Michaels/Madden wrong to say Eagles should have spiked ball

[tuleythetout]

Donovan McNabb just engineered a great drive to put Eagles ahead with 27 seconds remaining...however, Michaels/Madden used up most of the time insisting that Eagles should have spiked the ball after each first down.

They needed a touchdown, not a field goal, so every down was critical. I hate when teams spike the ball on first down, then if they throw an incomplete pass on second down, they're down to only two plays to pick up the first down and stay alive. They took their time, didn't panic and executed their plays. No need to waste precious downs...there was plenty of time, especially when they had first down at Packers' 12-yard line...plenty of time for four passes (and they only needed one).

 

[natenewton]

eXcellent point!!!!

 

[primetime21+]

agreed. Sometimes you have to spike the ball when you have less time left. but they had plenty of time, and inside the 20 with about 1 minute left was PLENTY of time. And to waste a down with a spike would have been a mistake.

 

That's my boys!!!!

And all that Anti-Donovan propaganda goes in the

!!

sb

 

[Mosi]

Tuley, could not agree with you more. Having downs was more important with the time and field postition situation they had in the game. I hate losing a down, and think there are very few times when you actually need to stop the clock with a spike. They had plenty of time and were moving the ball against a defense while they had them on their heels.

 

[HBKSHAWN]

i was thinking the same thing

 

[JinnRikki]

I was thinking the same, why would you need to conserve the time out unless you could kick a field goal?

 

[soccerbob]

Good point Dave. All spiking the ball does is cost you a down. They had plenty of time to run plays from the line of scrimmage without that stupid spike play. The only time that's really necessary is to stop the clock to set up for a field goal or when you've got only time for one last play or two. Spiking the ball is done far too much.

 

[tigerclicks]

MAdden was thinking about eatin' his turducken...Notice he didn't mention it after they scored....

 

[UncleMoneybags]

I think Madden's point was their possible time mismanagement. I know I've seen it all too often when, for example, Mike Martz non-chalantly has his team move up the field only to run out of time. In this case McNabb made it work. But in a different scenario, he might be second-guessed right now.

If they want to be constructive, they should be figuring out who's luckier, KC Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles?

 

[nucks]

Luck= talent + preparation + opportunity.

 

[bcrowl]

Hi fellows i just signed up,I couldnt agree more.And that isnt the 1st time those two overshadowed a comeback on monday night.They critisized the Colts as well when they rallied on the Bucs last month.In my opinion,They at times think that they're bigger than the game.

 

[tuleythetout]

I'm glad you all seem to be in agreement (great minds think alike

bcrowl...welcome to the RX...and you bring up a great point...they do tend to pontificate too much instead of just describing the action. The Colts' comeback was another example, as was the Patriots' Super Bowl victory over the Rams. First, Madden goes on and on about how the Pats should take a knee and settle for overtime, then he criticizes the short passes they were doing (something like "that's not going to get it done") and all the while the Pats methodically marched right into field goal range and won it without risking having the Rams get the ball first in OT.

If a team is well-prepared for the two-minute drill (plays into what Uncle Moneybacks and Nucks wrote--they made their own luck by being prepared), I always think it's best to just get up to the ball and run plays. You might waste 5 seconds here or there, but you don't waste any downs, plus I think it's better to keep the defense off-balance instead of spiking the ball and letting them get fresh players on the field and discussing their coverages (kind of what Mosi said).