Granted the success rate for a known inside kick in the NFL is 20% but Folk wasn't nailing kick-offs deep in the endzone and Steelers were running it back pretty well. And basically Big Ben gets one first down the entire season is over - its not like the Jets D was consistently holding them to 3 and out. I understand there is a big field position difference holding them 3 and out after onside vs. kicking off but shitty Folk kickoff and a decent return by Steelers then punt would put Jest around their own 30 or 40 versus probably a touch back if they punt after recovering onside. Punting inside the 20 from midfield seems to be pretty low percentage. Anyway, I can see both sides, but is it so cut and dry that nobody seems to be talking about it.
I would have tried the onside kick. Best case...you get the ball back in great field position with plenty of time to win the game. Worst case...Pittsburgh recovers the ball and your defense has to make them either go 3 and out to force a punt or force them to kick a field goal and still have a chance to get the ball back and tie the game with a TD + 2 point conversion (with over 2 minutes left on the clock.) In other words, the Defense has to stop them anyway...the difference is the onside kick at least gives you a CHANCE to get the offense back on the field right away. Let me also add that I don't think what they decided on was bad...just that I probably would have gambled a little knowing how worthless Folk's kickoffs are.
I don't know if it's a no-brainer to not try an onsides kick. I'm still trying to figure out what the fuck that means.
I think we did the right thing but that entire 3 minutes was full of fail from Folk kicking it to the 20 to the Steelers throwing on us twice to get 1st downs.
I just meant that in all the post-game and sports radio I haven't heard that discussed once so I assume that everyone thinks it was a no-brainer.
Kicking off would've worked out great if the defense made a stop. Offense would've gotten the ball w/ chance to win the game & pretty good field position & the Jets defense appeared to be getting control of the Steeler's offense in 2nd half. Jets also had 3 time outs left. It all fell apart though w/ Folk's crappy KO & the defense giving up two first downs. Call was sound but the execution sucked.
Our team is built around the defense. If we can't stop them with 3:00 left on the clock, all of our timeouts and the two-minute warning then we don't deserve to win because we can't even rely on our defense which is our team's greatest strength. We shut them out in the second half; if I were Rex I would've had all the faith in the world that my guys could get my offense the ball back. The onside kick is a low percentage play. I would kick it deep and play defense in that situation, this team is made for that. Too bad it didn't work out but I thought it was the right call.
I was going to post in rage but you said everything for me. How could you say onside kick is a "no brainer"?? THAT...is why your not the HC of NYJ. Defense couldn't stop the redneck rapist, unfortunately thats what it came down to. Heartbreaking indeed.
obviously the plan was kick deep , 3 and out, get the ball back with 2 minutes plus at the 40 or so. Problem was the kickoff got returned up our asses.
agree with the OP in that Folk's kickoffs were so piss poor, might as well have tried the onsides kick there. Easy to say in hindsight I guess. the D still needed to make the stop and failed.
Also, I just checked the stats and I didn't see a single Pittsburgh 3 and out the entire game. And Fold kickoffs+returns (Pittsburgh starting field position): Pitt 34, Pitt 33, Pitt 28, Pitt 41,
Again, I didn't at all mean it was a no-brainer to onside and I said I could see both sides. Was just wondering why it doesn't even seem up for discussion.
Yeah. It's...what's the word...a no-brainer. You onside kick and don't get the ball, and you're fucked. You kick-off, you just need one stop. And we should have gotten it, it's not like we weren't in position to do it.
real question should be with the steelers having 10 men a the line and one man back why was the ball kicked directly to him...why not a lined bounce shot, or a soft fly ball behind the front line and try to cause some coinfusion
Kicking off was the right decision, the wrong decision was the STs deciding to have a dance off with Brown at that stage of the game. Really though, the tacking for the better part of this game was simply atrocious and the main reason we lost, really puzzling considering this is normally a pretty good tackling team.
Yeah, I really don't second guess that decision at all. On-sides kicks are really low % when the receiving team knows what's coming. You have to trust your Defense in that spot to get a key stop. Unfortunately, they didn't and the rest is history.
3:00 minutes with 2 Timeouts and a 2:00 warning, I Thought it was the right move, We just couldn't stop them on 3rd Down. Shit happens.
Rex trusted the defense because he believed that they would make a stop, because after all, we are a defense first team right? THE DEFENSE LET THIS TEAM DOWN LAST NIGHT.
This is exactly right. That should have been either pooched to around the 35 or line drive bouncing so you can't get a good return.
