> Take the example from the video of a team on its own 5 yard line with 7 yards to go:
> If they go for it and don't make it, they leave the other team with the ball on the 5 yard line
Actually, if they go for it and don't make it, they either leave the other team with the ball somewhere between the goal line and just short of the 12, or they end up giving up a safety (which has both score and possession effects.)
Failing to convert on fourth down doesn't mean that you hand the ball over where you were before fourth down in the general case (only in the cases of an incomplete pass or zero-yard run, which aren't the only cases of failing to make a first down.)
> If they go for it and don't make it, they leave the other team with the ball on the 5 yard line
Actually, if they go for it and don't make it, they either leave the other team with the ball somewhere between the goal line and just short of the 12, or they end up giving up a safety (which has both score and possession effects.)
Failing to convert on fourth down doesn't mean that you hand the ball over where you were before fourth down in the general case (only in the cases of an incomplete pass or zero-yard run, which aren't the only cases of failing to make a first down.)