Poor Doug Brien. Everyone's going to blame him for the Jets playoff loss, but it wasn't really his fault. The offense only managed three points. Then there's the time management issue...
The Jets have a coach, Dick Curl, whose specialty is helping the head coach, Herman Edwards with time and clock management. With 1:37 remaining in the game, the Jets gained posession of the football after an interception at the Pittsburgh 36 yard line.
They get a first down on the first play, bringing the ball to the Pittsburgh 26. That's about a 45 yard field goal.
Let's go back to last week. In overtime, against the Jets, the San Diego Chargers had the ball at the Jets 22 yard line and ran three consecutive running plays right up the middle. They did this because they wanted to play it safe, and the Jets knew they would try to run, so they stacked the box and the Chargers gained about one or two yards. The result was that the San Diego kicker had to hit a 40 yard field goal, while they ought to have tried one pass to either score a TD or bring it a little closer to the end zone.
Now, back to the Steelers game. The stack the box because they know that now the Jets are in field goal range, they may play it safer. The Jets do exactly what the Chargers did -- leisurely allowing time to run out as they try to jam the ball up the middle. They were playing on the road in a stadium that is very difficult to kick in. They saw this exact scenario the week before. They do not even attempt to stretch the field. So was it any surprise that Doug Brien missed the second kick? In fact, with six seconds left, the Jets called a time out, then took a knee and called another time out with four seconds left!! What is going on? They have a separate coach for time management!
What a sour taste towards the end of a mostly well played game.
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6 comments:
the pats kicker would have made those field goals
didn't you see him in the two superbowls?
The Super Bowls were in domes.
Also, no visiting kicker has ever made a 47 yarder at Heinz Field. So actually, it's likely that Vinitieri would not have made that kick.
what about the afc championship game vs the raiders?
there was a little snow that night
Was that kick in Pittsburgh?
That kick was 23 yards!!!
Whoa...the Snow Bowl kick to tie the game was 45 yards into the wind! The game-winner in OT was the 23-yarder.
I think it's safe to say that kickers like Vinatieri, Akers, and Elam could have made those kicks at Heinz field. (yes, Vanderjagt is purposefully left off this list).
My mistake, although that kick was at home.
I am also humbled by Vinitieri's 48 yard kick yesterday.
However, I still am not convinced that a 47 or even 43 yard kick for any of those "good" kickers is a sure thing, at Pittsburgh or anywhere else for that matter.
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