'Three things can happen when you pass...

[Gone To Texas]

...and two of 'em are bad."

Who said it--Darrell Royal or Woody Hayes? Discuss.

 

[accuratehorn]

DKR said it. Woody Hayes said, "Three things can happen if you pass, and three of them are bad."

 

[Orangeblood90]

Tell that to Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees

 

[jamesmaner]

Who said "Three things can happen when you pass, but nothing can happen if you throw the hitch to a wideout for two yards?"

 

[blonthang]

I'm pretty sure DKR said it, but he may have "borrowed" it from someone else (is that your point about Woody?).

I've assumed the logic is this:

When you pass, you either get -

1) completion (assumed for a gain)
2) incompletion (that is 0 yards and it's next down)
3) interception (other side gets possession).

But isn't it the same with rushing?:

1) run for yards (assume a gain)
2) stopped for no gain (or loss of yards; either with the down counter clicking)
3) fumble (and other team gets possession).

Sure, the odds of getting a completion more than about 50-60% of the time is good, meaning that 40-30% of the time you either incomplete it or have it intercepted, don't you usually get on average a better yards-gained-per-play passing than rushing?

It's a risk-benefit thing. If you're better at passing, and your opponent doesn't defend an airborne attack, do it, you'll make more yards and drop fewer passes.

If you're better at rushing, and your opponent's DLine and Backers are sieve-like, do that, you'll certainly have fewer dropped passes and interceptions.

 

[MarylandHorn]

I think there's ample evidence that both of them said it, but probably neither originated it. More likely this was former Texas A&M player and Tennessee head coach Robert Neyland, who was dead before Royal really made a name for himself.

Link

 

[drborange]

actually, 5 things can happen, offensive and defensive pass interference, or penalties that can happen on any play.

 

[yelladawgdem]

While true that three things can happen when you pass, alot has to do with the passer. With Colt I am more that willing to take my chances. With Todd Dodge, Brett Stafford.....not so much.

It's like the free throw shooter making the sign of the cross before he shoots the free throw. It only comes into play if the kid is a good free throw shooter.

 

[Bill in Sinton]

Also dbrorange you can also lose yardage with the Quarterback getting sacked.

 

[topwater]

"Three things can happen when you pass gas"
FIFY