“With our defense, as our defense has improved over the last 15 games, so has our ability to go for it on fourth,” Coach Al Golden said. “If it takes four downs, it takes four downs. They’re both money downs to us.”
I know I opened this thread yet this thing is perplexing at me. I've heard the term 'Money Down', but only from a Defensive perspective. This is as in 'money down' amount of 3rd down conversion rate plays it takes for a defense to get off the field. This is also most commonly used for a 3rd down conversion. But with UM's Al Golden, he uses this terminology not for his Defense, but for his offense. Moreover, he utilizes the term to virtually equate a 4th down to a 3rd down conversion. I don't think I have ever heard of this usage before, for both Offensive purposes and for 4th down (when combined with a 3rd down) conversion rate.
It can be granted objectively that Al Golden is selling 4th down plays as a means to make his 3rd down conversion rate and play calling seem NOT as pathetic as they are.
However, did our Al Golden invent, for 4th down plays with an offense, this spin or usage of 'Money Downs' ?