Riders Final Possession

[Rammer]

Would you have given up the safety to allow the game to be tied at that point, making the Als more conservative on O, and hoped for OT? That scenario did run through my mind at the time, but it would have been a gutsy decision to do given the time remaining.

[LFITQ]

Would you have given up the safety to allow the game to be tied at that point, making the Als more conservative on O, and hoped for OT? That scenario did run through my mind at the time, but it would have been a gutsy decision to do given the time remaining.

Nope but I wouldn't have given up the single earlier. I would have taken the penalty (for the 2nd time) and pushed the Als back another 5 yrds and had them re-kick. I was questioning that call when Miller decided to decline the penalty.

[B.C.FAN]

Would you have given up the safety to allow the game to be tied at that point, making the Als more conservative on O, and hoped for OT? That scenario did run through my mind at the time, but it would have been a gutsy decision to do given the time remaining.

No. We were debating it at our party. Some said yes, but that would be hugely deflating to concede the tying points, then have to kick off from the 25 and defend against a game-winning single or field goal. Montreal started the final drive on their own 34 yard line, needing a field goal to win, after the punt and fumbled return. If the Riders had conceded and kicked off, Montreal likely would have had the ball at their own 45, needing a single point to win or simply to run out the clock to force overtime. There is no advantage to conceding the safety.

[Vern Halen]

Would you have given up the safety to allow the game to be tied at that point, making the Als more conservative on O, and hoped for OT? That scenario did run through my mind at the time, but it would have been a gutsy decision to do given the time remaining.

Nope but I wouldn't have given up the single earlier. I would have taken the penalty (for the 2nd time) and pushed the Als back another 5 yrds and had them re-kick. I was questioning that call when Miller decided to decline the penalty.

Same here.

But as always, hindsight is 20/20 - if I was on the sidelines at that time, would I have made the same call? Not sure...notg really sure if I see the plus to cenceding the safety at that point. Sakoda was also punting well.

[tedbear]

Would you have given up the safety to allow the game to be tied at that point, making the Als more conservative on O, and hoped for OT? That scenario did run through my mind at the time, but it would have been a gutsy decision to do given the time remaining.

Nope but I wouldn't have given up the single earlier. I would have taken the penalty (for the 2nd time) and pushed the Als back another 5 yrds and had them re-kick. I was questioning that call when Miller decided to decline the penalty.

I totaly agree with you that they should not have given up the single earlier as they accepted the first penalty moved them back and then declined the second one and gave them the single.

However although that point was the difference in the end. Things would have surely played out differently as on Montreals final touchdown Saskatchewan would have been leading by 7 instead of 8 and I am sure that Montreal would have kicked the single instead of going for 2 and the game would have been tied. Who knows how things would have played out in that situation? However in hindsight I guess we can agree that decision was not the right one.

[Vern Halen]

One of the differences in the game could have been Congi's missed FG in the 1st...didn't get even a single out of that...

[Rammer]

One of the differences in the game could have been Congi's missed FG in the 1st...didn't get even a single out of that...

I think that both the single that you and LFitQ point out, are too early in the game to begin discussions about, whereas under a minute and a half, the safety is a tangible decision to discuss upon. As pointed out the single would have meant that the Als go for the tied game and who knows what transpires for ball movement after that. Tying the game up with the safety perhaps forces the Als into a more conservative nature on O and they allow the game to go into OT. That said the 45 yardline is the average starting point for a team to gain after the KO, and that would have been almost 10 yards closer than the Als ended up after the punt and fumble.

At any rate, forcing the Als into an all or nothing scenario didn't work out for the Riders, the safety just approaches the final drive at a different angle.

[Sir Purrcival]

Honestly, I think the biggest mistake they made was during that last possession on 2nd down. Durant and Cates had been very successful with the run so to throw that quick out to Rob Bagg (well short of 1st down territory) was a very poor call. I would have rolled Durant out with a pass or run option. I believe he would have had a very good chance of making it. He is tough to bring down on the run and he still has a pass or pitch option to Cates if he pulls with him.

[Wakesbetterthanyou]

The biggest rider mistake was not going to the kill shot before the half. 21-3 would have been better than 17-3. That and their penalty on the final play, how do u have too many men at any point of the game? Thats just bad coaching.

[nelson95]

Given the way Duval was punting, to get him to punt 3 in a row might have been a good call.

Riders had some breaks late: Taylors fumble and the non-call on the 2 point

Unbelievable game to be at

[hwgill]

I too thought that the Riders should have gone for the TD before the half. I was also surprised with Trestmen when the Als had 3rd and a foot and he punted instead of going for it. I guess if I coached I would be much more aggressive .

[Rammer]

I too thought that the Riders should have gone for the TD before the half. I was also surprised with Trestmen when the Als had 3rd and a foot and he punted instead of going for it. I guess if I coached I would be much more aggressive .

And potentially weeded out of the coaching ranks much earlier in your career.

[Robbie]

I too thought that the Riders should have gone for the TD before the half. I was also surprised with Trestmen when the Als had 3rd and a foot and he punted instead of going for it. I guess if I coached I would be much more aggressive .

And potentially weeded out of the coaching ranks much earlier in your career.

It's always debatable as to whether a good coach is a conservative one or an aggresive one. Obviously had the Riders didn't get a TD in that play, the coach would have been criticized big time. An aggresive coach in a Grey Cup game was Larry Donovan, but his two big risks in the 1988 GC didn't work out and costed the Lions the championship. On the other hand Don Matthews was rather conservative when he coached the Lions in the 1983 GC game, and the Lions also lost by a single point.

[Vern Halen]

I too thought that the Riders should have gone for the TD before the half. I was also surprised with Trestmen when the Als had 3rd and a foot and he punted instead of going for it. I guess if I coached I would be much more aggressive .

But if you get stuffed by the Als going into the half, you not only come away with no points, you give the Alouettes a HUGE boost going into the locker room.

Better a bird in the hand, I say.

[Ballistic Bob]

Given the way Duval was punting, to get him to punt 3 in a row might have been a good call.

Riders had some breaks late: Taylors fumble and the non-call on the 2 point

Unbelievable game to be at

I thought so to but in each kick it was getting closer to the coffin corner and I think Miller recognized that. Too bad he couldnt kick field goals that way BB