Because it is acknowledged that when they go into that formation its for a kneel down. In fact the rules are structured for that kind of play. The ball is dead when he takes a knee, he doesn’t have to be touched by another player. The only way for Tampa to possibly get the ball would be to cut out the knees of the offensive line and hope to get in before he is down. Not against the rules but very dirty and dangerous.
Is there any requirement that they kneel down if they take that formation? Couldn’t they, in fact, run a play?
Technically, yes. But there is no reason for it. Look at post #11. Click on the link. It’s a play in which the Giants should have knelt to run out the clock but ran a play. There was a fumble and the Eagles won. It’s one of the most famous plays in football history. It’s still talked about. It happened in 1978. It would be worth a coaches job to call a boneheaded play like that. All risk no benefit. In the NFL it makes no difference if you win by 1,7 or 14. The game was over. Schiano was trying to make the point he tried to tell 18 year olds about not giving up and playing hard. Professionals already understand reality. I would not be surprised if some of his veteran players had a talk with him after the game.
Technically, no. The clock stops on a change of possession so the defense would merely have to recover the ball to have a chance at winning. But still, there is a pre-arranged agreement in place that you don’t do these things so I’m with you. Incidentally, Schiano claims to have caused 4 fumbles over the past 5 years at Rutgers by doing what he did. Anyone know if this is true?
It’s one of those plays that is theoretically possible, but has never happened, and attempting it has repurcussions that go beyond a number in your W/L stats.
There are tons of plays and strategies that are legal, but are unsportsmanlike. Such as, instead of a knee, take a false start, where my O Line plows your line over before the QB even gets under center. Whoopsie! I’ll take my 5 yards, and 10 seconds off the clock, and never put possession at risk. You decline the 10 second runoff, eh? Lookiee there, I’ve got 50 yards behind me, we can do this a few more times and not even use up a down, at which point, I can run the regular victory formation and you lose anyway.
It’s just a bush league dick move, and can only work in an environment where there’s an established precedent of letting the victory formation go without incident.
I found this on the “success” of this strategy. One was a fumble forced when his team was offside, one was recovered by the offense, and doesn’t even appear in the ESPN play by play.