That is one of the things that would drive me to distraction if I was a coach.
If you have a chance to down it at the 1 yard line or the 6 inch line and the latter causes you to risk it going into the end zone, make the certain play at the 1 yard line, for Pete's sake.
This is similar to a running back in a crowd of tacklers struggling mightily for an additional six inches of yardage only to have the ball punched out and the fumble lost. The obvious exception is if it is 4th and five and you have gained four yards and 30 inches, go ahead and struggle for the six inches, but in the 2nd quarter of a still-close game, especially if the other team has not been able to mount a drive, and the down is 2nd and five, it is much better to get what you can, cover the ball with both arms and above all, do not fumble.
