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FSU Hail Mary and our handling of the Hail Mary in general

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itsacanething

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1) I know I am not objective but the amount of national media who seem to have seen something that did not exist on camera is shocking to me. listening to Andrea Adelson saying that it looked like Duece caught the ball and Rick N. saying clearly it looked like that frankly blows me away. I watched the video 20 times and I see more of an interception than I do anything else.

2) there have now been four Hail Mary plays against us in the last three years that I count (if I am wrong feel free to add). Va tech 2024, Ole Miss 2025 and 2 FSU 2026. Why do we have so much trouble defending these? Should we be doing something different like maybe batting the ball down? it is starting to get on my nerves.
 
itsacanething said:
1) I know I am not objective but the amount of national media who seem to have seen something that did not exist on camera is shocking to me. listening to Andrea Adelson saying that it looked like Duece caught the ball and Rick N. saying clearly it looked like that frankly blows me away. I watched the video 20 times and I see more of an interception than I do anything else.

2) there have now been four Hail Mary plays against us in the last three years that I count (if I am wrong feel free to add). Va tech 2024, Ole Miss 2025 and 2 FSU 2026. Why do we have so much trouble defending these? Should we be doing something different? it is starting to get on my nerves.
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Because we try to high point and catch the ball instead of knock it down.

There is not a reason in the world that Briggs and/or Parris shouldn't have been out there standing in the endzone.

Dress Shelton Henderson, Cyril, Robert Miller, or even the Birden kid from the basketball team just for this one scenario lol would be a great asset to have available in the playoff.
 
The media is funny. Some say UGA is better after losing because Miami did not blowout FSU. It's the same story over and over but it is what it is. Miami must beat ACC teams by 50.

Attention to details. It's the little things that have and will lead to losses.
 
This is how it is done.

I was the first to say we need to use Aussies for punters. I will be first to say that this is how to defend a hail mary.

You use your fist to punch the ball at the high point. If a receiver is about to catch the ball in his hands, you punch the ball.
 

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kendallcanes said:
This is how it is done.

I was the first to say we need to use Aussies for punters. I will be first to say that this is how to defend a hail mary.

You use your fist to punch the ball at the high point. If a receiver is about to catch the ball in his hands, you punch the ball.
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my concern with that is that you're bouncing it back up....potentially leaving it up for grabs by another receiver that is away from the pile waiting for any deflection of the ball
 
We struggle with situational football. It is very clear we have not spent a lot of time on this end-of-game scenario. It needs to be drilled into players heads that they're the defender, not the receiver. Knock the ball down into the dirt. The second issue, and probably the bigger one, is we allow the receivers to be exactly where we don't want them.
 
itsacanething said:
1) I know I am not objective but the amount of national media who seem to have seen something that did not exist on camera is shocking to me. listening to Andrea Adelson saying that it looked like Duece caught the ball and Rick N. saying clearly it looked like that frankly blows me away. I watched the video 20 times and I see more of an interception than I do anything else.

2) there have now been four Hail Mary plays against us in the last three years that I count (if I am wrong feel free to add). Va tech 2024, Ole Miss 2025 and 2 FSU 2026. Why do we have so much trouble defending these? Should we be doing something different like maybe batting the ball down? it is starting to get on my nerves.
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Don't forget GT.
 
the storm said:
Good Lord. Some people need to give it a rest. Fitz intercepted the ball, GET OVER IT. I see Free Shoes Norvell was still moaning and groaning about the refs in his press conf. yesterday.
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That’s what Norvell does. He’s a professional victim. It’s always someone else’s fault. Now we’re going to have to hear them all whine about “The Call” and in addition to “The Snub.” The team and fan base will just fall in line and they will continue to suck because they have no money and no accountability. Dude you haven’t won a road ACC game in 3 years!
 
JayCane20 said:
Because we try to high point and catch the ball instead of knock it down.

There is not a reason in the world that Briggs and/or Parris shouldn't have been out there standing in the endzone.

Dress Shelton Henderson, Cyril, Robert Miller, or even the Birden kid from the basketball team just for this one scenario lol would be a great asset to have available in the playoff.
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One thing I was thinking about last night. Having played sports all my life, I wonder if it's easier to go up and try to catch the ball instead of knocking it down. Knocking it down/swatting it away requires timing of hitting the ball just right. You might miss the swipe, you may miss part of the ball and allow it to pop up in the air, etc. Catching it, otoh, is more instinctual and might be "easier" for one to do. JMO.
 
