re: Why do coaches preach play to the whistle blows....(fumbled punt)

I'm guessing they were told to play safe/contain to avoid a big return. Didn't want to overrun the returner and give them better field position.

But it's a another "what if" moment in the game. What if that ball ricochets just a little harder off his arm and goes in to the endzone? We either recover it or tackle him for a safety. Would have made for an even crazier ending...