So I'm watching the Giants-Panthers game, which has been a fantastic game all the way into the fourth quarter. (In the interests of full disclosure: I was rooting for the Panthers). Then something happens that makes me want to yell profanities and throw sharp objects at my HD screen.

With 9:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, New York pins Carolina on their own 1 yard line. So rather than throwing a pass to give themselves some breathing room, what does Carolina do? They proceed to run DeAngelo Williams off right guard for 2 yards.

Okay, fine.

So I'm thinking they're going to pass on second down? No! They run Williams up the middle, straight into the teeth of New York's defensive line for -1 yard.

That means they must surely pass on third down, right? After all, Delhomme has been converting third-and-longs all night, several for long yardage, and they have a receiver in Steve Smith who's proven he can catch the long bomb.

NO! They run it off left tackle to Williams AGAIN, this time for three yards, forcing them to punt from their own end zone and give New York the ball back on their own 44 yard line!

At that point I knew they'd lost the game.

Why, oh, why, oh, why do coaches get so conservative just when they should be lunging for the jugular? Why are they so worried about the possibility of an interception that they'd rather score no points than take a risk?

Please feel free to contribute more examples of pussified playcalling that drives you nuts.

Sadly, I'm sure we'll see some examples from our own coaching staff tonight.

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This is to frustrating for me to comment on. If I start typing a response I will eventually start thinking, and then if I start thinking I will end up kicking the neighbors dog.

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Vikings game week 1:

1-15-MIN20 (:39) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short right to B.Jackson to MIN 16 for 4 yards (C.Greenway).
2-11-MIN16 (:32) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short right to B.Jackson to MIN 15 for 1 yard (P.Williams, C.Greenway).

Then instead of calling a time out, M.M. lets the clock run down and settles for a FG. Then the football gods intervene. "Thats not how you play the game coach."

3-10-MIN15 (:03) M.Crosby 33 yard field goal is BLOCKED (C.Griffin), Center-B.Goode, Holder-D.Frost, RECOVERED by MIN-J.Allen at MIN 16. J.Allen to MIN 18 for 2 yards (M.Crosby).

And thats what you get for being a pussy.

Another one in the Colts game. (Yes I know we won. That is NOT the point.)

1-10-IND14 (4:28) A.Rodgers pass incomplete short right to G.Jennings (M.Bullitt).
2-10-IND14 (4:23) R.Grant right end to IND 19 for -5 yards (R.Mathis, D.Reid).
3-15-IND19 (3:41) (Shotgun)
PENALTY on IND-A.Bethea, Neutral Zone Infraction, 5 yards, enforced at IND 19 - No Play.

Then, A run on 3rd and 10 on the Colts 14? Behind Clifton, our worst run blocker? Really? Weak.


3-10-IND14 (3:19) R.Grant left end to IND 11 for 3 yards (G.Brackett).
4-7-IND11 (2:41) M.Crosby 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Goode, Holder-D.Frost.

With the holding in the endzone rule, it makes it very difficult for a coach to chance it.. at least on a running play the holding may be called out of the endzone.. a form of holding happens almost every play and it is unknown just when the Refs might pick something out and toss the yellow beenie.... so some of it I understand.

But does it sound a bell of lack of confidence in your line? Yep.

Or supreme confidence in your running game... either way it is ultra conservative..

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What's the holding-in-the-endzone rule?

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If an offensive player gets called for holding in the endzone it results in a safety.

Holding falls into (c)

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/safety2 

Examples of Safety:

(a) Blocked punt goes out of kicking teams end zone. Impetus was provided by punting team. The block only changes direction of ball, not impetus.

(b) Ball carrier retreats from field of play into his own end zone and is downed. Ball carrier provides impetus.

(c) Offensive team commits a foul and spot of enforcement is behind its own goal line.

(d) Player on receiving team muffs punt and, trying to get ball, forces or illegally kicks (creating new impetus) it into end zone where it goes out of the end zone or is recovered by a member of the receiving team in the end zone.

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Where's the logic in that?

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That is dumb, it should just be a loss of down or something.

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