Every team has a basic quick audible on special teams, the Bears being no exception. The call is entirely out of the coaches hands. The responsibility for counting the players on the field is the upman- in this case, Garrett Wolfe. If you watch the replay, you see that Wolfe gives a signal- he extends his arm out- as Mannelly is watching before the snap. I don't think that was intentional; the signal has to be something subtle, or else everyone on the other side would know. Mannelly saw the motion, interpreted it as the quick audible, and snapped.

Why is it the upman's responsibility? Everyone else is otherwise occupied. The gunners are focused on getting downfield and don't have the appropriate angle to count the men on the field. The blockers are preparing to do their jobs against their men. The long-snapper wouldn't be able to count the men on the field even if he wanted to, and he has more pressing concerns. The punter in theory could, but if you left it to the punter the upman would have no way of knowing it was an audible.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

So it WASNT Mannely's fault

His streak of no mistakes in his entire career is intact.

Well, it depends what you mean. Garrett Wolfe probably inadvertently gave the signal, but he also probably assumed that it was just understood you don't run the audible in that situation. They both goofed, to some degree.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

While it was clearly an audible, shouldn't it be coached to only be used in certain circumstances?

It was fourth and long.
The guy was running off the field which brings in what happened last night.

I know it should be a no-risk move but in reality there are things that could have gone wrong. One did.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

IB, did you see Mannelly point back at Wolfe through his legs?

Ok but what if Wolfe really gave the signal and Mannelly ignored it? I may be reaching here being the only member of the Mannelly ALS but if he sees the signal doesnt he pretty much HAVE to just run the audible?

Is it possible he thought..."Wolfe just gave the signal...so theyre must be a slam dunk better snap it quick"?

I'm sure it is. But the coaches don't run up to the team and say "don't do the audible" before every punt that meets that description. Mannelly should have understood that; that's why, even if Wolfe gave the signal, I think it's ultimately on him.



I'd have to watch a normal punt more closely to see if that's something Mannelly does before most punts, just to make sure everyone is set. But yes, I saw that.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

The real kicker about this stupid audible is that even if a penalty was called for too many men, it wouldn't have resulted in a 1st down anyway. There was absolutely no reason to call that at that point in the game.

_________________

Yes. It's a tough position. You need to be extra careful if your Wolfe not to do anything that can be misconstrued as the signal, and if your Mannelly, you need to let your override take over. If you snap to Mannelly, the worst that happens is the upman is slightly out of position on the block, which isn't the end of the world, and if he really as giving the signal, you'll get the penalty anyway.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

The point isn't to get the penalty; the point is to get a risk-free chance at the first down. Surprisingly, Collinsworth missed this last night (he's normally quite sharp). I wouldn't say there was no reason, but yes, obviously a bad decision process.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

The real kicker is that there weren't 12 men on the field. Unless there's no chance the guy won't be off the field in time, you can't make that play.

I felt like the announcers got too caught up in the last guy running off the field. I think that was complete coincidence, and I have a feeling that anything we hear to the contrary is going to be CYA.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

how is 4th and 11, going to 4th and 6 a risk free chance at a first down? the Bears would have punted anyway.
it was Pat Mann's fault, not Wolfe.

_________________
@audioidkid

If Wolfe ran 12 yards it would have been a first down.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Because if you don't get the first down on the fake you can still punt. Assuming there's a penalty, which there obviously wasn't.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

ah...gotcha.

btw: Pat Mann admitted it was his fault after the game last night. Just heard the tape.

_________________
@audioidkid

He's saying you get a free shot. If you make the first down, you decline the penalty and bring the offense back on the field. If you don't make the first down, you accept the penalty and punt away.

I understand the philosophy of doing it, but I disagree that it was a good idea.

_________________

i didn't read-in to your (posters) "ifs" of the play.

_________________
@audioidkid

My question is, if Pat was the one who saw the 12th man, why the fuck didn't he see the 12th man run off the field?


I think the play is a very good one if you know for a fact the 12th man is on the field. But that's a HUGE if.

Shouldering the blame...like all the great ones do.

Oh, I never said it was a good idea, at least there. In that situation I'm taking no risks whatsoever. But the coaches don't run up to players before every critical play and go "don't do the audible!"

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

There was one player who was really trying to get off the field, but there was a second player who broke to that same side of the field, then a few ticks later, ran back into position. Maybe Mannley saw that second guy break to the sideline and thought he was an extra guy. Then, with all of the looking and pointing backwards through his legs, he never saw that second player run back into position.

(the old second-player theory...)

_________________