Chris Gamble/Panthers Lateral: Dumbest Play EVER? (1 Viewer)

[datonn]

Is it just me, or was that attempted lateral by Chris Gamble of the Panthers yesterday just about the dumbest play in the history of football? The Panthers are up by seven in the fourth quarter, their defense (Peppers, in particular) is DOMINATING the Vikings offense, and they're going to be getting the ball around mid-field. Instead, they roll out a gadget play, fumble, and the Vikings take over around the Panthers 20 yard line....ultimately scoring the tying touchdown.

I watched that as a Vikings fan and went:

I watched that as a fan of professional football and went:

How on EARTH does a professional football player/coach convince themselves that a decision like that is a good idea? I thought stuff like that only happened in Minnesota under the Mike Tice regime........

 

[Buckychudd]

No, the dumbest play ever was Jim Marshall running the wrong way for a TD (safety).

So this was the second dumbest.

 

[MN Taco]

Does anyone know for sure if that play was actually planned by the coaches or if Gamble just made a really, really bad decision? I couldn't believe it, I was ready to accept the L this week until that gem!

 

[Marino13]

Does anyone know for sure if that play was actually planned by the coaches or if Gamble just made a really, really bad decision? I couldn't believe it, I was ready to accept the L this week until that gem!

It was definitely planned....

 

[zenzephyros]

That doesn't even compare to when Aaron Brooks chucked that ball backwards a couple years ago.

 

[datonn]

Touche. I guess Marshall's run probably WAS even worse. Must be something in the water up here....

Seriously though, what could Fox, their Special Teams coach and/or Gamble have POSSIBLY been thinking when they decided to effectively throw the game away? I still can't believe it when I see the highlights, although the highlights don't tell you just how much the Panthers had the game in hand before that play. Yeah, they were only up by seven, but the Vikings were struggling to move the ball, their body language was showing they were tired, and the fans at the Dome were quiet. Then, Gamble threw that lateral and EVERYTHING changed! I haven't seen a momentum swing as quick and dramatic as that one in quite a while.

Edited to add: I guess I HAVE seen a momentum swing that dramatic, now that I think about it. Last year's playoff game between the Steelers and Colts, Bettis' fumble, then Vanderjagt's poor kick. That one gave folks some serious whiplash...with more on the line.

 

[Buzzworth]

Does anyone know for sure if that play was actually planned by the coaches or if Gamble just made a really, really bad decision? I couldn't believe it, I was ready to accept the L this week until that gem!

It was definitely planned....

No way it was planned even though Fox said it was his call. He is just taking the blame to take the heat off of Gamble.

 

[Synthesizer]

It looked planned since he was gripping the football and looking for the throw almost immediately. Terrible play call and even worse execution. Just tuck it and take the loss!

 

[mrspree15]

This is worse than other plays because it was premeditated. Fox somehow thought it would be a good decision.

 

[datonn]

This is worse than other plays because it was premeditated. Fox somehow thought it would be a good decision.

That's what I was thinking too. The guy who Gamble threw towards looks like he was EXPECTING the throw if you watch the replays closely.....and I have a hard time believing that he and Gamble just cooked that play up on their own, unless neither of them cares about being employed for the Carolina Panthers organization for very much longer. (?)

 

[Disco Stu]

That doesn't even compare to when Aaron Brooks chucked that ball backwards a couple years ago.

youtube link

 

[bizkliz]

amazing

wow.

-biz-

 

[Getinthemix]

Leon Lett?

 

[corpcow]

No, the dumbest play ever was Jim Marshall running the wrong way for a TD (safety).So this was the second dumbest.

... which Warrick Dunn almost did this weekend

 

[corpcow]

This is worse than other plays because it was premeditated. Fox somehow thought it would be a good decision.

I think what made this such a bad play was the circumstances under which the throw was made, not the idea that a throw should have been made in the first place. Not that I agree with the play call, but you have to realize Fox probably didn't think the coverage would be ON Gamble and he'd be running around as he made the catch.The gadget call wasn't terrible, but Gamble should have been told to be more conservative with it.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Plaxico Burress spiking the football after falling down and nobody touching him has to be pretty far up there. Talk about not transitioning from college rules quickly.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I know some fellow Steeler fans would rank El's ill-advised lateral attempt to Ward in the New England game last year as a pretty boneheaded play - and likely one that cost them the game. I know it's not the dumbest ever, but it was pretty moronic.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Plaxico Burress spiking the football after falling down and nobody touching him has to be pretty far up there. Talk about not transitioning from college rules quickly.

