Spiking the football

Curious what you guys think about the last spiking the football play

1) I realized after (and didn't record the game) that my memory tells me that RW held the ball in his hand, hit the ground with it but kept it in his hands as he got up. For those that recorded it was it truly a spike? If he is untouched, ball still in hands it is a live ball and clock should keep moving. Maybe he "bounced it" and I missed it

2) 4 secs left, no timeouts left, clock is moving. IF there is illegal motion, false start (I mean a flinch can be a false start) anything not done right there is a 10 second runoff.

I get running the clock to 4 secs when you have a timeout left. Then if there is a penalty you use your timeout instead of the 10 sec runoff. So what are your thoughts on doing this at 4 secs over at 11 secs.

Yes I realize the options are risk for a penalty which is low vs risk for a return kick / one play which should be low as well.... Curious about thoughts

EDIT: NOT discussing strategy of kicking vs keep going for a TD here

Spike? Could have sworn it was a kneel down?

Seymour":f280cbzl said:

Spike? Could have sworn it was a kneel down?

Click to expand...

A kneel down keeps the clock running. At 4 secs it was a spike to stop the clock ie incomplete pass

mikeak":2evy1yjh said:

Seymour":2evy1yjh said:

Spike? Could have sworn it was a kneel down?

Click to expand...

A kneel down keeps the clock running. At 4 secs it was a spike to stop the clock ie incomplete pass

Click to expand...

Kneel down and time out. :roll:

Good thought, if we would have had a timeout left. Which we didn't.

Seymour":2j5nxt6e said:

mikeak":2j5nxt6e said:

Seymour":2j5nxt6e said:

Spike? Could have sworn it was a kneel down?

Click to expand...

A kneel down keeps the clock running. At 4 secs it was a spike to stop the clock ie incomplete pass

Click to expand...

Kneel down and time out. :roll:

Click to expand...

1) we had no timeout left

2) Proves my point on the spike -- it really was more like half knee, ball in hand hits the ground is the way I saw it, but that is from memory

It was a spike but penalty did cross my mind thinking we could get screwed here and get the 10sec runoff.

GeekHawk":1s0mnskq said:

Good thought, if we would have had a timeout left. Which we didn't.

Click to expand...

Guess I wasn't paying that close of attention and assumed he kneeled down then called a time out. It is definitely listed as a spike in game log.

he spiked it. It bounced back into his hands.

He spiked it an you missed it. I saw him bounce the ball immediately after the snap to stop the clock.

There is a ton of leeway given to the QB in the "victory formation" play. Unless it is absolutely blatant, they are never going to call it anything but a spike.

Cartire":3hjvfu76 said:

he spiked it. It bounced back into his hands.

Click to expand...

That is exactly what happened. there were no timeouts let.

Cartire":gz5qime3 said:

he spiked it. It bounced back into his hands.

Click to expand...

ok that is what I thought may be what I missed - thanks

Just rewatched it.

He bounced it off the ground. Not much but he did. If you wanted to quibble the way he did it was a little too close for comfort but it looked like the call was right.

Sequence went:

1. Lockett reception at the 10. About a minute left and no time outs.

2. 1st down, kneel down, clock runs down.

3. 2d down kneel, clock still runs.

3. 3d down, spike the ball to stop the clock at 4 sec.

4. 4th down FG. Win.

Back in the good old days, sometimes they would attempt the FG on 3d down so if there was a fumbled snap or something they could go again. Nobody does that anymore. Besides, time was tight and with no TOs.

Seymour":2a1qbkow said:

GeekHawk":2a1qbkow said:

Good thought, if we would have had a timeout left. Which we didn't.

Click to expand...

Guess I wasn't paying that close of attention and assumed he kneeled down then called a time out. It is definitely listed as a spike in game log.

Click to expand...

How many IPAs deep were ya Seymour? We won't judge here

It was definitely a spike but I believe the rules are a little bit lenient when it comes to "clocking" and "victory formation".

mrt144":1u34q120 said:

Seymour":1u34q120 said:

GeekHawk":1u34q120 said:

Good thought, if we would have had a timeout left. Which we didn't.

Click to expand...

Guess I wasn't paying that close of attention and assumed he kneeled down then called a time out. It is definitely listed as a spike in game log.

Click to expand...

How many IPAs deep were ya Seymour? We won't judge here

Click to expand...

Actually none...for 32 years at least. 8)

I was more concerned about SeaBass on the next play then how we downed the ball.

sutz":2qqsrams said:

Sequence went:

1. Lockett reception at the 10. About a minute left and no time outs.

2. 1st down, kneel down, clock runs down.

3. 2d down kneel, clock still runs.

3. 3d down, spike the ball to stop the clock at 4 sec.

4. 4th down FG. Win.

Back in the good old days, sometimes they would attempt the FG on 3d down so if there was a fumbled snap or something they could go again. Nobody does that anymore. Besides, time was tight and with no TOs.

Click to expand...

You skipped a couple of Carolina time outs

sutz":tig71kf6 said:

Sequence went:

1. Lockett reception at the 10. About a minute left and no time outs.

2. 1st down, kneel down, . PANTHERS TIMEOUT

3. 2d down kneel, PANTHERS TIMEOUT

3. 3d down, spike the ball to stop the clock at 4 sec.

4. 4th down FG. Win.

Back in the good old days, sometimes they would attempt the FG on 3d down so if there was a fumbled snap or something they could go again. Nobody does that anymore. Besides, time was tight and with no TOs.

Click to expand...

The reason they didn't do it after second down is because of Panthers timeout usage. Time was to much left and they had to use one more play to draw down the clock. I corrected it above - I have seen many teams still do this recently if they can run the clock down

For others - I do get the point about refs "allowing a lot", but I remember games that were decided having final winning play called back because of someone taking off their helmet after the play and getting a 15 yarder, I remember SD losing two games because of ticky tacky calls on field-goal kicks.

They happen and I was so worried about getting a flag