Inside the Weirdest Play of the Season

[Turbine]

Here is what I appreciate about coach Napier.

This play proves he is "thinking" DURING the game, you can't plan for this.

He chose a NOVEL move that no one had seen before strictly due to an unforeseen quirk in the game at hand.

And it worked.

[SlickRick]

a. i cant believe that is weirdest play of entire season
b. why didnt he just have boudreaux hike it out of endzone on purpose like he did all night and noone would have been surprised or questioned it

That would have been a 55 yard hike with a waterlogged ball. Not happening. If it doesn't get out of the endzone, it's a fumble near or in the endzone.

[SlickRick]

All that is well and good, but it still doesn't explain or justify throwing the ball out of bounds on 3rd and 2. We could have made 2 yards in 2 plays running the ball, or, at worst, Levi stays in bounds & makes them use their last time out.

That's a different play....this is about the 4th down decision.

[SlickRick]

Coach has admitted he should have told Levi to not throw it away if the first pass option was not open. He owned his mistake. I respect him for doing so.

...or, he protected Levi from being criticized for making a bad decision. Either way, I respect him for that too.

[Frenchie35]

...or, he protected Levi from being criticized for making a bad decision. Either way, I respect him for that too.

Nap didn't tell Levi to through the ball out of bounds if he didn't have a receiver open. If he did it is the most bizarre call ever called. Levi wasn't smart on that play.

[CajunVic]

Suppose the discussion before 3rd and 4th down was that we have 2 plays to make 2 yards and the decision to take a safety was not made until after the third down play? Then, throwing the ball away to keep the yardage needed for a 1st down at 2 yds was the correct play.

[Turbine]

Suppose the discussion before 3rd and 4th down was that we have 2 plays to make 2 yards and the decision to take a safety was not made until after the third down play? Then, throwing the ball away to keep the yardage needed for a 1st down at 2 yds was the correct play.

Your scenario suggests that Levi "knew" UL was going for it on fourth down. Then the staff changed their minds.

[CajunVic]

Your scenario suggests that Levi "knew" UL was going for it on fourth down. Then the staff changed their minds.

I have not seen anything yet which rules out this scenario.

[Turbine]

I have not seen anything yet which rules out this scenario.

If you KNOW you will use two plays to gain two yards, the highest percentage positive yardage play is a run.

[CajunVic]

If you KNOW you will use two plays to gain two yards, the highest percentage positive yardage play is a run.

Our coach has been known to utilize the element of surprise in scenarios like this and hope that the surprise has a higher percentage of success when the other side would suspect you would go with the percentages.