FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Double-pass is the play, which are not 2 forward passes....which is the critical point here. The first pass is not considered a forward pass which would typically be to a WR backing up behind the lateral line of the QB. His pass then would be downfield and considered THE forward pass. And yes, PI does come into play on this pass.

We thought the first pass was forward and not backward which is why we thought the PI was not in play. We should have been more clear. Understand the difference if the first pass is considered a lateral. Appreciate the post, however.

[Hawk196]

Tufts Special teams

I give props to Tufts in there win against Bowdoin. Very sloppy night in the rain. I do find it comical that HC Civetti constantly tries ways to cost his team points. In fourth quarter in an obvious 4th and long Punt situation he takes out the punter who was having a great night punting in the weather. He puts QB Berluti in shotgun. Bowdoin knew that he was not going for the first down instead Tufts tried to have him punt and Berluti succesfully executed a 1 yard Punt. It seems like every year HC Civetti finds some type of head scratching special teams blunder. Although did not cost Tufts points one has to wonder.

Berluti can't control the bounce of the ball. Good kick/play, but it bounced back to make it a one yard punt.....now the Bowdoin ST, every punt was nail biter

[lumbercat]

NM- what did I miss (I admit not reading all the rule book passages).
If the first pass was a forward pass, a subsequent second forward pass would be an illegal forward pass and the whole play would come back.

[Charlie]

Tufts Special teams

I give props to Tufts in there win against Bowdoin. Very sloppy night in the rain. I do find it comical that HC Civetti constantly tries ways to cost his team points. In fourth quarter in an obvious 4th and long Punt situation he takes out the punter who was having a great night punting in the weather. He puts QB Berluti in shotgun. Bowdoin knew that he was not going for the first down instead Tufts tried to have him punt and Berluti succesfully executed a 1 yard Punt. It seems like every year HC Civetti finds some type of head scratching special teams blunder. Although did not cost Tufts points one has to wonder.

Berluti can't control the bounce of the ball. Good kick/play, but it bounced back to make it a one yard punt.....now the Bowdoin ST, every punt was nail biter

How can you say good play when everyone in the stadium knew he was not going for it on a 4 th and long. The Tufts punter was fine all night long whey take this insane risk.

HC Civetti special teams blunders goes goes back to 2022 When he called a fake field goal Tufts was called for illegal motion then tried the same back to back play. This Coach always seems to have Special team blunders. First game of season against Trinity we all know that Trinity was favored. However how many times is long snapper going to launch it over Punters head. You cannot give a team like Trinity posessions deep in your own end. Do you not have a back up Long Snapper.

Just seems baffling that specal teams is a comedy show.

[Hawk196]

Tufts Special teams

I give props to Tufts in there win against Bowdoin. Very sloppy night in the rain. I do find it comical that HC Civetti constantly tries ways to cost his team points. In fourth quarter in an obvious 4th and long Punt situation he takes out the punter who was having a great night punting in the weather. He puts QB Berluti in shotgun. Bowdoin knew that he was not going for the first down instead Tufts tried to have him punt and Berluti succesfully executed a 1 yard Punt. It seems like every year HC Civetti finds some type of head scratching special teams blunder. Although did not cost Tufts points one has to wonder.

you know I was going to take out the good play comment but didn't..... What I was pointing out was that the kick was good, but the bounce is what made it a 1 yd punt.

If you're asking for the back up long snapper, why wouldn't you use Berluti. There's more moving parts with the punt team. If they have a back up long snapper....there's a reason he's the back up

Berluti can't control the bounce of the ball. Good kick/play, but it bounced back to make it a one yard punt.....now the Bowdoin ST, every punt was nail biter

How can you say good play when everyone in the stadium knew he was not going for it on a 4 th and long. The Tufts punter was fine all night long whey take this insane risk.

HC Civetti special teams blunders goes goes back to 2022 When he called a fake field goal Tufts was called for illegal motion then tried the same back to back play. This Coach always seems to have Special team blunders. First game of season against Trinity we all know that Trinity was favored. However how many times is long snapper going to launch it over Punters head. You cannot give a team like Trinity posessions deep in your own end. Do you not have a back up Long Snapper.

