THN Forum Clinic: How to get a TD on 1st and goal?

[Hooligan]

It's the 4th quarter, your team just orchestrated a long drive down the field and you are now a couple short yards from the goalline. The clock is still running but you aren't in your goal-line package. These are your last 4 plays of the game and you need a TD to tie.

The Redskins responded by spiking the ball, bringing in the jumbo package, throwing to the fullback in the flat, then running the ball twice to the same side with the backup RB. Perhaps they need some fresh ideas? Lets help them out.

How would YOU call the last 4 plays in the final moments of a game?

[BernieSki]

I had no problem that it was Ladell. My issue was the actual play calling by Gibbs. The play call in order should have looked something more like this....

1 spike ball (which they did)
2 run the ball right up the gut or over the left (pass to the flats is what they did)
3 now you run the bootleg and give Campbell the option to pass or run
4 PASS THE FREAKING BALL TO SOMEONE....MAYBE OUR $ MILLION DOLLAR TE

or

You pound 275lb Mike Sellers, either in the Jumbo package if that does not work spread the package like you are going to pass and run him again.

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

Bring in the 3rd string QB for a QB sneak...

[joeramse]

the name's Sellers, Mike Sellers

[SKINFAN]

punt. would've had the same result miunus the heartache.....

Quick formation and throw to the corner pylon where either our guy gets it or noone gets it, stops the clock if incomplete, and sends a message to the GMen that we are not afraid to throw. Spiking the ball, we just told them that we are on the verge of panicking if we weren't there already...

2nd down, RUN up the gut.

3rd down, look for cooley or betts at the flats with ARE running deep endzone curls taking the corners with them

4th down, QB sneak, The line can get the push, you just got to trust them.


seriously, sellers and cooley on the right side then hand off

[joebagadonuts]

the name's Sellers, Mike Sellers

And who would be the lead blocker for Mr. Sellers...Todd Yoder? Frankly, I'd prefer Mr. Sellers be in front, and leave it up to the line to get a good push, and my running back to make smart cuts. Unfortunately, neither happened.

[Jake]

I asked my Metro Bus driver if he could run for one yard. He had no answer.

If he can't do it, I'm not sure who can.

[HardDawg]

1- Spike
2- Sellers lead- Portis- Up the gut
3- Play action to ey or open reciever TD or stopped clock!
4- Full back lead- quick handoff to Sellers!

[GSPODS]

I asked my Metro Bus driver if he could run for one yard. He had no answer.

If he can't do it, I'm not sure who can.

Charles Barkley could run for a yard ... if there was food in the endzone.

[aswas71788]

A lead blocker for Sellers, how about Golston or Montgomery? Wouldn't that confuse the defense.

Bring in Sellers, have ey in motion to the center, have Golston or Mongomery in front of sellers. Let's see, that is about 800 pounds of Redskin coming into the line behind the left tackle or center.

[CanesSkins26]

The idea to use Betts there instead of Portis was idiotic. CP had easily scored on that same play earlier in the game. So why in the world would you put in the backup who at that point in the game had 9 yards on 7 carries?? This entire "interchangeable" nonsense just needs to stop. Neither back can get into a rhythm when they are constantly rotating in and out. Bottom line this loss falls squarely on the shoulders of Gibbs and the rest of the offensive staff. This coaching staff has been very disappointing in Gibbs' second tenure.

[brad7686]

Its clear to me that we can't run on the 1 because teams know its going up the middle. Run a pitch or a non jumbo play action or something. Just use more variety and you will get in most of the time. If they would run 3 wr then maybe they could go up the middle with a little less opposition.

[tribeofjudah]

Coach Gibbs goofed on that... I heard that he took Control of play calling at the very end there on the goal line stand.

As head coach....he went down swinging and he went down HIS WAY and he went down with the TEAM....

Gotta hand it to him...... to quote Sinatra "he did it his way"

[GSPODS]

How to score on one play:

Line up for the same play the Redskins actually ran. Bring John Riggins out of retirement.

[DEHog]

Anybody notice we have a QB who can run? Why not spead the field and run a QB draw?

[Cappster]

Anybody notice we have a QB who can run? Why not spead the field and run a QB draw?

I was thinking play action pass, roll Campbell out, by some time, hit ey for a touchdown. Pretty simple if you ask me. On another note, it looked like Betts tripped over a linemans legs. If he doesn't do that, he probably has a good chance to score.

[Judge]

How would YOU call the last 4 plays in the final moments of a game?

In the situation the Redskins were in:

First down:

During training camp in July, I would work on having two emergency plays for that exact situation. I'd have the offense run to the line of scrimmage in the exact same formation as the previous play (so there's no confusion) and I'd have my quarterback yelling "Emergency One!" or "Emergency Two!"

Emergency One = Spiking the ball to stop the clock

Emergency Two = The old Dan Marino quick toss to the end zone, when the Jets defense THOUGHT he was going to spike the ball...resulting in a wide open receiver on a hot route and an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown.

