About the Author

I am studying journalism at Lyndon State College, a small school in northern Vermont. I love sports and enjoy writing. I hope to some day be a sports writer for a decent newspaper or work for ESPN. http://www.sammonroe.net

More By Smmonroe2

Eastern Conference All-Stars

6 votes, 7 comments

Belichick helpers

10 votes, 9 comments

Around the NHL 12/1-12/7

5 votes, 0 comments

View All

Other recent contributors

Make this page better by editing it.

Other recent voters

If you like the article, vote for it.

Trust

by Smmonroe2

created January 22, 2008, last edited February 10, 2009

Vote

As I watched the end of the Packers/ Giants game on Sunday a few thought bounced into my head. They were: he sucks (Lawrence Tynes), why Tom Coughlin, and trust. I watched as Lawrence Tynes jog off the field after missing a 43 yarder that would have put the Giants up by three with just under seven minutes left to play and I saw Coughlin chew him out. What he was saying, I had no idea. Probably something along the lines of what the **** are you doing? I watched Tynes turn his head and walk the other way, trying desperately to ignore his head coach. Then with no time on the clock the Giants had the ball at the Green Bay 20 and they ran a run up the middle. I was expecting a pass to the end zone. Then Tynes jogged back out. And he missed again, this time from 36. Wow, is he that bad? I asked my friends.

As overtime came and the Giants picked off Brett Favre and drove into field goal range, Tynes came out again. This kick would be 47 yards. Tom Coughlin what are you doing? Try to drive down on 4 and 5, your in Green Bay territory and your kicker is ice cold, go for it! Well this is why I am not an NFL head coach. Tynes came out once again, I was waiting for Green Bay to call a timeout and make Tynes think about the two previous misses. They did not and Tynes kicked it through and the Giants won! On they’re way to the Super Bowl to play the New England Patriots. A rematch form week 17.

I was really surprised with how much trust Coughlin had on in his place kicker and it paid off. I know several coaches have done this before but I was surprised that Coughlin would do something like this, because he is not a coach that I think highly of and I don’t think he is a great coach but his desicion paid off and he deserves a lot of credit.

Enable Comment Auto-Refresher

Anonymous Fanatic #1

679 days ago

Score 0

It is going to be a great super bowl.

Permalink | Reply

Anonymous Fanatic #1

679 days ago

Score 0

It should be the Packers playing the Patriots though. Brett Favre did not play as well as he could have. Time to retire Brett.

Permalink | Reply

Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

679 days ago

Score 1

Dear Diary.....

Permalink | Reply

MmyersWaterboy

679 days ago

Score 1

I know these guys are pros and they are paid to hit those field goals but in conditions like that I think you are much better off kicking from the opposite hashmark.

In normal weather I'd say it should be about even, but when it is cold and you are tyring to boot of fifty yarder, you really have to hit that sucker damn hard.

With a soccer style kicker, the left hash is the natural spot for a kick like that. Because if the kick turns it is much more likely to turn to the left.

So from the right hash, the kick wants to turn across the face of the goal posts while from the left hash it want to turn into the the face.

Again, under normal conditions a kicker should be able to deal with this from that distance. But when it is cold and he has to really hit that thing with all his might it's much like overswinging a golf club: accuracy is a crap-shoot.

Just my two cents.

Permalink | Reply

GeodanVarsity

679 days ago

Score 0

Kudos to Tynes. He made the kick when it mattered most. He didn't loose his confidence after two tough misses.

A couple thoughts, however:

1) Favre's interception in OT was bad. It seemed as though he reverted to what he was doing the last few years. Just winging it. He's played better than that this year and should not have been outplayed at his position. Maybe the cold finally got to him.

2) A strong team needs to back up their quarterback when he makes a mistake. The defense needed to stop the Giants cold. Or even knock them backwards.

And,

3) If I was coach of the Packers, I would use the timeout to "ice " the kicker. The weather is perfect for this tactic. You have three timeouts in OT and they are no good to you if you don't use them. A brain cramp by coach McCarthy.

Permalink | Reply