Go Bears! What a game!

[Diogenes_the_Cynic]

@Mozart1220

I haven’t sen that part of the game again to check, but on the last play, I remember that the announcers said “That’s a forward pass” right before the officials threw a flag, and a couple throws later, “there’s another forward pass” from the annuncer. The Packers did it twice.

As for the intentional grounding, my girlfriend asked a question…If the QB leaves the pocket, and then runs back into it (between the tackles) before throwing the ball away, is it still intentional grounding? I didn’t think it was, but wasn’t sure.

The rule doesn’t specifically address this, but I’ve never heard of such a thing as a QB being able to return to a pocket after he’s left it (why would the center and tackles even stay there?). I’m pretty sure that once a QB rolls out of the pocket, for the purpose of the rules, the pocket ceases to exist.

[Mozart1220]

@Diogenes_the_Cynic

@Mozart1220

I haven’t sen that part of the game again to check, but on the last play, I remember that the announcers said “That’s a forward pass” right before the officials threw a flag, and a couple throws later, “there’s another forward pass” from the annuncer. The Packers did it twice.

As for the intentional grounding, my girlfriend asked a question…If the QB leaves the pocket, and then runs back into it (between the tackles) before throwing the ball away, is it still intentional grounding? I didn’t think it was, but wasn’t sure.

The rule doesn’t specifically address this, but I’ve never heard of such a thing as a QB being able to return to a pocket after he’s left it (why would the center and tackles even stay there?). I’m pretty sure that once a QB rolls out of the pocket, for the purpose of the rules, the pocket ceases to exist.

I have seen it happen, but not where the QB throws the ball away. He steps out briefly, and then comes back.

[Whack-a-Mole]

@Mozart1220

I have seen it happen, but not where the QB throws the ball away. He steps out briefly, and then comes back.

I presume there is a judgment call here on the part of the refs. The pocket is not an exactly sharply delineated thing when a play is going on. I guess this falls in the, They know it when they see it" category. Since it is unlikely to ever be a big issue where someone runs out then back in then dumps the ball I am not sure there would ever be a concise answer for this.

I would presume if the pocket is still there and the QB runs back in then dumping the ball would be intentional grounding. The rule says if you are in the pocket and unload the ball to no one it is a penalty.

The only way it wouldn’t be that way is if it is as Diogenes the Cynic suggests and leaving the pocket makes the pocket essentially non-existent so there can be no going back. If that were the case though I would expect the rules to be explicit on it.

Usually when the QB leaves the pocket it collapses quickly so there is nothing to go back to. He’d have to pop out and back in pretty quick.

[pseudotriton_ruber_ruber]

I overheard a little about this game, hinting that one of the teams shouldn’t have defended its own goal line, but conceded a touchdown in order to get the ball back. Is this correct? Can someone explain to me how conceding a touchdown is snart strategy?

[Freddy_the_Pig]

@pseudotriton_ruber_ruber

I overheard a little about this game, hinting that one of the teams shouldn’t have defended its own goal line, but conceded a touchdown in order to get the ball back. Is this correct? Can someone explain to me how conceding a touchdown is snart strategy?

Because you get the ball back with enough time to take it town the field and score the tying touchdown. The alternative is to let the Bears run the clock to near zero (as it happened, 0:04) and kick a field goal, which virtually guarantees defeat. Short field goals are 98-99% successful in the NFL.

It isn’t even debatable, really. The Bears should have called kneel-downs, and if they were foolish enough to run forward, the Packers should have let them score. The only reason neither team played that way, is because offensive players and coaches are conditioned their whole life to try to score as much as they can as fast as they can, and defensive players and coaches are conditioned to stop it. But it’s dumb.

[Quercus]

@Whack-a-Mole

@Quercus

So was I the only one who wondered why Cutler can throw the ball into the fourth row of the stands 30 yards from any receiver to avoid a sack, but Rodgers gets a grounding penalty for throwing a ball to the sideline 15 yards from a receiver?

Not sure what play you are talking about.

IIRC the rule is there is no intentional grounding once you are out of the pocket. I am guessing that was the difference in whatever you are thinking about.

My memory is of Cutler standing in the pocket, standing in the pocket a tiny bit more, then deciding nothing good was going to happen by forcing anything at this point, since they were probably within field goal range, and throwing the ball into the stands behind the end zone. It’s only memory, so I could be wrong.

[Quercus]

@Quercus

My memory is of Cutler standing in the pocket, standing in the pocket a tiny bit more, then deciding nothing good was going to happen by forcing anything at this point, since they were probably within field goal range, and throwing the ball into the stands behind the end zone. It’s only memory, so I could be wrong.

Just wanted to add, I wasn’t surprised that Cutler wasn’t called for grounding, since that play never is. But I was very surprised when Rodgers was called, since I don’t think I’ve really seen it called before on a pass that far downfield and that under control. That’s when I remembered Cutler’s throw and realized Rodger’s pass was closer to a receiver than Cutler’s was (and Rodger’s pass was way closer to being in-bounds than Cutler’s).

[Diogenes_the_Cynic]

Rodgers’ pass was nowhere close to where a receiver could have a realistic chance at catching it, and more importantly, he was out of the pocket.

[pseudotriton_ruber_ruber]

@Freddy_the_Pig

@pseudotriton_ruber_ruber

I overheard a little about this game, hinting that one of the teams shouldn’t have defended its own goal line, but conceded a touchdown in order to get the ball back. Is this correct? Can someone explain to me how conceding a touchdown is snart strategy?

Because you get the ball back with enough time to take it town the field and score the tying touchdown. The alternative is to let the Bears run the clock to near zero (as it happened, 0:04) and kick a field goal, which virtually guarantees defeat. Short field goals are 98-99% successful in the NFL.

It isn’t even debatable, really. The Bears should have called kneel-downs, and if they were foolish enough to run forward, the Packers should have let them score. The only reason neither team played that way, is because offensive players and coaches are conditioned their whole life to try to score as much as they can as fast as they can, and defensive players and coaches are conditioned to stop it. But it’s dumb.

What was the score at the point of this decision? (and the timeouts and field position, please?)

[Diogenes_the_Cynic]

@pseudotriton_ruber_ruber

@Freddy_the_Pig

Because you get the ball back with enough time to take it town the field and score the tying touchdown. The alternative is to let the Bears run the clock to near zero (as it happened, 0:04) and kick a field goal, which virtually guarantees defeat. Short field goals are 98-99% successful in the NFL.

It isn’t even debatable, really. The Bears should have called kneel-downs, and if they were foolish enough to run forward, the Packers should have let them score. The only reason neither team played that way, is because offensive players and coaches are conditioned their whole life to try to score as much as they can as fast as they can, and defensive players and coaches are conditioned to stop it. But it’s dumb.

What was the score at the point of this decision? (and the timeouts and field position, please?)

Score was tied. Green Bay had no timeouts. Ball was inside the 5 yard line. The Bears were going to either get a TD or a guaranteed FG.

[Freddy_the_Pig]

The first-down snap was from the Green Bay 9-yard line with 1:44 remaining, and Green Bay having only one time-out.

[SanDiegoTim]

Bears’ credibility is abit shaky, but will improve greatly if they beat the Giants Sunday. I’m a Bears fan from way back, but I always get nervous when they play to a national audience (Monday night, Sunday night, etc.). Seems like they are at their worst for these games.