The Ben Graham 'Ill have a run and then kick it' play

I believe he was across the line of scrimmage when he kicked it, but the penalty was on another Jets player for being inelligably downfield.

 

I think the actual penalty was illegal man down field, though. While what Graham did should be a good idea in theory, chances are opposing defenses will catch on and go directly for him when he sprints outside. Ben Graham may be a tough guy and all, but that play is just begging for an injury. He's too valuable for the team to lose, so I'd prefer if he stays safely behind the line and does what he does best.

 

I honestly never seen a play like that before and I thought it was very insightful of Mangini to recognize Ben's talents and use it (if it was a designed play, that is). Either way it's a moot point because he kicked it out of bounds.

 

Actually, I'm not at all sure that he was across the line, but the problem with a play like that is that only the ends are allowed to be beyond the line of scrimmage before the ball is kicked, and if Graham is running around back there, it's quite likely that someone else will have started running downfield to try to cover the kick, resulting in a penalty, which is exactly what happened on the play.

 

My thoughts exactly. Lets just punt the ball well and win the field position battle. Sounds like he struggled a bit with punting tonight, and he wasn't exactly real impressive last week. I know he has a ton of talent at the P position and can help us quite a bit with field position. We don't need to be messing around with crazy crap like this yet. If everything else is well oiled, then maybe we can f around with punts. For the time being, keep it simple and punt the isth out of the ball.

 

Actually, aside from the early shank and that WTF-play, he had a nice day. He delivered a booming 55 yard punt, and booted 2 punts within the 10 yard line. One of those punts even died at the 2-yard line. Not too shabby.

 

I don't remember Herm/Heimerdinger doing anything like that with Graham last year, I thought it was something to try at least once considering Ben was a former rugby player so he could throw and run. I'm glad Mangini finally used these talents than most punters had, and even though it didn't work as planed, it was preseason.

 

Hey, is there a good place to learn Aussie Rules? The game seems intense...BTW...Sorry about the loss to the Kiwis

 

I mentioned in another thread that I thought Graham needs to do a lot better than this. When you're talking about punting, two horrifically bad kicks more than outweighs three good ones - those two kicks can easily translate into 14 points against you.

 

At this point, so do I - I thought he had a fine rookie year, so I don't see any reason why he can't be well above average this year too. For whatever reason, he's been pretty inconsistent so far in the two preseason games.

 

You're right. A poor punt while the team is backed up in the end zone can be crippling. However, even the best punters shank the ball every now and then. I only recalled one poor punt in Graham's day...that WTF-play doesn't count, IMO. It was purely experimental, and I doubt it was even a designed play. I'm sure we won't see much of it during the regular season, but if we do, the kinks will probably be worked out. It seems like I'm making alot of excuses for the guy, but it's just that I don't think we need to worry about him at all.

 

OK.... if it wasn't a designed (planned) play, it was bad. If it's a designed play, call it the run/pass option punt. The punting team is only allowed to send two players down the field (past the line of scrimmage, where the ball is placed on the field prior to the play). If the rest of the players KNOW that they have to hold up, then it's a planned play. If they don't know, and Ben did it on his own, he's in deep trouble with the coach. The other players (the 2 guys that go downfield right away are called the "gunners" and are allowed to run before the ball is punted) must stay behind the line of scrimmage.

I believe this was a planned play. Graham was to run with the ball, and he has the option to either pass it, run with it, or punt it on the run. he has to decide if he can make the run for the first down yardgae here... if it looks bad, he punts on the run. This would be a very unique "trick play", designed to use Ben's football talents. He can kick on the run, something other NFL punters can't do. It wasn't his fault that some players (other than the gunners) went over the line of scrimmage.

That is my impression of what happened.... Graham saw too many defenders as he approached the line, and excersized the punt on the run option. Players are taught to count after the snap to the punter.... after so many seconds, they release and run down the field to tackle the punt returner. Seems to me, one or more of those guys went downfield before they should have.... if that is the case, not Ben;s fault at all.

I'm sure we will hear more about this play tomorrow to clear up what actually happened.

 

According to the Newsday article posted by GM in another thread, it was, in fact, a designed play. Personally, I cannot for the life of me imagine why they would even think about something like that - besides the increased chances of a poor kick, I think it's almost guaranteed that there will be an ineligible man downfield anyway.

I don't disagree with your last sentence at all, as my post just before yours said. I just would like to see some more consistency the last couple of games, as I think our punter could be important again this year. :wink:

Edit: I do agree with TBJ that if a player went downfield earlier than they should have on the play it wasn't Graham's fault. I guess I just don't see the point in such attempted cleverness.

 

Holy freakin shit! People are gonna start whining about Graham now? you HAVE to be fucking kidding me. I mean really.... holy shit.... what a bunch of f'n idiots. damn. It's a fuckin preseason game! This is when you try trick plays! I give up.... fucking clueless freakin.... oh nevermind. Cripes. Good God, save me.... I am awash in a sea of morons.

 

To learn go to afl.com.au as NYMagpies said. To talk footy, go to BigFooty