Just seems baffling that specal teams is a comedy show.

[NESCACFball24/7]

Tufts Special teams

I give props to Tufts in there win against Bowdoin. Very sloppy night in the rain. I do find it comical that HC Civetti constantly tries ways to cost his team points. In fourth quarter in an obvious 4th and long Punt situation he takes out the punter who was having a great night punting in the weather. He puts QB Berluti in shotgun. Bowdoin knew that he was not going for the first down instead Tufts tried to have him punt and Berluti succesfully executed a 1 yard Punt. It seems like every year HC Civetti finds some type of head scratching special teams blunder. Although did not cost Tufts points one has to wonder.

Berluti can't control the bounce of the ball. Good kick/play, but it bounced back to make it a one yard punt.....now the Bowdoin ST, every punt was nail biter

How can you say good play when everyone in the stadium knew he was not going for it on a 4 th and long. The Tufts punter was fine all night long whey take this insane risk.

HC Civetti special teams blunders goes goes back to 2022 When he called a fake field goal Tufts was called for illegal motion then tried the same back to back play. This Coach always seems to have Special team blunders. First game of season against Trinity we all know that Trinity was favored. However how many times is long snapper going to launch it over Punters head. You cannot give a team like Trinity posessions deep in your own end. Do you not have a back up Long Snapper.

Just seems baffling that specal teams is a comedy show.

Not that I agree with the call but the purpose of a qb punt is to keep the defensive unit on the field with no returner and and hopefully pin them with a favorable roll. Also berluti has punted for them a lot over the last couple of years if you go back and look at the stats so it's not like he is some random kid bsck there.

[Jonny Utah]

Tufts Special teams

I give props to Tufts in there win against Bowdoin. Very sloppy night in the rain. I do find it comical that HC Civetti constantly tries ways to cost his team points. In fourth quarter in an obvious 4th and long Punt situation he takes out the punter who was having a great night punting in the weather. He puts QB Berluti in shotgun. Bowdoin knew that he was not going for the first down instead Tufts tried to have him punt and Berluti succesfully executed a 1 yard Punt. It seems like every year HC Civetti finds some type of head scratching special teams blunder. Although did not cost Tufts points one has to wonder.

Berluti can't control the bounce of the ball. Good kick/play, but it bounced back to make it a one yard punt.....now the Bowdoin ST, every punt was nail biter

How can you say good play when everyone in the stadium knew he was not going for it on a 4 th and long. The Tufts punter was fine all night long whey take this insane risk.

HC Civetti special teams blunders goes goes back to 2022 When he called a fake field goal Tufts was called for illegal motion then tried the same back to back play. This Coach always seems to have Special team blunders. First game of season against Trinity we all know that Trinity was favored. However how many times is long snapper going to launch it over Punters head. You cannot give a team like Trinity posessions deep in your own end. Do you not have a back up Long Snapper.

Just seems baffling that specal teams is a comedy show.

The box score states it was 4th and 6 at the Bowdoin 32 yard line (with 5:20 left up 24-10).  I'm guessing most d3 teams go for it in this situation or attempt a FG.  Secondly it isn't 4th and long (over 10 yards would be "long") , and it isn't a punting situation anyway you look at it. 

Unless the box score had it wrong.

Let me edit this:  No team at any level should be punting the ball on 4th and 6 at the opponents 32 yard line with 5 minutes and change up 24-10.  A quick kick by the QB I have seen as defenses can't and won't put out returners in those situations and are worried about the starting offense and QB on the field only needing 6 yards to win the game. 

[BigKat]

Johnny I think you have it right. Berluti is a decent punter-just had a bad one there. Weather was awful from what I could tell too.

[NescacNewbie]

I haven't been on this board long, but I definitely sense a lot of excuses for the weather with posters. Just so I am not confused:
1. Both Teams play with the same wet balls.
2. Both Teams play on the same wet fields.
3. Coaches need to alter their strategy for the conditions at hand.
4. See 1-3 above.