Which play gets run I will leave to the judgement and discretion of my quarterback. If he thinks he can catch the defense off-balance, I let him go for it. If he doesn't, he spikes it and we re-set for second and goal.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

Second down:

If the above doesn't work, bring in Jumbo with a single back (Portis). Play fake to back, who blocks any blitzer. Easy toss to a wide-open ey/Sellers/Eligible tackle in the corner.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

Third down:

(Call BOTH of the following plays in the third down huddle.)

Bring in four or five receivers and spread the field. Make the defense commit to covering all of them. Then let my quarterback take the snap and run straight forward or off tackle and dive in. A mobile guy like Campbell should get the job done before the defenders can recover.

If he doesn't think he can make it, he can still spike the ball into the ground or throw it out of the endzone.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

(See the pattern there?)

Fourth down:

You now have the entire playbook to work with, since conserving time and stopping the clock are no longer an issue. You either make it or you don't right here.

This is where I would trust my best running back and my best play to get me that yard. Handoff, straight ahead. My O-line against their D-line. If you can stop me, fine. You deserve to win. But I like my chances.

Plays I would not use:

Pitch. When's the last time that play worked on ANY down and distance in ANY game situation, much less at the goal line with the game on the line?

End Around. It works in high school. It works in college. But NFL defenses are too fast and too savvy. Scrap that one.

Direct snap to my running back. You think that an NFL defense won't see that coming? Duh.

Gadget/Trick plays like a halfback option or a throwback pass. I pay my quarterback well to make these throws. I want the ball in HIS hands if the ball is being thrown with the game on the line.

Now following the formula...

If I can't get a single yard...in my own building...in a division game...with the game itself on the line...

I'm going to clean out my office, because I don't deserve to be there.

[HardDawg]

How would YOU call the last 4 plays in the final moments of a game?

In the situation the Redskins were in:

First down:

During training camp in July, I would work on having two emergency plays for that exact situation. I'd have the offense run to the line of scrimmage in the exact same formation as the previous play (so there's no confusion) and I'd have my quarterback yelling "Emergency One!" or "Emergency Two!"

Emergency One = Spiking the ball to stop the clock

Emergency Two = The old Dan Marino quick toss to the end zone, when the Jets defense THOUGHT he was going to spike the ball...resulting in a wide open receiver on a hot route and an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown.

Which play gets run I will leave to the judgement and discretion of my quarterback. If he thinks he can catch the defense off-balance, I let him go for it. If he doesn't, he spikes it and we re-set for second and goal.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

Second down:

If the above doesn't work, bring in Jumbo with a single back (Portis). Play fake to back, who blocks any blitzer. Easy toss to a wide-open ey/Sellers/Eligible tackle in the corner.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

Third down:

(Call BOTH of the following plays in the third down huddle.)

Bring in four or five receivers and spread the field. Make the defense commit to covering all of them. Then let my quarterback take the snap and run straight forward or off tackle and dive in. A mobile guy like Campbell should get the job done before the defenders can recover.

If he doesn't think he can make it, he can still spike the ball into the ground or throw it out of the endzone.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

(See the pattern there?)

Fourth down:

You now have the entire playbook to work with, since conserving time and stopping the clock are no longer an issue. You either make it or you don't right here.

This is where I would trust my best running back and my best play to get me that yard. Handoff, straight ahead. My O-line against their D-line. If you can stop me, fine. You deserve to win. But I like my chances.

Plays I would not use:

Pitch. When's the last time that play worked on ANY down and distance in ANY game situation, much less at the goal line with the game on the line?

End Around. It works in high school. It works in college. But NFL defenses are too fast and too savvy. Scrap that one.

Direct snap to my running back. You think that an NFL defense won't see that coming? Duh.

Gadget/Trick plays like a halfback option or a throwback pass. I pay my quarterback well to make these throws. I want the ball in HIS hands if the ball is being thrown with the game on the line.

Now following the formula...

If I can't get a single yard...in my own building...in a division game...with the game itself on the line...

I'm going to clean out my office, because I don't deserve to be there.

Thats the SECOND time in a week i've had to give you props brotha. NICE WORK...Couldn't have laid it out any better! True tactician of the game!

Judge----- Get your *** to Al's office IMMEDIATELY!

[steve09ru]

1st down- we had fifty couple seconds left why spike it? run a playaction and hit sellers or cooley in the flat. (still have 40 seconds or so)
2nd down - run it up the gut with sellers
3rd down - run it up the gut again betts
4th down - play action, roll out, and let JC run it in or find somebody cutting to the outside

[Judge]

How would YOU call the last 4 plays in the final moments of a game?

In the situation the Redskins were in:

First down:

During training camp in July, I would work on having two emergency plays for that exact situation. I'd have the offense run to the line of scrimmage in the exact same formation as the previous play (so there's no confusion) and I'd have my quarterback yelling "Emergency One!" or "Emergency Two!"

Emergency One = Spiking the ball to stop the clock

Emergency Two = The old Dan Marino quick toss to the end zone, when the Jets defense THOUGHT he was going to spike the ball...resulting in a wide open receiver on a hot route and an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown.