That was my next post.

 

[Jayrod]

Does anyone know for sure if that play was actually planned by the coaches or if Gamble just made a really, really bad decision? I couldn't believe it, I was ready to accept the L this week until that gem!

It was definitely planned....

No way it was planned even though Fox said it was his call. He is just taking the blame to take the heat off of Gamble.

Players don't just "improvise" an across the field lateral. If the dude was right behind him than maybe, but he turned and threw a backwards pass to a guy who was just standing there and not blocking. Clearly a planned play. Fox is the one to blame for this. One of the worst calls by a coach I have ever seen.

 

[Frank Black]

Leon Lett?

Which time? There are at least 2 times!

 

[mrspree15]

Does anyone know for sure if that play was actually planned by the coaches or if Gamble just made a really, really bad decision? I couldn't believe it, I was ready to accept the L this week until that gem!

It was definitely planned....

No way it was planned even though Fox said it was his call. He is just taking the blame to take the heat off of Gamble.

Players don't just "improvise" an across the field lateral. If the dude was right behind him than maybe, but he turned and threw a backwards pass to a guy who was just standing there and not blocking. Clearly a planned play. Fox is the one to blame for this. One of the worst calls by a coach I have ever seen.

Yep, that's what makes it so bad. Aaron Brooks' backwards pass was bad, but at least he was under pressure in the heat of the moment. Fox is standing on the sidelines thinking "Yeah, we have total control of the game. Yeah, we are about to get the ball in great field position. Let's run the Music City Miracle." Why even put Chris Gamble in a position to turn the ball over?

 

[Woz]

I do think Fox's decision was far too risky, but in his defense Kluwe was kicking bombs and often outkicks his coverage. Therefore, if there is a team to do a play like this against, maybe it is the Vikings. Also, Fox may have been trying to ignite a spark in an otherwise lifeless (aside from the D-line) team. But yeah, you'd think a win would ignite them more.

Really really dumb, but of course his defenders can easily pull out the "if it worked we'd be praising him" rebuttal ala Andy Reid's onside kick to start the season a few years ago.

As a Vikes fan and a Fox coach owner (league where you get three points for your coach winning and -1 if he loses), I want to call him a moron but I can sort of see why he did it given Kluwe's tendency to blast punts that are returnable and the desire to ignite his offense. He also probably put more faith in Gamble to make a wiser decision. So, place signficant blame on Gamble too.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

As a Vikes fan and a Fox coach owner (league where you get three points for your coach winning and -1 if he loses)

Wow, never seen another league that drafts coaches. We get 4 points for a win, 2 for a tie, 0 for a loss.

 

[bumpman]

As a Vikes fan and a Fox coach owner (league where you get three points for your coach winning and -1 if he loses)

Wow, never seen another league that drafts coaches. We get 4 points for a win, 2 for a tie, 0 for a loss.

What happens if your coach gets fired like Butch Davis did a couple of years ago? Do you have backup coaches on your roster?

 

[Facenda's Voice]

#1) Jim Marshall running the wrong way for what he thought was going to be a TD, which was a safety

#2) Garo Yepremian (Dolphins) attempted pass, which was a fumble picked up by Mike Bass in SB VII and returned for a TD

 

[TheLaw]

It was a called play, and pretty dumb. It looked to me that he was throwing the ball to the ref.

 

[bullitt]

It was a called play, and pretty dumb. It looked to me that he was throwing the ball to the ref.

I agree, I think when he turned around and saw a body, he thought it was a teammate, because the ball definitely headed in the ref's direction.

 

[Aaronstory]

amazing

wow.

-biz-

Thanks, I hadn't seen it yet.The guy who is supposed to catch the ball is running backwards on the other side of the field and it's not to throw a block. That was a called play.

 

[Da Guru]

Bonehead!

I am suprised the Vikes had 3-4 defenders in the area after he went left first.