[Hank 91]

Remember the failed fourth down early in the second quarter when the game was still theoretically within reach? Watching it the first time, it was clear something strange had happened, but I watched it again several times last night while writing my recap, and a something occurred to me. I'm curious about whether or not anyone else had the same thought. I don't think they were ever supposed to snap that ball. I think they were trying to draw the Huskies offsides, but Burkett forgot and snapped it anyway. It would explain a lot of things -- the fact that no one else on the line moved, the fact that Chryst was so surprised, and the confused reactions by the guards and tackles after the play. Here's what I wrote:

Chryst lined up in a shotgun formation with McCaffrey alongside him, two receivers and a tight end to his right, and another receiver split to the left, but when the ball was snapped, he was sacked almost immediately. Watching live, the play just didn't look right. Chryst caught the ball in his stomach, not with his hands, as if he hadn't been expecting it, but he had clearly just asked for it, clapping his hands together as he had on each previous snap. It's possible that the crowd noise had sabotaged the entire play, but I've got a different theory. Lineman Joe Mathis was able to rush up the middle and pull Chryst down because he wasn't blocked. The only member of the offensive line who moved on the play was center Jesse Burkett. Both guards and both tackles remained in their stances until they noticed the defense rushing past them like water through a splintering dam, and Chryst was clearly surprised to find the ball in his gut. I don't think the ball was supposed to have been snapped. The only explanation for all this is that the plan must have been to draw the aggressive Husky defense offsides in order to pick up the first down, but Burkett simply forgot. (The other possibility is that the rest of the offensive line and the quarterback were confused, and Burkett was the only one thinking straight. This, however, seems unlikely.)

Does this make sense to anyone? By the way, I know it doesn't matter, but it was a really, really odd play.

[Hank 91]

Remember the failed fourth down early in the second quarter when the game was still theoretically within reach? Watching it the first time, it was clear something strange had happened, but I watched it again several times last night while writing my recap, and a something occurred to me. I'm curious about whether or not anyone else had the same thought. I don't think they were ever supposed to snap that ball. I think they were trying to draw the Huskies offsides, but Burkett forgot and snapped it anyway. It would explain a lot of things -- the fact that no one else on the line moved, the fact that Chryst was so surprised, and the confused reactions by the guards and tackles after the play. Here's what I wrote:

Chryst lined up in a shotgun formation with McCaffrey alongside him, two receivers and a tight end to his right, and another receiver split to the left, but when the ball was snapped, he was sacked almost immediately. Watching live, the play just didn't look right. Chryst caught the ball in his stomach, not with his hands, as if he hadn't been expecting it, but he had clearly just asked for it, clapping his hands together as he had on each previous snap. It's possible that the crowd noise had sabotaged the entire play, but I've got a different theory. Lineman Joe Mathis was able to rush up the middle and pull Chryst down because he wasn't blocked. The only member of the offensive line who moved on the play was center Jesse Burkett. Both guards and both tackles remained in their stances until they noticed the defense rushing past them like water through a splintering dam, and Chryst was clearly surprised to find the ball in his gut. I don't think the ball was supposed to have been snapped. The only explanation for all this is that the plan must have been to draw the aggressive Husky defense offsides in order to pick up the first down, but Burkett simply forgot. (The other possibility is that the rest of the offensive line and the quarterback were confused, and Burkett was the only one thinking straight. This, however, seems unlikely.)

Does this make sense to anyone? By the way, I know it doesn't matter, but it was a really, really odd play.

[stupac2]

Hank, I think it's simpler than that, we had repeatedly been clapping once to see what they did, calling an adjustment, then clapping again to actually hike it. They might have been trying to draw the Huskies offside, it would've been a little dumb not to try in that situation, but I think the goal was to actually run a play there and Burkett forgot the snap count.

Either way it's definitely on Burkett, the ball wasn't supposed to be snapped then, but given the situation I'd be really surprised if they didn't intend to snap it at all.

[stupac2]

Hank, I think it's simpler than that, we had repeatedly been clapping once to see what they did, calling an adjustment, then clapping again to actually hike it. They might have been trying to draw the Huskies offside, it would've been a little dumb not to try in that situation, but I think the goal was to actually run a play there and Burkett forgot the snap count.

Either way it's definitely on Burkett, the ball wasn't supposed to be snapped then, but given the situation I'd be really surprised if they didn't intend to snap it at all.

[thunder_chik]

I think the subject line is "vs. UW", not WSU.

[thunder_chik]

I think the subject line is "vs. UW", not WSU.

[Roberton3]

It was really clear that Burkett got the snap count wrong (or that he was the only one who got it right, and all the others got it wrong -- though that seems rather less likely  :P ).  But I don't see how any of us can know whether the intent was just to draw the Huskies off, to make them move and then call an adjustment (as stupac suggested), just to slow down the Husky rush by a split-second, or something else.

[Roberton3]

It was really clear that Burkett got the snap count wrong (or that he was the only one who got it right, and all the others got it wrong -- though that seems rather less likely  :P ).  But I don't see how any of us can know whether the intent was just to draw the Huskies off, to make them move and then call an adjustment (as stupac suggested), just to slow down the Husky rush by a split-second, or something else.