First of all, like or not, any coach owes it to his team to seize any opportunity to try to win a game for his team. That said, I don't like the time out RIGHT BEFORE the ball is snapped on a field goal attempt. Here's why. Unfortunately, FG kickers are run out to "Win" the game and take a lot of the brunt of a loss on their shoulders when, in fact, any offensive possession during the game that didn't result in points on the board can be just as much to blame. In any of those "Possessions" you can look at dropped balls, fumbles, missed blocks, etc. and very reasonably say anyone of those are just as much the reason of not coming away with more points at the end of the game. I think the rule should be that a timeout cannot be called once the defense is set. Imagine yourself lining up (As the FG kicker) and having that going through your mind: Is the whistle going to be blown at the last minute? Will I have to make this kick twice? I think it's too punitive, in nature, to one player and not what TO's are really intended for. I can see icing the kicker but this one is a little too much imo. Is my thinking right here or should it be left alone?
It should go back to the old rule, where a player on the field has to be the one to signal for a time-out. Not because of the mental aspect, but imagine if your best O-lineman twists up his knee and is lost for the season on a play that technically never happened.
A kicker only plays .001% of the game. If he gets the opportunity to kick twice he should be happy. Don't miss it and you're ok. It's the only job you have. That is a good point.
I totally agree. That is taking it too far. The kicker has enough on his mind already. But now thinking about the whistle blowing or not right when he's about to kick it. I was going for Florida the other night just so this game would be that much better. But now, I wish the kicker would have missed the FG when Urban Meyer called timeout and then made it the second time to win the game. How you think CUM would've felt then?
I dont have a problem with it. I dont see it being a whole lot different than a zone blitz to be honest.
In response to the original post, I think you must have meant after the offense is set. Technically, the defense is never set. My compromise rule would be to change the rule to say that a coach cannot call any timeout after the offense is set, but that a player on the field may.
Whole-heartedly 1000% agree. I don't like it in the NFL and I sure as hell don't like it in college. It reeks of a Bush-league tactic. Although logically I wanted UF unbeaten when they come calling this weeked, there was a little part of me that was glad it backfired on CUM. Saying that, I'm not sure this is the answer though. What if a coach discovers his team is a man short or in the wrong formation? In the UF game, you'll notice CUM pulled the ref over and appeared to tell him his intentions. I think the rule should be you can't call timeout to interrupt the flow of a play; which is what this does. I like Nooch's idea the best. Go back to the old rule and force players to take the TO, not coaches.
