The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

So, the team has some momentum. It's 4th and 9. Instead of putting the ball in the hands of the QB we decide to run a slow developing, "telegraphed" single route fake punt. The design of that fake punt was something a high school coach would draw up. There's been some really stupid fake punts, but that one is #1.

At least Brees could have thrown a ball 11 feet in the air so that Jimmy or Marques could jump to grab it and then drop it for an incompletion.


Saints run worst fake punt ever in 38-17 loss to Cowboys

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Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

I'm beginning to think we threw that game. ha

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

The timing of the fake punt was horrible. We had momentum for the first time all game, were only down two touchdowns, there was like 7:30 left on the clock and the Cowgirls were choking.

It was a dumb idea that we even attempted it at all because if it fails, you give momentum and the ball to your opponent between your 35 and 40. If you succeed, maybe a first down. But the risks were insane because of the deflation factor - this team has had zero momentum most of the seasons and we just gave it away.

It was more proof this coaching staff is way out of touch with what is happening on-field.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Nailed it.

Coaching staff have not got our team ready for this year and they all need to be held accountable

Especially SP, he's too stubborn to admit he's wrong and his stubbornness is hurting our team.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Well, there you go. Hopefully they print that CBS article and hang it on every locker and coaches' door for the rest of the season.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Yeh, that was so ugly and everyone knew it was coming.
Definite wth moment, but totally on par with the whole night.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Did anyone ask payton about it in the post game? I would love to hear his response

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Coaching is bad. Play is bad. Effort is bad.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

They were ready for it, you could tell by the chatter on the sideline. Now, if we would have went for it on 4th down then ok, good call, likely lose if you punt so might as well. That's why this has to go down as Operation Self Wedgy.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Also, maybe it's just me, but Payton kinda sounded at the whole press conference like he really didn't care. Flat, even-toned, he didn't sound angry or upset in the least. It's like the whole team is just cruising on auto-pilot at this point.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

HA that was wonderful huh. Have we come down to faking punts because Payton has no confidence in his offensive?

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Come on we got the Best Tight end in the game. We have a Sproles clone now in Cooks, we have one of the best Qb's in the game. Dude we lost to Cleveland, almost Minnesota then the freaking Cowboys. ...... Please Who Dat.. Its just a rant I need more coffee

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

That play was drawn up in the sand and someone actually said, "This might work! Screw'em if they see it coming." Unreal how dumb that was considering the circumstances.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

this was worse than that end around in the Jets game last year

where is Payton's killer instinct

onside kick in Super Bowl is now
4 and 1 try to get them to jump and if not call a time out

I'd rather go down trying with our RB tandem and receivers than try to get an offsides or pull a stupid stunt like that fake punt

I didn't see anyone out there with a sense of urgency/will to win

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

It reminds me of a play our fullback of all people drew up in high school. Center hikes ball between legs of QB to half back. Half back runs up the gut, turns, and pitches the ball back to the QB. Flea Flicker? Heck no, we're only half-way there.

QB then hands off ball to slot receiver who hands off to WR on a double-reverse. Total time for play development ~ 10 minutes. I'm the LT. We have to block the whole time.

Was the coach dumb enough to call it in a game? You betcha. How'd it turn out? Same as that dumb punt fake.

The problem with a quadruple misdirection play, aside from the German precision required to pull it off is that you actually fake out the D and then run right back into where they all were mis-directed to.

The funny thing is is that the coach was shown how bad of an idea this was in practice. He lined up at QB and on the snap our center did not snap it to the half back. The center hiked it to the QB (coach) who was unprepared for the snap and took the ball right to the nards, took 1 step back and kicked the center square in the butt.

Our season is looking like that play to me...

:dunce::bng:

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Last night I needed something a heck of a lot stronger than coffee.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

You hit it. After seeing that fake punt (can we really call it that?) last night coupled with the last defensive play of the game against Cleveland, our Special Teams and Defense just might be "coached" by your high school fullback. Only if he is still 17 years old, that is.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

What really worries me about this stupid fake punt, is the possibility that the historic "epic fail" nature of this ridiculously dumb fake punt stunt, could linger on and spiral out of control, and take on a life of its own. If that happens, then coaches and teams and writers around the league who once used to FEAR Sean Payton, the man who brought the world "Ambush," well that is now going to be reduced to a bad joke, a laughing stock, and no one is going to EVER fear Payton or the Saints again.

Look around you. It's open season on the Saints today. Nobody is afraid of them - anybody anywhere in the league can hang the Saints up on the line and beat them like a cheap Oriental carpet. Fake punt. With a man in motion! Pfffft.

Watch out, if this thing goes viral beyond "Come On, Man!" and ESPN, it could get ugly, very quick.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

It looked stupid. It was embarrassing.

Looking at the overhead replay, handing the ball off may have worked. It looked like he only had one man to beat for the 9 yards.

And I just don't understand why you don't just throw it up for grabs. Its 4th down, what do we have to lose?

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Head scratcher.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Loomis or Benson should ask Peyton if he actually thought Thomas Morstead was the best player on the Saints roster to pick up that 4th & 9.

If he answers Yes, then he should be fired on the spot.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Y'all do realize, it's actually Greg McMahon's job with the special teams plays and execution?

That piss poor play is pretty much his fault...

The question is why would Payton want to take the ball out of Drew's hands on 4th and nine...