AUcane said:
One thing I was thinking about last night. Having played sports all my life, I wonder if it's easier to go up and try to catch the ball instead of knocking it down. Knocking it down/swatting it away requires timing of hitting the ball just right. You might miss the swipe, you may miss part of the ball and allow it to pop up in the air, etc. Catching it, otoh, is more instinctual and might be "easier" for one to do. JMO.
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This. People don't realize how hard it is to time batting a ball down when its coming at you at that speed / angle. I think it's easier to jump up and try to catch it with two hands / arms extended.
 
AUcane said:
One thing I was thinking about last night. Having played sports all my life, I wonder if it's easier to go up and try to catch the ball instead of knocking it down. Knocking it down/swatting it away requires timing of hitting the ball just right. You might miss the swipe, you may miss part of the ball and allow it to pop up in the air, etc. Catching it, otoh, is more instinctual and might be "easier" for one to do. JMO.
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I'm no expert on this but I would think the best move is to secure/catch the ball and then spike it downwards.
Punching the ball as another poster suggested potentially puts the ball up in the air, keeping it in play.
Likewise, attempting to catch it leaves you open to dispossession on your way down, especially if you're
twisting and turning (reference the call this year during PittvsVT game).
 
AUcane said:
One thing I was thinking about last night. Having played sports all my life, I wonder if it's easier to go up and try to catch the ball instead of knocking it down. Knocking it down/swatting it away requires timing of hitting the ball just right. You might miss the swipe, you may miss part of the ball and allow it to pop up in the air, etc. Catching it, otoh, is more instinctual and might be "easier" for one to do. JMO.
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You do run the risk of batting it to someone that's in the area. I think we did that a few years ago... swatted it right to someone that walked it right into the endzone. Can't think of who that was against. I'd rather take that chance than risk getting high pointed. We've been way too close with FSU and VT and both receivers were 6'6.
 
I am surprised, with expanded rosters, that each top team does not have one volleyball striker or a hoop shotblocker on the roster simply to knock that ball down in this situation. Everyone would want that spot and it could be a recruiting tool to land someone who wants to be a two sport player. Teams have recruit basketball players to play TE all the time. Why not a special S?
 
simplycanes said:
We struggle with situational football. It is very clear we have not spent a lot of time on this end-of-game scenario. It needs to be drilled into players heads that they're the defender, not the receiver. Knock the ball down into the dirt. The second issue, and probably the bigger one, is we allow the receivers to be exactly where we don't want them.
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Heatherman said they work on end of game twice a week, including Hail Marys.

The last play he said they specifically prepared for because FSU ran it against Bama at the end of the 1H. But defending it was a little different because FSU could still throw shorter for a 1st down so we had to defend that as well. He didn’t have a timeout to go over it. But he said Bryce is supposed to bat that ball down and not try to catch it.

Especially with the depleted secondary, seems like they should consider adjusting personnel in Hail Mary situations. Day in particular seemed pretty limited.
 
itsacanething said:
1) I know I am not objective but the amount of national media who seem to have seen something that did not exist on camera is shocking to me. listening to Andrea Adelson saying that it looked like Duece caught the ball and Rick N. saying clearly it looked like that frankly blows me away. I watched the video 20 times and I see more of an interception than I do anything else.

2) there have now been four Hail Mary plays against us in the last three years that I count (if I am wrong feel free to add). Va tech 2024, Ole Miss 2025 and 2 FSU 2026. Why do we have so much trouble defending these? Should we be doing something different like maybe batting the ball down? it is starting to get on my nerves.
Click to expand...
itsacanething said:
1) I know I am not objective but the amount of national media who seem to have seen something that did not exist on camera is shocking to me. listening to Andrea Adelson saying that it looked like Duece caught the ball and Rick N. saying clearly it looked like that frankly blows me away. I watched the video 20 times and I see more of an interception than I do anything else.

2) there have now been four Hail Mary plays against us in the last three years that I count (if I am wrong feel free to add). Va tech 2024, Ole Miss 2025 and 2 FSU 2026. Why do we have so much trouble defending these? Should we be doing something different like maybe batting the ball down? it is starting to get on my nerves.
Click to expand...
With Robinson's height it would be really hard to knock the ball down. He did touch the ball. Most of time I agree knock it down. But you have to be in a position to knock it down.
 
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