Towards the end of the Alabama -Notre Dame game, Alabama’s QB and center got into a spat over something. What could a QB and a center be arguing over? The announcers said something about a difference in the play call, but since when did centers have anything to say about that? Another comment said something about the snap count. Again, I’ve never known centers to say what the snap count should be. So what’s up?
My understanding is that Mccarron noticed the clock running down and wanted Jones to snap the ball to avoid a delay of game penalty, but Jones was still calling out blocking assignments (see him pointing) and didn’t get the ball snapped in time.
Jones was in the right, snapping the ball before the blocking scheme is set can easily produce a worse outcome (sack, fumble, touchdown) than a 5-yard penalty in a blowout.
McCarron should have kept his composure.
Exactly right, and would be right even in a tight game.
McCarron should have called the time out one second sooner, which would have been the smallest of all potential negative outcomes (one less time out, that they almost certainly weren’t going to need anyway).