So the end of the tOSU/Notre Dame game got me thinking about a few things. I thought I'd run them past this group.
First, I don't exactly understand the rule regarding the PAT and as I understand it, it is different in CFB vs NFL:
The initial call on the field was that Ohio State scored to take a 16-14 lead as time expired. In that case, the game would have been over. Ohio State wins 16-14 and there is no PAT.
After review it was determined that tOSU did score to take a 16-14 lead, but they did so with 00:01 on the clock so the Buckeyes had a 16-14 lead but they still had to run a PAT play, kickoff, and IF time did not expire on the kickoff, play defense for one play.
First question:
Was it a mistake for Ohio State to even try the XP? If it had been blocked, ND could have returned it ~100 yards for 2 points and a tie game. Would it make more sense to just line up in the familiar victory formation and take a knee? The difference between a two and a three point lead is only relevant if the other team kicks a FG but how would ND kick a FG with only one second left?
Probably makes sense to kick the XP because it is a routine and fairly low risk play and I suppose ND could have tried a long FG if Ohio State had somehow committed a personal foul or two on the kickoff.
Second is more of a theory than a question but I'm curious what you guys think. Whenever our teams get into those Hail Mary situations I think we all immediately think of Hail Flutie or
VIDEO https://youtu.be/q3ykWbu2Gl0?si=uPJAAmQ6Re9EFnBH Colorado's Kordell Stewart Miracle at Michigan:
VIDEO https://youtu.be/0WCCLdf7rv8?si=SQfpj9tudtcbWjUE The thing is that Colorado's miracle in Ann Arbor was 29 years ago and Boston College's Hail Flutie was 39 years ago. We still think and talk about those plays (everyone here knows those plays just by reference) because they are incredibly rare. For every successful Hail Mary TD there are probably hundreds of failures.
What Notre Dame did in a similar situation makes more sense, IMHO. Instead of chucking the ball way down field and praying, they ran a hook-and-lateral in what I think was an effort to get more of their team involved.
Schematically the challenge that the offense faces is that only five guys can move beyond the LoS prior to a forward pass. In these situations the D typically only rushes three so the offense is outnumbered downfield by 8:5.
When an offense throws a Hail Mary or runs a hook-and-lateral, they are severely outnumbered.
Thus, my theory is that it would make more sense to run a play closer to or even behind the LoS where you could make it an 11 on 11 game.
My theory:
Keep the C and QB in the game so you don't screw up the exchange. Replace the OG's and OT's with faster TE's. Ie, your Oline would be a C and 4 TE's. Your other six guys should be a mix of RB's and WR's to put your best and smartest on the field. Let the Dline through and throw a screen to someone behind the C and the 4 TE's. It probably wouldn't work but Hail Mary plays almost never work. At least this way all 11 guys can be involved in either blocking or carrying the ball.