dan quinn

It’s been a debate that has picked up steam since the rule was changed last season, where the extra-point kick attempts were moved to the 15-yard line to encourage teams to go for two.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn doesn’t feel the needed to go for two still and doesn’t like the idea of doing it every single time, as he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

“How many things are they going to do from the 2-yard line? You score 50 touchdowns. What 50 two-point plays are you running from there?”

“Like most things, knowing when you have an advantage, take it. Those guys like Mike (Tomlin), Sean (Payton) and Mike McCarthy are three coaches that I really respect a lot. If they have a decision about it, I’ll respect that. It might not be ours at the time. But that doesn’t mean I don’t respect it.”

Quinn’s opinion here is not an unpopular one. The coaches he mentioned have definitely been known to be a bit more creative with their play-calling, as well as more willing to roll the dice on plays where they see fit.

But Quinn’s decision here appears to be more of him allowing the numbers to play themselves out before changing his strategy, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Different teams are going to have different degrees of success with going for two, for a number of reasons.

Some teams certainly have more reliable kickers than others, and even with the extra-point having been moved back, some teams still have trust in their kickers to knock through that extra point with the same confidence. For teams like the Steelers that have had kicking woes the past few years, you might be more inclined to trust in your offense that includes one of the best receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks in the game to get you two yards after getting six points.

Quinn also told the AJC that in certain situations, you have to ignore the numbers and go with your gut. That said, “going with your gut” in certain situations has do with the specific in-game situations and variables with that could include time, quarter, and momentum among other things. It’s not like he’s making his decision at random.

But Quinn isn’t any less of a coach for sticking to what he knows, as long as it works and the Falcons are getting wins. Just as the Steelers go with their gut in going for it, Quinn is going with his gut by not going for it, and that’s fine.

[AJC]

About Harry Lyles Jr.

Harry Lyles Jr. is an Atlanta-based writer, and a Georgia State University graduate.