[BigKat]

Absolutely right..... and just so you know Berluti is the qb, not the punter.

[Nescacman]

Last we are going to say about "Jumbopuntgage"...So, we were at the game on Saturday...weather was really bad...the situation was as follows: Tufts had the ball at the Bowdoin 32 headed into a pretty fierce wind, it was 4th and 6 with about 5:20 left in the 4th quarter with Tufts leading 24-10...Berlutti was in a shotgun and tried to do a "pooch" punt...ball went about 9 yards in the air (might have gone off the side of his foot) and then bounced back 8 yards for a net 1 yard punt....IOHO, we think HCOF Jay probably should have gone for it but at the of of the day, it didn't matter...

And for the record, Berlutti's stats as a punter since 2021 (not including the 1 yard punt on Saturday):

        Average Number  Yards  Long  TB  FC  I20   50+  Block
2021  37.36         11          411     60     1     1     4       2       0
2022  36.83         6            221     49     1     1     4       0       0

Total  37.18         17          632     60     2     2     8       2       0

Not too shabby! BTW, with these stats, he would be the 6th best punter in the NESCAC in 2023.

[Charlie]

Last we are going to say about "Jumbopuntgage"...So, we were at the game on Saturday...weather was really bad...the situation was as follows: Tufts had the ball at the Bowdoin 32 headed into a pretty fierce wind, it was 4th and 6 with about 5:20 left in the 4th quarter with Tufts leading 24-10...Berlutti was in a shotgun and tried to do a "pooch" punt...ball went about 9 yards in the air (might have gone off the side of his foot) and then bounced back 8 yards for a net 1 yard punt....IOHO, we think HCOF Jay probably should have gone for it but at the of of the day, it didn't matter...

And for the record, Berlutti's stats as a punter since 2021 (not including the 1 yard punt on Saturday):

        Average Number  Yards  Long  TB  FC  I20   50+  Block
2021  37.36         11          411     60     1     1     4       2       0
2022  36.83         6            221     49     1     1     4       0       0

Total  37.18         17          632     60     2     2     8       2       0

Not too shabby! BTW, with these stats, he would be the 6th best punter in the NESCAC in 2023.

I think you are missing the big premise here. You are opponents 32 if that is accurate with 6 yards to go. Why risk any type of mishap. Your team has a veteran QB if you dont want to risk a turnover and battling the clock would you not have been better letting your QB shot gun  , drop back and potentially run for first down even if he is short of first down you have eaten some clock or if about to be sacked throw the ball away. When the opponent is expecting a possible trick play at minimum you kill some clock. Seems a great deal more conservative then this foolish play. Anyways just trying to show propensity for this Coach and bizarre Special Teams. Even if he pooches the ball and if he kicks out of endzone what did you gain 12 yards ?

[Jonny Utah]

Last we are going to say about "Jumbopuntgage"...So, we were at the game on Saturday...weather was really bad...the situation was as follows: Tufts had the ball at the Bowdoin 32 headed into a pretty fierce wind, it was 4th and 6 with about 5:20 left in the 4th quarter with Tufts leading 24-10...Berlutti was in a shotgun and tried to do a "pooch" punt...ball went about 9 yards in the air (might have gone off the side of his foot) and then bounced back 8 yards for a net 1 yard punt....IOHO, we think HCOF Jay probably should have gone for it but at the of of the day, it didn't matter...

And for the record, Berlutti's stats as a punter since 2021 (not including the 1 yard punt on Saturday):

        Average Number  Yards  Long  TB  FC  I20   50+  Block
2021  37.36         11          411     60     1     1     4       2       0
2022  36.83         6            221     49     1     1     4       0       0

Total  37.18         17          632     60     2     2     8       2       0

Not too shabby! BTW, with these stats, he would be the 6th best punter in the NESCAC in 2023.

