Why throw for 40 when you just need 5?

CFL Talk
1

Time and time again I see quarterbacks in the CFL when it’s getting near the end of the game and they need a first down in order to keep the drive going and improve their chances of tying the game or getting the lead and winning the game. All current quarterbacks have been in a third and five or second and four for example and when they only need that amount of yards you see them throwing deep, a pre determined play… and of course the play fails and they turn the ball over or have to punt.

Why? I do not understand the ridiculous mentality to throw a deep ball with very low success instead of the 5yd pass getting them a first down??

Oh and the ironic opposite when it’s 2nd and 10 or 15 and they throw a 4 yd pass… If you require 10yds for a first down, THROW IT 10 YARDS!

Is it poor coaching? Lack of thought?

Do the coaches ever teach their players not to do certain actions on the field at certain times of the game?

Like “if we are losing and we need a first down and there’s 60 seconds or less to go and you get the ball, go out of bounds so the clock doesn’t start on the whistle”

Or

“If your teammate runs by you on a punt return DON’T TOUCH YOUR OPPONENT!”.

are CFL coaches not that good? Are we getting the bottom of the barrel for quality coaching??

2

Will speculate that the offence expects the DBs to jump the short stuff and leaving a one on one or an open man down field. It happens but i think the coaches outguess themselves at times.

2 Likes
3

Rather than start another thread, have a question as well about crack back blocks. Hypothetical: You are (leading) your ball carrier up the field and a defender closes in from behind, can you still block him or do you have to lay down and hope he trips over you? :wink: (mod edit: false accusation/promoting violence)

5

Hello hello hello is there an echo in here? lol