Holding, #21 Kicking Team Penalty Enforced At the Spot of the Foul

[Guiness]

It was a great play. Everyone, the coverage unit, the cameraman and the crowd was fooled.

I do wonder if there was some mis-communication with the coverage unit though. When you watch the video Red posted, it never looks like they were headed to the left side of the field, where the punt was supposed to be going. It's hard to tell, because the video of that time is fleeting and they're all trying to get off blocks, but it looks to me like they're generally going straight down the middle of the field.

[channtheman]

I think they are converging on Hester as mentioned. They aren't going to ignore Hester because the ball is supposed to be going to the left. Imagine if they all go left and Hester fields the punt on the right and runs for a score untouched. This was really just an incredible play call and executed to perfection, other than 21 feeling like he had to hold for some reason.

[SkinBasket]

The only way this should work is if our punter is in on it, which I hope he wasn't, and kicks the ball where he shouldn't, which apparently wasn't the case. The ST coverage was undisciplined, unresponsive, and totally fucking retarded.

[pbmax]

McCarthy blamed poor awareness on the coverage unit as a culprit. So rather than Masthay simply yelling "LEFT LEFT!" over and over, it would seem they are supposed to track the ball or other return bodies somewhere along the line.

My question is this: Was Knox lined up on the sideline the whole time, like he was sneaking off the field or something? Or did he fade over there after the snap?

[Patler]

The thing this play does for them, even though they botched it with the hold, is put the seed of doubt in the mind of every player on coverage teams. No team can go as aggressively toward Hester again. This may open up the field for Hester in the future.

[Patler]

My question is this: Was Knox lined up on the sideline the whole time, like he was sneaking off the field or something? Or did he fade over there after the snap?

Knox sprinted down to that corner from his position up on the line against Bush. If you watch the original angle that was from behind Masthay, you can see him release and sprint down the sideline. You can also see the hold of Bush. It comes into the screen on the left just as Masthay gets the punt away. From the still shot sequence on JSO, it looks like #21 actually hooked the collar of Bush's shoulder pads from behind and pulled his shoulder backward. Bush's upper body twists backward even though his is past the blocker. It was probably pretty evident to the official.

[Bossman641]

McCarthy blamed poor awareness on the coverage unit as a culprit. So rather than Masthay simply yelling "LEFT LEFT!" over and over, it would seem they are supposed to track the ball or other return bodies somewhere along the line.

My question is this: Was Knox lined up on the sideline the whole time, like he was sneaking off the field or something? Or did he fade over there after the snap?

Knox was lined up with Graham over Bush. If you watch this replay you can see him sprinting down the sideline. He makes a pretty nice over the shoulder grab too. It looks like Masthay hit a real nice punt, it was right near the sideline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T5cYwx2WuE

[pbmax]

Best explanation so far:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/31738/31738

Bush:

"We all went with Hester," Bush said. "You have to kind of respect it because Hester is the dynamic returner that he is. Everybody went that way. I knew the ball was supposed to go a different way. But I couldn't find it."

[Fritz]

Shawn Slocum is the new Kurt Schottenheimer.

[TravisWilliams23]

Aikman said Hester called for a "fair catch" but I didn't see anywhere on the replay where he actually raised his hand to signal for such. I'm not 100% sure but I think if anyone signals for a fair catch the ball can't be returned. I know for sure the player signaling can NOT advance the punt.
I've read numerous complaints about the hold and how the ref's blew it, yada yada yada but #21 did grab Bush and a referee saw it and threw the flag. Sad part for the Bears is that Bush had no idea where the ball was going and was going for Hester too.
Bears "almost" pulled off one of the greatest trick plays of all time but it's now just a water cooler conversation piece.
Shame on the Packers ST and coaches. Even though it was brought back, it's a total embarrassment for them to have fallen for the gig.

[pbmax]

McCarthy PC:

Grant kidney bruise
Jones hamstring strain
Bulaga knee bruise (medical staff more concerned than Bulaga) its Newhouse for now
Marshall good solid game, some tech to correct
Bears tried something similar on earlier punt but Packers downed ball near endzone, some coverage issues but mainly great design and execution
Sherrod will get more reps and McCarthy is pleased with his development
Nickel D playing the run very well esp. Matthews, Walden and DTs
Peprah needs to keep feet, Burnett played well and he and Wynn won game balls

[red]

McCarthy blamed poor awareness on the coverage unit as a culprit. So rather than Masthay simply yelling "LEFT LEFT!" over and over, it would seem they are supposed to track the ball or other return bodies somewhere along the line.

My question is this: Was Knox lined up on the sideline the whole time, like he was sneaking off the field or something? Or did he fade over there after the snap?

knox was lined up on bush, he was one of the two guys that were suppose to harass the gunner. right before the snap he turned around and started sprinting down the side line. bush didn't pick up on this

knox said the bears knew where the punt was going to go based on where the packers were and what hash they were on.

so the bears knew where we were punting, but we didn't

[pbmax]

Grant is a runner who gets better with attempts and excels going North/South
McKenzie says they dodged a bullet with Bulaga
but won't know more until all scans are in

M3 not too happy about 15 pre snap penalties in last two regular season games in Soldier Field

[pbmax]

knox was lined up on bush, he was one of the two guys that were suppose to harass the gunner. right before the snap he turned around and started sprinting down the side line. bush didn't pick up on this

knox said the bears knew where the punt was going to go based on where the packers were and what hash they were on.

so the bears knew where we were punting, but we didn't

That works, only if you have Hester as your return man, I would imagine.

[Guiness]

McCarthy PC:
Burnett played well and he and Wynn won game balls

And what about Wynn??? Certainly developing better than most thought he would. We'd all be bitching a LOT more about the DL, Neale being out and Jenkins gone if this guy hadn't stepped up the way he has. I haven't paid enough attention - how is he holding up in the run game?