The Onsides kick

[D-Dogg]

14-14, we score and then go for the onside kick. It fails. Crowd groans.

When I watch it on TV later, the announcers say "why?"

People complain online.

IMO, it was a great move. We did it very similarly before, against the Niners. We ended up scoring twice in the quarter, and grinding out most of the clock putting the game away.

Then, it was a gutsy call that worked like a freaking charm. This time it was a gutsy call that didn't go our way. The strategy behind it was sound though, to me. When momentum is building your way, try to grab it by the neck and squeeze every last drop you can.


What do you think?

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

It sucked we didn't get it, but I was ok with the call.

After 2 decades of completely gutless coaches, I'm ok with a gamble now and then, especially one that we have a pretty damn good percentage with.

 

[Jasper]

The chances of recovering an onside kick are always very slim. 10-20% chance at the most. Even if teh chances were 50-50 it was way too risky. Our defense was playing great let them win the game, don't put pressure on them by giving the cows the ball at our 45 yard line.

I think the pooch kick is better. Kick it high with enough hangtime and let Fitz jump for it!

 

[ThunderCard]

I loved it. They practiced it all week and there were only 2 defenders over there and 5 Cards. It definitly showed guts.

 

[Totally_Red]

It didn't work, but according to Whis they had noticed something in the Dallas receiving group on earlier kickoffs. Problem was it wasn't properly executed by Rackers. Even when stuff like doesn't work it shows aggressive coaching not the passive stuff we are so used to from previous coaches. Bravo Whis.

 

[PACardsFan]

It didn't work, but according to Whis they had noticed something in the Dallas receiving group on earlier kickoffs. Problem was it wasn't properly executed by Rackers. Even when stuff like doesn't work it shows aggressive coaching not the passive stuff we are so used to from previous coaches. Bravo Whis.

In Whis's presser, he said that it was a play that they practiced all week & were prepared to use it at the right time. He felt that with the crowd being raucous, that if it worked, we would have gone down & scored. We flat out didn't execute the play as it was drawn up. That happens.

 

[Twist18]

The Bengals also used a successful onside kick against the Boys the week earlier.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Loved it. Wish they do it again and again.

 

[cardsfanmd]

In Whis's presser, he said that it was a play that they practiced all week & were prepared to use it at the right time. He felt that with the crowd being raucous, that if it worked, we would have gone down & scored. We flat out didn't execute the play as it was drawn up. That happens.

Yeah, I heard the presser too and he stressed that had the play been executed correctly we would have gotten the ball. On another note, is there another team in the league who has attempted as many onsides kicks as us since Whiz took over??

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Saying it didn't work only looks at half of the puzzle. We didn't recover the kick but to make that call you have to have confidence in your defense playing on a short field.

And the defense held.

So it was definitely a risk worth taking. Wiz has the pulse of this team so I love the call.

 

[joeshmo]

I think we have gone to the well to many times, just like the pooch kick thing we do. We do it way to often for it to now be a surprise.

 

[Russ Smith]

The chances of recovering an onside kick are always very slim. 10-20% chance at the most. Even if teh chances were 50-50 it was way too risky. Our defense was playing great let them win the game, don't put pressure on them by giving the cows the ball at our 45 yard line.

I think the pooch kick is better. Kick it high with enough hangtime and let Fitz jump for it!

First off the odds are better than that It's between 15 and 20% many years from what I found with a quick google. And this article says the odds on surprise onside kicks is MUCH higher, this on claims 64%.

http://www.protrade.com/content/DisplayArticle.html?sp=S6958dcc7-78fa-11db-863b-8d6f968a61b6

You have to remember when they tell you the odds they're talking about ALL onside kicks and most of them occur when everyone in the stadium knows what's coming.

I'm a huge believer in onside kicks and taking chances, in the same game Dallas recovered Campbell's fumble of a pop up KO, not onside but same idea surprise them with a short kick and make someone make a play, it worked for them.

If Whiz does it every week then yeah he's crazy but at that point in the game it was a reasonable call IMHO.

 

[JC_AZ]

It didn't work, but according to Whis they had noticed something in the Dallas receiving group on earlier kickoffs. Problem was it wasn't properly executed by Rackers. Even when stuff like doesn't work it shows aggressive coaching not the passive stuff we are so used to from previous coaches. Bravo Whis.

Maybe the PENALTY to Rackers should be that he has to practice during the bye week... I mean what could it hurt?

 

[cardsfanmd]

I think we have gone to the well to many times, just like the pooch kick thing we do. We do it way to often for it to now be a surprise.

I have been thinking the same thing, but I think it keeps teams on their toes and we have been successfull with it pretty consistantly. It is also beneficial in that we normally get penalties on regular kickoffs. :bangsheadoffwall:

 

[Russ Smith]

I think we have gone to the well to many times, just like the pooch kick thing we do. We do it way to often for it to now be a surprise.

There's another element the fact that teams have to account for us possibly doing it might help us defend normal kickoffs? teams may be less able to set up a good return when they have to account for possible onsides or pooch kicks.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think we have gone to the well to many times, just like the pooch kick thing we do. We do it way to often for it to now be a surprise.

I still think we have a very high percentage of success. You do it as many times as possible with the success rate that we have.

 

[cardsfanmd]

There's another element the fact that teams have to account for us possibly doing it might help us defend normal kickoffs? teams may be less able to set up a good return when they have to account for possible onsides or pooch kicks.

Exactly. If they are expecting us to pooch or onside the ball, the opponent will likely send out their hands team, which normally is far less physical and worse blockers/tacklers.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I still think we have a very high percentage of success. You do it as many times as possible with the success rate that we have.

Yeah, I had to edit my post.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Yeah, I had to edit my post.

 

[justAndy]

I'm for fake punts and field goals, too!

 

[cardsfanmd]

I'm for fake punts and field goals, too!

You and me both. I cant believe we haven't done much of anything in that department.

 

[D-Dogg]

You and me both. I cant believe we haven't done much of anything in that department.

Yet.

 

[justAndy]

You and me both. I cant believe we haven't done much of anything in that department.

That's why I yell for it EVERY TIME - until they finally do one...

 

[PortlandCardFan]

The way Whiz explains it in his presser (or web show I can't remember which) I have no problem with the call. He looks at everything. Hell, he even took into account the fans reaction and how it would effect his team! Got to love the call!!!

 

[D-Dogg]

The way Whiz explains it in his presser (or web show I can't remember which) I have no problem with the call. He looks at everything. Hell, he even took into account the fans reaction and how it would effect his team! Got to love the call!!!

His comments on the Web show is what prompted this thread.