kudos to our defense as they played their finest game I can remember. I also think that we have shown everyone else the way to play the Titans. Collins is a good, but not great QB. I am sure that the Steelers scouted that game and likely will use a similar strategy this week against Tennessee. I can remember several passing plays where VY could have burned us with his running skill. I will be interested to see if Fisher plays the Vince card if the going gets rough as opponents force the Titans to pass. A great running QB is one factor that is hard to scheme for. Personally I would really like to see Vince get a shot if Collins runs into trouble in the coming weeks.

by oiler-texan diehard on Dec 18, 2008 7:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can remember several passing plays

…where VY would have thrown it to a Texan.

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on Dec 18, 2008 8:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha Ha, Maybe so. Vince is definitely not a polished QB, but he is entertaining

I loved watching him play when he was at UT, but now that he’s playing for the ex-Oilers it ’s hard to open up a can of care, but somehow I still would like to see him do well.

by oiler-texan diehard on Dec 18, 2008 2:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I totally 100% believe what Fisher is saying

However – in that situation, you still have to roll the dice. Bironas is probably the best kicker in the AFC, and he’s CLUTCH.

Or at the very least, you know, don’t throw it deep.

www.HoustonDiehards.com

by HoustonDiehards on Dec 18, 2008 12:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

seriously

to use the “we can stop them anyway” excuse, you can stop them after a missed FG the same as after a botched 4th down attempt.

I was truly excited when they lined up to go for it, but then there was the thought of trying to draw us offsides. But when they snapped it, that was one of the best memories I’ll have of this year. That, and Slatons run 2 plays later, and ’Dre’s catch on 4th down to help beat the fins.

Please draft some defensive stars for the next DC.

by texanphil on Dec 19, 2008 4:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs