Why did the Gators fake that field goal?

[MSU Cat]

What was the point? Weird play call.

[Will Lavender]

I don't think he had confidence in his field goal kicker to make it from there.

[Brian McCat]

Meyer didn't want to pile on more points?

[Coldstream]

I thought it was bc he didn't have the faith in the kicker to make it from there. KY was ready for that trick play as everyone knows Meyer tries that kind of stuff week in and out.

[trublue4life]

To fake a field goal on 4th and goal from the twelve yard line shows a complete lack of confidence in your kicker. Florida better get that corrected before they make plans to play in the Georgia Dome for the SEC championship.

[Sam K.]

My guess: Didn't want to chance a FG attempt being blocked and returned for a UK td.

[Brian McCat]

Talk radio reports that Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league to fake it.

[Caveman Catfan]

Brian McCat wrote: Meyer didn't want to pile on more points?

I thought that. I think Meyer is a good guy. I think Brooks likes him.

But, Meyer did not seem happy on the sideline. He seemed frustrated.

[Caveman Catfan]

Brian McCat wrote: Talk radio reports that Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league to fake it.

Brooks seemed cordial to Meyer at the end of the game. It was not trickery. It was simply a sweep, not the sort of thing that one would do if they really wanted to score.

I doubt Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league.

[joneagin]

Caveman Catfan wrote: Brian McCat wrote: Talk radio reports that Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league to fake it.

Brooks seemed cordial to Meyer at the end of the game. It was not trickery. It was simply a sweep, not the sort of thing that one would do if they really wanted to score.

I doubt Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league.

Well I would have told him. 3 minutes left and they are up by 19 and they fake a field goal from that close? Thats something Spurrier would have done. IF they werent trying to score, then what were they trying to do??

[JDHoss]

joneagin wrote: Caveman Catfan wrote: Brian McCat wrote: Talk radio reports that Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league to fake it.

Brooks seemed cordial to Meyer at the end of the game. It was not trickery. It was simply a sweep, not the sort of thing that one would do if they really wanted to score.

I doubt Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league.

Well I would have told him. 3 minutes left and they are up by 19 and they fake a field goal from that close? Thats something Spurrier would have done. IF they werent trying to score, then what were they trying to do??
The ball was on the 25. If you are trying to score with a fake from that distance, it's unlikely you will try what amounted to a sweep with your holder running.

[Brian McCat]

Meyer certainly seemed like he wanted to score another on that drive. He had Leak and Tebow in the shotgun, passing the ball long downfield.

[Trueblujr]

3 minutes left, up 19, sounds like a good opportunity to see if something you don't get to try much can actually be executed in a game situation. they had a nice cusion, so there was really nothing to lose by trying it.

[Dr. H Lecter]

Trueblujr wrote: 3 minutes left, up 19, sounds like a good opportunity to see if something you don't get to try much can actually be executed in a game situation. they had a nice cusion, so there was really nothing to lose by trying it.
I agree. Its also called playing withthe next guys brian. Giving them something to have to prepare for. And I really think Meyer didn't particularly want to "pile on" the points.

[AndyPopCat]

The point of the fake was to set up field position. It was a intelligent play call. Meyer was not trying to score. End of story.

Highly unlikely to get it to the endzone. I'm sure Meyer was hoping for a few more yards than they got. Bottom line...give the ball back to Kentucky inside the 15-20 yard line.

[easternkycat]

I think the reason in the play calling was to show future teams that they arent afraid to run plays like these. That is what the announcer said

[RV]

AndyPopCat wrote: The point of the fake was to set up field position. It was a intelligent play call. Meyer was not trying to score. End of story.

Highly unlikely to get it to the endzone. I'm sure Meyer was hoping for a few more yards than they got. Bottom line...give the ball back to Kentucky inside the 15-20 yard line.

I agree totally Andy. Meyer is a very good coach and a much better sport and person than Superior ever thought about being.

[SouthBeachWildcat]

Dr. H Lecter wrote: Trueblujr wrote: 3 minutes left, up 19, sounds like a good opportunity to see if something you don't get to try much can actually be executed in a game situation. they had a nice cusion, so there was really nothing to lose by trying it.
I agree. Its also called playing withthe next guys brian. Giving them something to have to prepare for. And I really think Meyer didn't particularly want to "pile on" the points.
stil not very classy to me. If you dont want to run up the score then run the ball up the middle.

[Caveman Catfan]

joneagin wrote: Caveman Catfan wrote: Brian McCat wrote: Talk radio reports that Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league to fake it.

Brooks seemed cordial to Meyer at the end of the game. It was not trickery. It was simply a sweep, not the sort of thing that one would do if they really wanted to score.

I doubt Brooks told Meyer that it was bush league.

Well I would have told him. 3 minutes left and they are up by 19 and they fake a field goal from that close? Thats something Spurrier would have done. IF they werent trying to score, then what were they trying to do??
They were more likely to score the 3 points than score on the play they ran. I have absolutely no problem with the way Meyer called the game. In fact, I am glad we kept the 3 off the board.

[Caveman Catfan]

AndyPopCat wrote: The point of the fake was to set up field position. It was a intelligent play call. Meyer was not trying to score. End of story.

Highly unlikely to get it to the endzone. I'm sure Meyer was hoping for a few more yards than they got. Bottom line...give the ball back to Kentucky inside the 15-20 yard line.


That makes perfect sense to me. Run a play that will eat clock. The change of possession starts the clock moving again. Put UK back within the 20. Go home happy.

I cannot conceive that Meyer actually thought he could score on that sweep. If the Gators DID score on that sweep, the Cats would have deserved what they got, IMO.

[Will Lavender]

But it does seem like with such a terrible kicker that you would want to give him some practice for the brutal schedule ahead.

[Caveman Catfan]

Or, perhaps, after two blocked PATs, you want to avoid having him miss the FG.

[gerntz]

I agree with those that think they didn't want to risk a block plus give us the worst field position possible. Bu that being the case, I think a drawl or screen would have gained more with FL lined up to pass to the EZ.

[Caveman Catfan]

From Meyer's mouth:

“The fake was a called play, and it was a play that all day we felt like we had a good chance of running. We thought it was a good option to take advantage of the numbers on the edge.”

[GeorgiaBlue]

I dont understand the fuss that this is creating. We hung 77 on UTEP a few years ago.

The Florida offense runs out of the shotgun - that's the offense - deal with it. And 19 points is not to much to sit back on your heels.

[AndyPopCat]

GeorgiaBlue wrote: I dont understand the fuss that this is creating. We hung 77 on UTEP a few years ago.

The Florida offense runs out of the shotgun - that's the offense - deal with it. And 19 points is not to much to sit back on your heels.

If I were coaching, I know I wouldn't stop scoring with the other team still within striking distance.

[CatFanForLife]

Per Gainesville.com (Gainesville Sun,I believe)

It appeared the Gators might be in position to finally get a field goal late Saturday when Hetland lined up for a 39-yard attempt with three minutes left. Instead, Meyer called for a fake and holder Butch Rowley took off with the ball and was tackled after a three-yard gain.

Meyer explained why he called the fake.
"The entire day we knew they had an extremely good plan to come up the middle and had no one on the outside," Meyer said. "Instead of having them come up the middle and block the kick and take it the other way, we thought we'd take it to the outside."

[sardiscat]

"Well I would have told him. 3 minutes left and they are up by 19 and they fake a field goal from that close? Thats something Spurrier would have done. IF they werent trying to score, then what were they trying to do??"

Meyer was doing Brooks a favor by running that play, not trying to score. Florida had to get the ball all the way into the end zone. Meyer knew that wasn't going to happen on a sweep with the holder carrying the ball. If he had really wanted to score on the play, he would have thrown a pass, either off of the fake or in his normal offense.

[catsin99]

He was trying to score! Trying to run the score up! Us stuffing them trying to do that was sweet.

A coach thinking ahead would have tried the field goal to give his kicker some confidence and fixed the problem with the 2 blocks.

Going to win more games with the kicker than faking field goals.

[Caveman Catfan]

After two blocked PATs, I thought Meyers comments about not giving UK the opportunity to block the FGA made sense. Not sure why there is so much fuss over this.

[poodoo]

Caveman Catfan wrote: After two blocked PATs, I thought Meyers comments about not giving UK the opportunity to block the FGA made sense. Not sure why there is so much fuss over this.
FWIW, I thought the same when I read Meyer's comments. Same reaction here, Caveman Catfan.