I think you are missing the big premise here. You are opponents 32 if that is accurate with 6 yards to go. Why risk any type of mishap. Your team has a veteran QB if you dont want to risk a turnover and battling the clock would you not have been better letting your QB shot gun  , drop back and potentially run for first down even if he is short of first down you have eaten some clock or if about to be sacked throw the ball away. When the opponent is expecting a possible trick play at minimum you kill some clock. Seems a great deal more conservative then this foolish play. Anyways just trying to show propensity for this Coach and bizarre Special Teams. Even if he pooches the ball and if he kicks out of endzone what did you gain 12 yards ?

No one would expect a trick play from a team up 14 points in opponents territory with 5 minutes left in the game.  A pooch kick by the qb is a great call in that situation.  A one yard punt is not ideal obviously, but punts with no returners on trim with wind can be clock killers as well.  Criticism of the execution is fine (I didn't see it). But the call is a great one.

[LochNescac]

Last we are going to say about "Jumbopuntgage"...So, we were at the game on Saturday...weather was really bad...the situation was as follows: Tufts had the ball at the Bowdoin 32 headed into a pretty fierce wind, it was 4th and 6 with about 5:20 left in the 4th quarter with Tufts leading 24-10...Berlutti was in a shotgun and tried to do a "pooch" punt...ball went about 9 yards in the air (might have gone off the side of his foot) and then bounced back 8 yards for a net 1 yard punt....IOHO, we think HCOF Jay probably should have gone for it but at the of of the day, it didn't matter...

And for the record, Berlutti's stats as a punter since 2021 (not including the 1 yard punt on Saturday):

        Average Number  Yards  Long  TB  FC  I20   50+  Block
2021  37.36         11          411     60     1     1     4       2       0
2022  36.83         6            221     49     1     1     4       0       0

Total  37.18         17          632     60     2     2     8       2       0

Not too shabby! BTW, with these stats, he would be the 6th best punter in the NESCAC in 2023.

I think you are missing the big premise here. You are opponents 32 if that is accurate with 6 yards to go. Why risk any type of mishap. Your team has a veteran QB if you dont want to risk a turnover and battling the clock would you not have been better letting your QB shot gun  , drop back and potentially run for first down even if he is short of first down you have eaten some clock or if about to be sacked throw the ball away. When the opponent is expecting a possible trick play at minimum you kill some clock. Seems a great deal more conservative then this foolish play. Anyways just trying to show propensity for this Coach and bizarre Special Teams. Even if he pooches the ball and if he kicks out of endzone what did you gain 12 yards ?

No one would expect a trick play from a team up 14 points in opponents territory with 5 minutes left in the game.  A pooch kick by the qb is a great call in that situation.  A one yard punt is not ideal obviously, but punts with no returners on trim with wind can be clock killers as well.  Criticism of the execution is fine (I didn't see it). But the call is a great one.

Johnny is spot on...call was fine.  Sounds like the results weren't .   If you review the play by play from the 4th quarter, the smartest thing for Tufts to do was give the Polars the ball...sack after sack after sack....

[lumbercat]

Ahh- thanks Nescacman.

Finally a factual account from a guy who was at the game that ties it all together and puts everything in perspective - NM may well have been enjoying a premium bourbon to two on a chilly night- but I trust his call. That was also my take watching the game on the net.
I thought weather conditions were as bad as it gets but it's never totally conclusive on an internet video feed but NM has now confirmed it.

I see what Civetti did and I don't think it was a bad call at all. On paper it's a bad call but not in that game, in those conditions.

Field position is everything in scenarios like that. You don't want to line up in punt formation under those conditions. A bad snap and blocked punt, which is extremely likely at the late stages of a game where there are no more dry footballs might have given  Bowdoin some glimmer of hope. Balls are all wet, heavy and slippery as hell. I guarantee every football in the equipment room was used that day.

So Tufts decides to just pooch it down to somewhere inside the 20........under those conditions that's a guaranteed "game over".
and, even though it failed it wasn't a critical error because neither team was putting together an 80 year drive in those conditions.

I don't doubt the Tufts staff has made some critical Special Teams mistakes in the past but this isn't one of them.