Preseason game #2: Vikings - Cardinals game thread 8/16

[Laserman]

never understood the fraiser head coach hiring. when he took over the defense our D actually started to go down. So why hire him as head coach? He might have been the worst Viking Head coach ever

[Arma]

Was awesome seeing him on that last play putting a guy in position from the sideline.
Unlike that twit Frazier who watches his team line up incorrectly, does nothing, not even using his timeout, just watches them give up a last second touchdown.

Then proceeds the review the tape to find the Holy Grail to make his young players older so he can actually play them.

[Reignman]

Zim was beside himself after the Cardinals holy roller play was allowed to stand. Milquetoast would have just sat there with his indifferent arms folded look. Refreshing to see a coach who at least looks like he cares the entire game.

Was awesome seeing him on that last play putting a guy in position from the sideline.

I caught that too. Coaching right up until the snap. After losing to the Bears last year, Frazier even said he knew the guys were lined up wrong on the final play and didn't bother to call a timeout. SMFH!

[Reignman]

Does anyone remember the argument we had around here about why Rudolph wasn't utilized more vertically, after he looked pretty good in the pro bowl with Eli throwing to him? I think that argument was settled tonight. Yeah, it turns out all he needed was a QB who could get the ball down field after all xD.

[Crax]

Like the speech from zimmer post game recognizing that even though they won, they need to fix those penalties.
http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 563dd291d2

[Eli]

Like the speech from zimmer post game recognizing that even though they won, they need to fix those penalties.

Yeah, but there were some seriously bogus penalty calls against the D on that last Cardinals drive.

[Funkytown]

best play of the game?

the snap that ponder never took :p

Just the flow of the game, it makes sense Ponder didn't get any time. With that said, I'm really glad he didn't play at all. Not for my sake, though, but for his. All the "Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!" chants have to sting a bit. If he would have been put in right after that, he would have been booed. It's just a total double whammy. I just would have found that a bit unnecessary. Since the Vikes won, I'm in a great mood...and I just don't see any reason to make it worse on Ponder. Let the guy get some time on the road. The fans will be nicer to him there.

Oh, how far he has fallen...

[Reignman]

Who, Massel?

Not that I want to defend PA, but it was Bercich who called him Massel lol. I'm currently re-watching the game on NFL Network.

[SirSwag]

9/12 92 yards 1td 0 int + 1/1 on 2 pt conversions.

granted it was in the 4th qtr of a preseason game.....but I WILL TAKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tru dat

But all preseason defenses are pretty bland; he still has more TDs than Bortles and JM combined

[me4get]

Was sitting row 6 on the 30 yard line at the game tonight, a great experience, awesome crowd. I was on the side where that Cards batted fumble occured. Had the great oppurtunity to give the ref the bird as he made that awful call, could swear he was looking right at me. Surronding fans were letting him hear it as well

P.S Teddy, Teddy

The ref called it a muffed backward pass, which isn't even in the rulebook, to throw a backward pass you have to have possession. The qb picked up the muff and intentually threw it backwards, wherein the fourth down rule comes into effect, as a backwards pass is a fumble.

[Reignman]

Tru dat

But all preseason defenses are pretty bland; he still has more TDs than Bortles and JM combined

The Cardinals were blitzing quite a bit on that final drive, so it's hard to call it bland lol. I'm sure that's what you want to do when a rookie QB is in there, but unfortunately for them, Teddy handled the pressure like an experienced vet.

[Reignman]

The ref called it a muffed backward pass, which isn't even in the rulebook, to throw a backward pass you have to have possession. The qb picked up the muff and intentually threw it backwards, wherein the fourth down rule comes into effect, as a backwards pass is a fumble.

As far as I understand it, if a backward pass hits the ground, it becomes a fumble. At the very least, a huge loophole in the rule was exposed tonight.

In response to the Holy Roller, the league passed new rules in the offseason, restricting fumble recoveries by the offense. If a player fumbles after the two-minute warning in a half, or on fourth down at any time during the game, only the fumbling player can recover and advance the ball. If that player's teammate recovers the ball during those situations, it is placed back at the spot of the fumble.

[Eli]

As far as I understand it, if a backward pass hits the ground, it becomes a fumble. At the very least, a huge loophole in the rule was exposed tonight.

The shotgun snap is considered a backward pass (see the note in the rule, below). It was muffed, not fumbled, since the quarterback never possessed the ball. It was a legitimate touchdown.

Section 7 Backward Pass and Fumble
BACKWARD PASS
Article 1 Backward Pass. A runner may throw a backward pass at any time (3-22-4). Players of either team may advance after catching a backward pass, or recovering a backward pass after it touches the ground.
Exception: See actions to conserve time (4-7-1).

Note: A direct snap from center to a player in the backfield, a muffed hand-to-hand snap, or a snap that is untouched by a player who is in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap are backward passes, and the ball remains alive.

A.R. 8.55 Fourth-and-10 on A40. A high snap from center glances off the kicker’s hands as he muffs the ball on the A28. The ball rolls to the A25. A defensive player picks it up and goes for a score.
Ruling: Touchdown.

A.R. 8.56 A’s ball fourth-and-10 on B20. Direct snap from center on an attempted field goal glances off placekick holder’s hands at the B27. Field goal kicker recovers the ball at B30 and runs for a touchdown.
Ruling: Legal touchdown.

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/pu ... Fumble.pdf

[Eli]

Yeah I understand that much, problem is the O lineman who rolled onto the ball and pushed it forward. In the process he had Vikings on top of him. The moment that O lineman put his hand on the ball while he's on the ground and is being touched, he is down-no TD.

No, he's not. He can't be down if he doesn't possess the ball, which he didn't.

[Eli]

My rule book must be outdated then. I guess the ball can now be advanced by offensive lineman without them ever needing possesion...are foward laterals going to be allowed next year too? Can't wait.

If the current rules allow that type of play, so be it, can't argue that. I had the best seat in the house for that play (even got it on video) and my eyes and those of everyone around me (including Cardinals fans) could see that wasn't a correct football play.

Either they missed the fact that the ball was batted or else they ruled that it wasn't batted toward the goal line. I believe it's only illegal if it's batted forward. I just watched it again and it wasn't batted forward. When the ball hit and spun on the turf, it rolled forward.