Which play gets run I will leave to the judgement and discretion of my quarterback. If he thinks he can catch the defense off-balance, I let him go for it. If he doesn't, he spikes it and we re-set for second and goal.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

Second down:

If the above doesn't work, bring in Jumbo with a single back (Portis). Play fake to back, who blocks any blitzer. Easy toss to a wide-open ey/Sellers/Eligible tackle in the corner.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

Third down:

(Call BOTH of the following plays in the third down huddle.)

Bring in four or five receivers and spread the field. Make the defense commit to covering all of them. Then let my quarterback take the snap and run straight forward or off tackle and dive in. A mobile guy like Campbell should get the job done before the defenders can recover.

If he doesn't think he can make it, he can still spike the ball into the ground or throw it out of the endzone.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

(See the pattern there?)

Fourth down:

You now have the entire playbook to work with, since conserving time and stopping the clock are no longer an issue. You either make it or you don't right here.

This is where I would trust my best running back and my best play to get me that yard. Handoff, straight ahead. My O-line against their D-line. If you can stop me, fine. You deserve to win. But I like my chances.

Plays I would not use:

Pitch. When's the last time that play worked on ANY down and distance in ANY game situation, much less at the goal line with the game on the line?

End Around. It works in high school. It works in college. But NFL defenses are too fast and too savvy. Scrap that one.

Direct snap to my running back. You think that an NFL defense won't see that coming? Duh.

Gadget/Trick plays like a halfback option or a throwback pass. I pay my quarterback well to make these throws. I want the ball in HIS hands if the ball is being thrown with the game on the line.

Now following the formula...

If I can't get a single yard...in my own building...in a division game...with the game itself on the line...

I'm going to clean out my office, because I don't deserve to be there.

Thats the SECOND time in a week i've had to give you props brotha. NICE WORK...Couldn't have laid it out any better! True tactician of the game!

Judge----- Get your *** to Al's office IMMEDIATELY!

hahahahaha

Well, thanks...But I dunno about being a "true tactician of the game." I'm just a fan, and I just see what I see.

I bet one of my ideas woulda got a YARD, though.

[DEHog]

How would YOU call the last 4 plays in the final moments of a game?

In the situation the Redskins were in:

First down:

During training camp in July, I would work on having two emergency plays for that exact situation. I'd have the offense run to the line of scrimmage in the exact same formation as the previous play (so there's no confusion) and I'd have my quarterback yelling "Emergency One!" or "Emergency Two!"

Emergency One = Spiking the ball to stop the clock

Emergency Two = The old Dan Marino quick toss to the end zone, when the Jets defense THOUGHT he was going to spike the ball...resulting in a wide open receiver on a hot route and an easy pitch-and-catch touchdown.

Which play gets run I will leave to the judgement and discretion of my quarterback. If he thinks he can catch the defense off-balance, I let him go for it. If he doesn't, he spikes it and we re-set for second and goal.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

Second down:

If the above doesn't work, bring in Jumbo with a single back (Portis). Play fake to back, who blocks any blitzer. Easy toss to a wide-open ey/Sellers/Eligible tackle in the corner.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

Third down:

(Call BOTH of the following plays in the third down huddle.)

Bring in four or five receivers and spread the field. Make the defense commit to covering all of them. Then let my quarterback take the snap and run straight forward or off tackle and dive in. A mobile guy like Campbell should get the job done before the defenders can recover.

If he doesn't think he can make it, he can still spike the ball into the ground or throw it out of the endzone.

Worst case scenario - Incomplete pass and clock stopped.

(See the pattern there?)

Fourth down:

You now have the entire playbook to work with, since conserving time and stopping the clock are no longer an issue. You either make it or you don't right here.

This is where I would trust my best running back and my best play to get me that yard. Handoff, straight ahead. My O-line against their D-line. If you can stop me, fine. You deserve to win. But I like my chances.

Plays I would not use:

Pitch. When's the last time that play worked on ANY down and distance in ANY game situation, much less at the goal line with the game on the line?

End Around. It works in high school. It works in college. But NFL defenses are too fast and too savvy. Scrap that one.

Direct snap to my running back. You think that an NFL defense won't see that coming? Duh.

Gadget/Trick plays like a halfback option or a throwback pass. I pay my quarterback well to make these throws. I want the ball in HIS hands if the ball is being thrown with the game on the line.

Now following the formula...

If I can't get a single yard...in my own building...in a division game...with the game itself on the line...

I'm going to clean out my office, because I don't deserve to be there.

Thats the SECOND time in a week i've had to give you props brotha. NICE WORK...Couldn't have laid it out any better! True tactician of the game!

Judge----- Get your *** to Al's office IMMEDIATELY!

hahahahaha

Well, thanks...But I dunno about being a "true tactician of the game." I'm just a fan, and I just see what I see.

I bet one of my ideas woulda got a YARD, though.

I have no problem with the play calling it would be moot if we had scored...you honestly think Gibbs and company wouln't have bet one of their plays would have gotten a yard??

What we had there on Sunday was a failure to execute.