safety at end of game

[zyxt9]

Loved the decision. Said to wife that is what they should do as soon as they didn't convert the third down and she was confused by what I was saying until she saw it happen. I didn't expect Niners to take so long getting punter down tho, those 8 seconds were daggers as each one ticked by. Loved the call and great to see a coach able to keep his head straight and think strategically in that moment. Could have just snapped ball directly out of bounds due to risk of punter mishandling snap and SF recovering for a TD, nice to see the bit of gamble that paid off having punter run around and punter coached well about staying close to endline and sideline to help prevent potential fumble from being hit. Very well played.

 

[byco42]

I was baffled that the 49ers special team just stood and watched for a solid 5-count.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Worked perfectly. Worst case scenario there is you kick off after and SF gets one heave at the endzone. You just punt it and they can get a couple chances at it and have a much better chance for a big return.

 

[cheeno]

I was baffled that the 49ers special team just stood and watched for a solid 5-count.

They were being mugged. Holding in the endzone is also a safety so they grabbed, held, and practically tackled the return team.

 

[JScottWriter]

They were being mugged. Holding in the endzone is also a safety so they grabbed, held, and practically tackled the return team.

Exactly, I was surprised that they didn't just tackle them. It was pretty weird that there wasn't a flag thrown for holding.

 

[cheeno]

Exactly, I was surprised that they didn't just tackle them. It was pretty weird that there wasn't a flag thrown for holding.

They could have thrown a flag and whistled the play, but in reality the difference was only a couple of clock ticks, either outcome is holding. Agree with you, great situational awareness by the Ravens Staff.

 

[biggunsbob]

I loved the decision too.. But if there was a short bad kick I think there is some rule buried deep in the rule book that the 49er's could have called a fair catch or maybe even if the ball had been shanked out of bounds and taken a free kick (Field goal) with no rushers trying to block it.. Weird rule...I was think the same thing Z. The 49ers kicker does not have a good leg and wasting all the time running around in the end zone was perfect...

 

[Mitchrapp]

Even with a holding call, play still goes on until the guy is tackled etc so same amount of time goes off the clock.

 

[cheeno]

Even with a holding call, play still goes on until the guy is tackled etc so same amount of time goes off the clock.

I thought you could whistle it dead.

 

[Michchamp]

People were saying San Fran should've countered with the little known, but still valid NFL Fair Catch Kick rule.

Fair catch kicks can only occur when a member of the receiving team signals for, and successfully makes, a fair catch (or is awarded a fair catch after a kick-catch interference penalty). The receiving team then has the option of resuming play either by snap or fair catch kick. If the receiving team elects the fair catch kick option, their kicker can make a field goal attempt from the spot where the fair catch was made and the opposing team must line up at least ten yards downfield.

The kicker then may either place kick the ball from a teammate's hold (a kickoff tee may be used in high school) or drop kick the ball. At this point, all general rules apply as for a field goal attempt from scrimmage. The clock starts when the ball is kicked. Three points are awarded for kicking the ball through the uprights. If the kick is unsuccessful, the rules are similar to that of a normal missed field goal: the opposing team has the option of fielding the ball and attempting a runback, or of taking possession at the spot of the kick. A successful fair catch kick is followed by a normal kick off.

...
The last successful fair catch kick in the NFL was by Ray Wersching in 1976 for the San Diego Chargers against the Buffalo Bills.[2] Since then, seven fair-catch kicks have been attempted. Most recently, Mason Crosby of the Green Bay Packers attempted an unsuccessful 69-yard fair catch kick against the Detroit Lions on December 28, 2008.[3] This kick missed by only a few yards. Had he made the kick, it would have been considered the longest kick in league history

​

 

[JScottWriter]

I thought you could whistle it dead.

No it would have kept going until the play was dead.

 

[wheels002]

I was talking to a friend at the time and I said they should do exactly what they did and the Ravens line did exactly what they should have done. You hold, grab tackle and do what ever you have to to kill every second you can. I was shocked that Ginn tried to return it and never tried a lateral or anything. He may have been better suited to fair catch it at least give the offense a shot even though it would have been a long shot.

 

[zyxt9]

I was talking to a friend at the time and I said they should do exactly what they did and the Ravens line did exactly what they should have done. You hold, grab tackle and do what ever you have to to kill every second you can. I was shocked that Ginn tried to return it and never tried a lateral or anything. He may have been better suited to fair catch it at least give the offense a shot even though it would have been a long shot.

yeah, but ginn had 0 TD returns this year on kicks or punts so...he...ummm....he was due! that has to be it...he was due!!!

 

[tbone413]

Ya that was a smart play...damn happy they did that too as it won me over $100.

 

[byco42]

They were being mugged. Holding in the endzone is also a safety so they grabbed, held, and practically tackled the return team.

Gawd ... that was comical. I was watching the punter the entire time and looked at the highlights this afternoon. There oughta be a law against that brand of assault.

 

[mhughes0021]

People were saying San Fran should've countered with the little known, but still valid NFL Fair Catch Kick rule.

Fair catch kicks can only occur when a member of the receiving team signals for, and successfully makes, a fair catch (or is awarded a fair catch after a kick-catch interference penalty). The receiving team then has the option of resuming play either by snap or fair catch kick. If the receiving team elects the fair catch kick option, their kicker can make a field goal attempt from the spot where the fair catch was made and the opposing team must line up at least ten yards downfield.

The kicker then may either place kick the ball from a teammate's hold (a kickoff tee may be used in high school) or drop kick the ball. At this point, all general rules apply as for a field goal attempt from scrimmage. The clock starts when the ball is kicked. Three points are awarded for kicking the ball through the uprights. If the kick is unsuccessful, the rules are similar to that of a normal missed field goal: the opposing team has the option of fielding the ball and attempting a runback, or of taking possession at the spot of the kick. A successful fair catch kick is followed by a normal kick off.

...
The last successful fair catch kick in the NFL was by Ray Wersching in 1976 for the San Diego Chargers against the Buffalo Bills.[2] Since then, seven fair-catch kicks have been attempted. Most recently, Mason Crosby of the Green Bay Packers attempted an unsuccessful 69-yard fair catch kick against the Detroit Lions on December 28, 2008.[3] This kick missed by only a few yards. Had he made the kick, it would have been considered the longest kick in league history

​

lions would have kneeled it.

 

[tomdalton22]

Gawd ... that was comical. I was watching the punter the entire time and looked at the highlights this afternoon. There oughta be a law against that brand of assault.

That is another rule that should be looked at in the off season. I think if the offense gets called for holding the defense should get the opportunity to put time back on the clock if they wish. Or a 10 yard penalty enforced when they get the free kick.

 

[manchild98]

It was brilliant awareness by the Ravens and their staff to hold and do everything possible just to kill more clock. It was always going to be a safety no matter. You took the blocked punt out of the equation and even a shanked kick. Instead the punter gets a free punt with no pressure and he boomed it all the way down to the Niners 19 yard line which meant they couldn't do the fair catch and execute the free kick. All they could do was to try and return it. Perfect plan, perfect execution.

 

[Mitchrapp]

That is another rule that should be looked at in the off season. I think if the offense gets called for holding the defense should get the opportunity to put time back on the clock if they wish. Or a 10 yard penalty enforced when they get the free kick.

No they shouldn't.

 

[byco42]

That is another rule that should be looked at in the off season. I think if the offense gets called for holding the defense should get the opportunity to put time back on the clock if they wish. Or a 10 yard penalty enforced when they get the free kick.

It's such an exception that I don't think it will be changed. Maybe the holding penalties can add up and the yardage assessed, or some such thing, but the time on the clock thing, not likely.