onside kick AI
 

after scoring to get within 24-19 with 1:11 left in a playoff game, my coach decides to kick it deep and watch the opponent run the clock out. he's a "fair" playcaller, if that matters...

Did you have all 3 TOs left?

Todd

yep, here's how it played out after the kickoff:

Possession to New Orleans.



1-10-NOS12 (00:56)   NOS 34 Williams ran off left guard for -1 yards. Tackled by WAS 53 Nguyen.

WAS called time out.



2-11-NOS11 (00:45)   NOS 34 Williams ran off left tackle for 3 yards. Tackled by WAS 54 Bulluck.

WAS called time out.



3-08-NOS14 (00:38)   NOS 34 Williams ran off left guard for 9 yards. Tackled by WAS 24 Bailey.

Key block delivered by NOS 38 Dillon.

WAS called time out.

--

1-10-NOS23 (00:29)   NOS 8 Blake ran and dropped to one knee for -1 yards. Tackled by WAS 58 Palumbo.



Game MVP: NOS 80 Harvey Strong

their first down made it moot. but even with a defensive stop, in "normal" circumstances, we'd get the ball back with <30 seconds and no TOs, needing to go 60+ yards for a TD.

even if we don't recover the onsides kick, the necessary defensive stop allows a long field goal at best, leaving us "only" 8 down with <30 seconds, etc.

[This message has been edited by ez (edited 12-03-2000).]

Here's the answer: the WAS coach was Norv Turner.

I've had similar results with my coach and onside kicks, but of the inverse variety.
One example was a divisional playoff game in which we were losing by 2 td's in the 4th qtr. We start moving the ball and stuffing their offense, turning the worm so to speak. We score a td with around 6 minutes left to get within 7. My coach (VG playcalling abilities I believe) calls an onside kick. They recover it, of course, and eat about 3 minutes off the clock and get a FG. We get the ball back, march down the field and get a TD with about 2 minutes left, and you guessed it; my coach kicks deep.
Guess what I'm trying to say, is that I see instances of AI coaches using the onside kick at questionable times in the game.