The 'trick' play at the end was a great call by Gus:
Tricky, yes. Gutsy? How?Out coached on that one, for sure. Gutsy as hell.
Is it just wishful thinking on my part or is the foundation at Bama starting to show a few cracks? After the #1 recruiting class in ‘17, they have gone #7, #2, and currently sit at #4. Clearly they still have a boatload of talent, but they just don’t feel like the “Death Star” anymore.
Tricky, yes. Gutsy? How?
Assume they don't run the last guy on the field. You either take the delay of game deep in your own territory or use your last time out. Then you line up and punt with over a minute left and probably no time outs. You get caught in a bad look, you risk giving up the game winning TD.
No, they had the punter on the field, Bama just didn’t know what was going on. They would have shifted into punt formation and kicked it. Or Nix could have quick kicked it.
I don't think we have to assume Nix can quick kick. I believe he already did it in the game. The box score has him with 1 punt for 42 yardsThat's a big assumption. Let's assume Nix can quick kick -
How many reps do you think he's gotten doing that at practice? You're going have you QB quick kick backed up in your own territory if your ruse doesn't work, and you don't think that's gutsy? I bet your passengers love it when you barrel roll.
As for shifting into a punt formation. Special teams don't really work that way. With the game on the line you are not going to shift into a punt formation with guys (including the QB) who have not been practicing with the special teams all year. You are going to have your regular center long snap to the punter - and this is also not a gutsy move?
To be clear, I think this was a ruse and the fall back was burning your last timeout. Which I still think is a ballsy move. Either scenario above is nuts.