Take the ball and score on the first drive and set the tone for the rest of the game. We don’t want to be chasing points. We want the Bison playing catch-up.

(01-07-2020 08:11 PM)Rock House Duke Wrote:  Take the ball and score on the first drive and set the tone for the rest of the game. We don’t want to be chasing points. We want the Bison playing catch-up.

And what if we dont score? NDSU now has the opportunity to gain a position at the half. Safer bet is to defer and start pounding away at NDSUs offense right off the bat

(01-07-2020 08:33 PM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  

(01-07-2020 08:11 PM)Rock House Duke Wrote:  Take the ball and score on the first drive and set the tone for the rest of the game. We don’t want to be chasing points. We want the Bison playing catch-up.

And what if we dont score? NDSU now has the opportunity to gain a position at the half. Safer bet is to defer and start pounding away at NDSUs offense right off the bat

I almost always agree with this but there's two things that make me choose to take the ball. Our kick-offs and coverage are suspect and I can see the Buffalo starting on the 35. The second thing is that our defense tends to start slow and not start playing until we're at least five minutes into the game.

Defer, defer, defer. In a game like this there are too many jitters early, especially on offense. Let our D set the tone then have the ball to start the second half. Go Dukes!


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(01-07-2020 10:11 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(01-07-2020 08:33 PM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  

(01-07-2020 08:11 PM)Rock House Duke Wrote:  Take the ball and score on the first drive and set the tone for the rest of the game. We don’t want to be chasing points. We want the Bison playing catch-up.

And what if we dont score? NDSU now has the opportunity to gain a position at the half. Safer bet is to defer and start pounding away at NDSUs offense right off the bat

I almost always agree with this but there's two things that make me choose to take the ball. Our kick-offs and coverage are suspect and I can see the Buffalo starting on the 35. The second thing is that our defense tends to start slow and not start playing until we're at least five minutes into the game.

I'm thinking both offenses come out a little slow and not as sharp after being off for 3 weeks. More so for NDSU if its a bit colder and windy since they havent played outdoors in almost two months

The passion between the "kick first" "receive first" crowd is interesting to see

(01-08-2020 08:46 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  The passion between the "kick first" "receive first" crowd is interesting to see

It's simple for me

If you kick first, and are ahead at half time - glory days.

If you kick first, and are behind at halftime - you get the ball first in the second half to work your way to the lead.

If you defer and are ahead at the half, they get the ball first and can score to start the second half.

If you defer and are behind at the half, the hill is worse because you have to prevent them from extending the lead, and if you stop them you still need to go down in score in attempt to catch up.

(01-08-2020 10:09 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 08:46 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  The passion between the "kick first" "receive first" crowd is interesting to see

It's simple for me

If you kick first, and are ahead at half time - glory days.

If you kick first, and are behind at halftime - you get the ball first in the second half to work your way to the lead.

If you defer and are ahead at the half, they get the ball first and can score to start the second half.

If you defer and are behind at the half, the hill is worse because you have to prevent them from extending the lead, and if you stop them you still need to go down in score in attempt to catch up.

If you receive first and score you are ahead.

If you stop them or get a turnover and score you are up two scores.

If you stop them again and get the ball and score you are up three scores.

Kicking to them the second half won't mean sh*t.

It is all an IF game. I can create a thousand ifs. Give me the ball and let's score and put the pressure on them. Assume we will score. You assume that we would stop them and flip the field.

we can play scenario generator all day and make arguments either way!

set the tone.....take the ball....run it (and pass it) down their throats

NDSU 100% of the time will choose to kick and get ball 2nd half

(01-08-2020 12:35 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  NDSU 100% of the time will choose to kick and get ball 2nd half

Bet they don’t choose “kick” as that would involve JMU receiving both first and second half kickoffs.

Is it Saturday yet?

(01-08-2020 10:55 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 10:09 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 08:46 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  The passion between the "kick first" "receive first" crowd is interesting to see

It's simple for me

If you kick first, and are ahead at half time - glory days.

If you kick first, and are behind at halftime - you get the ball first in the second half to work your way to the lead.

If you defer and are ahead at the half, they get the ball first and can score to start the second half.

If you defer and are behind at the half, the hill is worse because you have to prevent them from extending the lead, and if you stop them you still need to go down in score in attempt to catch up.

If you receive first and score you are ahead.

If you stop them or get a turnover and score you are up two scores.

If you stop them again and get the ball and score you are up three scores.

Kicking to them the second half won't mean sh*t.

It is all an IF game. I can create a thousand ifs. Give me the ball and let's score and put the pressure on them. Assume we will score. You assume that we would stop them and flip the field.

Not really an "if", but really the 4 options heading into the second half unless it's tied.


I don't see the first couple series of a game as important as the beginning of the second half. Just my opinion.

If we go down the field and score on the first possession of the game, it's nice but I'm left feeling it's just the start of the game.

If we go down and score the first series of the second half that is a more meaningful "to me".

The argument can be made that any touchdown or basket counts the same amount if it's in the first five minutes or the last five minutes, but you don't see many coaches call timeouts in the first 5 minutes of a basketball game to draw up a play. You could make the argument the first 5 minutes of a game set the tone, but I think more times than not it's a feeling out period.

The one exception I might make if it's a high power offense like ASU use to be, perhaps I would see the benefit of taking an early lead.

(01-08-2020 12:35 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  NDSU 100% of the time will choose to kick and get ball 2nd half

Probably the case with over 90% of teams. I know in 2017 Houston was taking the ball, but I think in 2018 he went back to the norm.

Definitely kick and get it second half. In addition to the double score drive advantage you can potentially get, NDSU will come out jacked up on D and we're likely to punt on the first drive. Why give a possession away immediately while we're still feeling each other out?

(01-08-2020 02:25 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-08-2020 12:35 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  NDSU 100% of the time will choose to kick and get ball 2nd half

Probably the case with over 90% of teams. I know in 2017 Houston was taking the ball, but I think in 2018 he went back to the norm.

its gotta be.
hell the Minnesota Vikings took the ball vs Saints last week, fumbled the ball away 3 plays in, so it was pointless.. but they still won :)