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Don't you think firing Sean is a bit extreme?

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

One million points for that. Greg McMahon is the worst. There are laundry lists of blatant acts of incompetence on his watch.

That goon-headed, stab-myself-in-the-face play was telegraphed as soon as Cadet went in motion, and you have one receiver in the pattern with Morstead throwing him the ball. Cadet would have been the better option throwing or running, considering he was an option-style college QB. But why should we be the ones that have to point this kind of stuff out?!

That play should be set to the Benny Hill theme song or The 3 Stooges theme song. The F///-Up Fairy struck yet again on special teams, and Greg McMahon continually invites that tramp to hang around long enough to kill possibly one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. Thank you so much, Greg, you taterheaded moron.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Do you find being 1-3 instead of being 4-0 a bit extreme?

There is absolutely no reason, zip, zero, nada, for the Saints to not be, at the very least in first place in the division.

I don't give a fat rat's ass about run-pass balance. All I care about are wins!

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

It's funny that this article calls it the dumbest fake punt ever, because immediately after we did it I sent a text to my brother saying it was the dumbest thing I've ever seen. You could see it coming a thousand miles away. Cadet is running for what seems like 10 seconds toward the punter, and the whole time I'm thinking to myself "this better be a really weird punt, because if it's what it looks for all the world it's going to be, then this is the worst fake punt ever". What the hell sort of advantage could you possibly have from starting a guy in motion on a punt from that far away? Who wouldn't have seen what was coming? This team is a joke from top to bottom right now.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

What is the problem with simply going for it on 4th down? Jesus. Payton forgot how he coached 2006 - 2009. This defense forgot how to tackle from last year. Colston and Graham forgot how to catch the ball from forever.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Dude, you're not going to fool a single person into believing that wasn't Payton's design and call. Special teams coaches handle the normal ST related things. Any kind of trick play other than something generic like a reverse is going to have the offensive play caller, be it the head coach or the OC, running that play. And even if it were Mcmahon's play, Payton obviously approved of it. It was stupid, and there is no defense having let it happen.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Design of a special teams play comes from the special teams coordinator, Greg McMahon. You think that Payton designs plays for the special teams when he does all the offensive play designs and calls? What would be the point of having a special teams coordinator then?

Greg McMahon the Gigantic Idiot would have recommended that play to Payton for that situation, and Payton signed off on that idiocy to use in that situation. Both need the blame for that one...Greg the Moron for design plus recommended that stupidity & Sean Payton for approving it to use.

This play ranks up there with AB's backwards pass in Jacksonville, but that was on AB. He turned that play into pure idiocy...last night's idiocy was the incompetence of Greg the Moron and the lack of judgement by Sean Payton.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

This was one of the worst play calls for Payton but we need to remember who the Saints where before Payton came. There is not a coach alive I would trade him for and damn sure would be a death sentence for us to fire him. We will win our division and make the playoffs but it doesnt matter without home field advantage. We will lose in the first round.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

This was so obviously retarded to everyone I figured I needn't pile on. Then I remembered what I said right after the play. "Les Miles should've been coaching." Admittedly, the first time I ever said that when watching the Saints. We need Les to coach the Saints and implement his two TE I formation O with the Saints and LSU needs Payton to coach and open up LSUs O. Lets swap em this week and see what happens. Things couldn't get worse huh?

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

I'm awfully glad I believe the Pelicans have a roster that could vie for a title. Wait. I said that about the Tigers and Saints already this year.(I think this Every year for the Saints, most years for LSU.) Which one of these in yalls opinion has the best chance to win it all? I'm discouraged-yes. But still believe.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

It's an offensive play. I thought I was pretty clear in explaining my point. If you're going to run a play that is designed to pick up yards on a 4th down (far different from running back a punt or kick), then who is going to design that play? You have you're special teams guys in there, but that is a not a situation you leave up to your ST Coordinator to come up with. That's my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong, and maybe you're wrong.

But as I said, it doesn't really matter who came up with the idea, because the head coach obviously signed off on it. And we can all agree that it was mind blowingly stupid.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Fake punt was stupid, execution was stupid. Only people who thought it was a good idea was coaching staff. Zero element of surprise. Let's see, Brees trying to get 9 yds or Moorestead? Maybe Sean still has a little taste of the on side kick in his mouth, but let's see…..On side kick SB--No one on planet earth new it was coming and was executed to perfection, fake punt----everyone on planet earth new it was coming, and looked like a playground play. Ugly indeed.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

That was the most embarrassing thing I've seen from the Saints in years. We really looked stupid.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

People on the streets of New Orleans would have been able to hear the laughter of the Cowboys fans in Dallas when that play was attempted!!!

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

I'm just thankful that the Patriots loss is kind of grabbing away the sports headlines today. I'd hate to see that fake punt go viral and get played over and over as a ridiculous "Come on, man!" type moment.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

Agreed. This play should never see the light of day ever again. And we can agree to disagree on whether it's an offensive play-call or a special teams play-call. As a weather man and a married man, I don't get too wound up about being right or wrong. My rationale for it being a special teams play-call was simply this (and I can surely be wrong, but it is my opinion):

The play was with special teams personnel in a special teams formation against the opposing special teams personnel in a special teams situation.

Re: The dumbest fake punt in the history of dumb fake punts
 

time to get back to the drawing board.