Why don't NFL teams ever defer the opening kickoff? (1 Viewer)

[RoxSolid]

Teams in college defer the opening kickoff all the time, why isn't this done in the NFL more often.

If you were a team like Chicago or Baltimore, with a defense that can set a serious tone for a game, wouldn't you want them out there first and then get the ball to start the 2nd half. I just wonder why its so abundant in college and non-existent in the NFL

 

[rabidfireweasel]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

 

[mad sweeney]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

So if you win the toss and take the direction, isn't that the same as deferring? Other team would then get the ball first, right?

 

[coolnerd]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

So if you win the toss and take the direction, isn't that the same as deferring? Other team would then get the ball first, right?

Yeah, but then the opposing team would get the ball @ the start of both halves.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

No. If you win the toss, you get choice what you want in the first half- the ball or the direction. You don't get to defer that choice. If you choose direction, the other team still gets to choose what they want in 2nd half, and they would almost always choice getting the ball.

 

[mad sweeney]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

So if you win the toss and take the direction, isn't that the same as deferring? Other team would then get the ball first, right?

Yeah, but then the opposing team would get the ball @ the start of both halves.

gotcha

 

[RoxSolid]

good to clear that up, but how come in madden you can choose to kickoff and then you receive the ball in the 2nd half

 

[CalBear]

Teams in college defer the opening kickoff all the time, why isn't this done in the NFL more often. If you were a team like Chicago or Baltimore, with a defense that can set a serious tone for a game, wouldn't you want them out there first and then get the ball to start the 2nd half. I just wonder why its so abundant in college and non-existent in the NFL

It's stupid to defer, anyway. A sign of over-coaching.

 

[strong]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

So if you win the toss and take the direction, isn't that the same as deferring? Other team would then get the ball first, right?

Yeah, but then the opposing team would get the ball @ the start of both halves.

I have never heard of this.

 

[coolnerd]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

So if you win the toss and take the direction, isn't that the same as deferring? Other team would then get the ball first, right?

Yeah, but then the opposing team would get the ball @ the start of both halves.

I have never heard of this.

Becaue it never happens, but under the situation painted that is what would happen. If Texans wins the toss in the first half and take the wind, the the Lions would get the ball. Then in the 2nd half, the Lions have the choice to take the wind or the ball and in 99% of the time would take the ball. So the Lions would get the ball in both halves.

 

[Country Boy]

Teams in college defer the opening kickoff all the time, why isn't this done in the NFL more often. If you were a team like Chicago or Baltimore, with a defense that can set a serious tone for a game, wouldn't you want them out there first and then get the ball to start the 2nd half. I just wonder why its so abundant in college and non-existent in the NFL

It's stupid to defer, anyway. A sign of over-coaching.

When I was coaching I would always want to defer if I felt the game was going to be close. That would give me the first possession after halftime when adjustments had been made. We would come out with specific plays based on our adjustments. Don't have stats but we had a great deal of success with that strategy. Now, if you feel you are clearly better, take it and score and set the tone right off the bat.

 

[strong]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

So if you win the toss and take the direction, isn't that the same as deferring? Other team would then get the ball first, right?

Yeah, but then the opposing team would get the ball @ the start of both halves.

I have never heard of this.

Becaue it never happens, but under the situation painted that is what would happen. If Texans wins the toss in the first half and take the wind, the the Lions would get the ball. Then in the 2nd half, the Lions have the choice to take the wind or the ball and in 99% of the time would take the ball. So the Lions would get the ball in both halves.

Can anyone else verify this or provide a link to the rule? I can't find it and having trouble being convinced... I've never heard that teams make a choice in the second half about which direction they want to go...

 

[tppt]

becasue they are stoopid

 

[coolnerd]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

So if you win the toss and take the direction, isn't that the same as deferring? Other team would then get the ball first, right?

Yeah, but then the opposing team would get the ball @ the start of both halves.

I have never heard of this.

