Tuesday is game management day at the Tavern. Welcome, Mr. Jim Zorn, to another Tuesday.
REDSKINS AT LIONS. LIONS BALL, FIRST QUARTER, NO SCORE.
3-4-WAS 33 (2:22) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass incomplete short right to W.Heller. WAS-C.Griffin was injured during the play.
His return is probable.
PENALTY on DET-C.Fitzsimmons, Offensive Pass Interference, 9 yards, enforced at WAS 33 - No Play.
3-13-WAS 42 (2:13) (Shotgun) M.Stafford scrambles left end to WAS 21 for 21 yards (C.Horton). R6
1-10-WAS 21 (1:26) (Shotgun) M.Stafford pass deep left to B.Johnson for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. P7
J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-D.Muhlbach, Holder-Nick.Harris.
APA loss to the Detroit Lions did nothing but generate more heat on Redskins coach Jim Zorn.
Zorn decides to take the penalty, which shocked referee Scott Green when he came to the sideline since Green assumed Zorn would decline and make it fourth down. Had Zorn declined, the Lions might have gone for it on fourth down, or they might have lined up to kick a 50-yard field goal. Jason Hanson is 4 of 5 at Ford Field on field goals 50 yards and over the past two years. Now, much of this decision should be based on the pregame warmup chart that shows the head coach every kick Hanson attempted in pregame (when Hanson is being serious and when he’s just warming up). When a team leaves the field after its pregame, the head coach must know the range of the opposing kicker. In this case, the Lions would have taken the points, knowing that Hanson is reliable from 50, especially at Ford Field with no wind and perfect conditions. These variables must be a part of Zorn’s ultimate decision, which, based on knowledge about Hanson, the time in the game is a poor game-management choice.
CHICAGO AT SEATTLE. SEAHAWKS BALL, 1:52 REMAINING IN THE GAME, DOWN 25-19. SEATTLE HAS TWO TIMEOUTS LEFT.
Seattle Seahawks at 1:52
1-10-SEA 20 (1:52) (Shotgun) S.Wallace pass incomplete deep middle to J.Carlson (N.Roach).
2-10-SEA 20 (1:47) (Shotgun) S.Wallace pass short middle to J.Carlson to SEA 28 for 8 yards (I.Idonije).
3-2-SEA 28 (1:25) (No Huddle) J.Jones right guard pushed ob at SEA 48 for 20 yards (K.Payne). R18
1-10-SEA 48 (1:20) (Shotgun) S.Wallace pass incomplete deep right to J.Carlson.
2-10-SEA 48 (1:16) (Shotgun) S.Wallace pass short right to J.Carlson pushed ob at CHI 43 for 9 yards (C.Tillman).
Penalty on CHI-D.Manning, Defensive Offside, declined.
3-1-CHI 43 (1:12) J.Jones right tackle to CHI 43 for no gain (A.Adams).
APSeneca Wallace was unable to secure a victory for the Seahawks against the Bears on Sunday.
Timeout #2 by CHI at 00:52.
4-1-CHI 43 (:52) S.Wallace pass short right to J.Owens to CHI 37 for 6 yards (A.Ogunleye). P19
Timeout #2 by SEA at 00:46.
1-10-CHI 37 (:46) (Shotgun) S.Wallace pass short right to D.Branch pushed ob at CHI 31 for 6 yards (K.Payne).
2-4-CHI 31 (:41) (Shotgun) S.Wallace pass short right to J.Jones pushed ob at CHI 29 for 2 yards (L.Briggs).
3-2-CHI 29 (:33) S.Wallace pass incomplete short left to J.Carlson (A.Afalava).
4-2-CHI 29 (:30) (Shotgun) S.Wallace pass incomplete short right to J.Jones.
The fundamental question here is: Would you rather have the extra down at 2nd and 5 or the four yards and loss of a down? Seattle still has two timeouts, and had it accepted the penalty, it would gain an extra down. Since when does four yards really matter at this point? Now, to compound the problem by making it 3rd and 1, the Seahawks feel compelled to run the ball to secure the first down. Had they declined, they would have clearly called a pass and probably three more until they achieve the first down. I think, knowing the inconsistent effort of their quarterback, they were thinking it would be easy to gain the one yard and just use a timeout -- which Chicago ended up taking for them.
My problem here is that as long as I have timeouts, I want more downs -- especially if the play results in a significant gain.
How bad are the Browns on offense? Of their 36 possessions this season, 26 have resulted in one or no first down. It doesn’t matter who plays quarterback for them – they can’t move the ball.
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
How much of the Brown's offensive troubles are on their QB and how much in his play calling? They play with no confidence out there....
Doesn't knowing that Hanson is reliable from 50 here, make taking the penalty the right thing to do? Especially given what meateater said above about rookie qb, 4th and 13 vs your supposed stout D...
Youare correct, sir, most NFL Head Coaches would have hardly given this decision a second thought. But Zorn is no ordinary NFL Head Coach. He is a Head Coach whose team has failed to score more than 20 points in what is it now 10 of the last 11 games. For the Redskins, those 3 points are a very, very big deal, so in desperation, he takes the penalty and hopes to deny the Lions even a field goal. If the offense could score, he'd have declined the penalty even if he felt it was likely the Lions would score 3 points on the next play, rather than risk what happened, a first down followed by a TD strike.
I have to agree with the first poster. As easy as it is to pile on Zorn right now, he made the right call. 3 points is important in that type of low scoring game. If there is a 50-50 shot it knocks the Lions out of FG range, and an 80% of preventing the first down on 3-13, then the math is with Zorn.
I agree with meateater and ETF - I think Zorn made the right decision at the time to take the penalty. Hanson is automatic from 50. He was 8 for 8 last year from 50+, and has made more 50+ fg than any other kicker in the history of the NFL. Taking the penalty took them out of fg range. The odds of the Lions getting a first down there, and eventually scoring a TD have to be far more remote than Hanson's chances of making a 50 yd fg. I don't think it's asking too much of your defense to expect it to stop a rookie on 3rd and 13.
Based on your thoughtful writeup, Michael, I have to agree with the gents above - it sounds like Zorn made a solid call. The kind I always think about when watching football -- playing to avoid the points.
On Zorn -- Brian Billick specifically made the point that Zorn would be criticized for this call but it was the right call. If you're going to live and die with your defense -- as the Redskins have to -- you can't give up 3 points.
WWHED? What would Herm Edwards do? The kicker influenced the call, the Lions rookie quarterback came up with an amazing run.
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Sep 29, 2009
06:56 PM
I hate to be the designated Zorn defender, but for the second week in a row, I have to say that I don't see his decision to take the penalty and push the Lions out of FG range as a bad call. The Lions were facing a 3rd and 13, with a rookie QB going up against what had been thought to be one of the better defenses in the league. Somehow he scrambles 21 yards and suddenly Zorn is an idiot. Before I accept that Zorn made the wrong call, I need to see what the Lions success percentage on 3rd and long is. I'm guessing pretty low, probably on the order of 10 %.