Becaue it never happens, but under the situation painted that is what would happen. If Texans wins the toss in the first half and take the wind, the the Lions would get the ball. Then in the 2nd half, the Lions have the choice to take the wind or the ball and in 99% of the time would take the ball. So the Lions would get the ball in both halves.

Can anyone else verify this or provide a link to the rule? I can't find it and having trouble being convinced... I've never heard that teams make a choice in the second half about which direction they want to go...

If you go to a live game, just before the start of the 2nd half, the teams send out 1 player as captain (not the production that it is before the game) . The captian of the team that did not win the coin toss informs the referee that his team wants the ball (99. 5%) of the time. The second team then chooses the direction.edit: here is a link to nfl.com

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/cointoss

 

[strong]

It is not a choice in the NFL. You get ball or direction. You make the choice.

So if you win the toss and take the direction, isn't that the same as deferring? Other team would then get the ball first, right?

Yeah, but then the opposing team would get the ball @ the start of both halves.

I have never heard of this.

Becaue it never happens, but under the situation painted that is what would happen. If Texans wins the toss in the first half and take the wind, the the Lions would get the ball. Then in the 2nd half, the Lions have the choice to take the wind or the ball and in 99% of the time would take the ball. So the Lions would get the ball in both halves.

Can anyone else verify this or provide a link to the rule? I can't find it and having trouble being convinced... I've never heard that teams make a choice in the second half about which direction they want to go...

If you go to a live game, just before the start of the 2nd half, the teams send out 1 player as captain (not the production that it is before the game) . The captian of the team that did not win the coin toss informs the referee that his team wants the ball (99. 5%) of the time. The second team then choices the direction.edit: here is a link to nfl.com

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/cointoss

Oh cool. Thanks.

 

[thesurfshop19]

The only time I remember this happening was in 2002 in a game between Tennessee ant the Giants.

Link to Dr. Z's commentary: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_ga...04/drz_insider/

The Giants won the opening toss and took the wind in the 1st quarter. The Titans then had the option to receive but elected to kick off to have the wind in the 4th quarter.

Madden doesn't know the rules, that's why it's never been right in there. (It's also possible that they know the coin toss rules, but if they put in the correct rules people who don't know the rules would claim that the game is unrealistic, etc ....)

 

[TC]

The only options for the coin toss winner is 1) receive, 2) kick, 3) goal to defend. The team gets one of the three.

 

[GregR_2]

Rule 4, Section 2 (Starting each period), Article 1

Not more than 3 minutes before the kickoff, the Referee, in the presence of both team's captains (limit of 6 per team, all of whom must be uniformed members of the active list) shall toss a coin at the center of the field. The toss shall be called by the captain of the visting team or by the captain designated by the Referee if there is no home team. The winner of the toss must choose one of two privileges and the loser is given the other. The two privileges are:

(a) Which team is to receive; or

(b) the goal his team will defend.

Penalty for failure to comply: loss of coin toss option, both halves, including overtime, and loss of 15 yards from spot of kickoff for first half only.

For the second half, the captain who lost the pregame toss is to have the first choice of the two privileges listed in (a) or (b) unless one of the teams lost its first and second half option under 4-1-5. Immediately prior to the start of the second half, the captains of both teams must inform the Referre of their respective choices.

 

[Emmitt Smith]

I forgot about that. I always want the ball the second half.

 

[pizzatyme]

I remember a game 2 years ago where the Jets Herm Edwards decided to kick off due to windy conditions. I can't remember who they were playing but the other team got the ball to start both halves.

This is just plain silly to me!

 

[NYRAGE]

I remember a game 2 years ago where the Jets Herm Edwards decided to kick off due to windy conditions. I can't remember who they were playing but the other team got the ball to start both halves.

This is just plain silly to me!

I don't remember the opponent either, but I can remember saying, "another genius move by our idiot coach".edited - found a link to a discussion of the play: Jets vs Buffalo 11/7/2004

http://www.footballcommentary.com/analysis2004week9.htm