McDermott this season is picking and choosing when to be aggressive and you shouldn't be deciding mid game it should be part of the game plan (see last night and week 1 against pit first half punting on 4th and short and then 2nd half going for on 4th and long)
If you plan to be aggressive it changes how daboll calls plays. Instead of calling plays for first downs in 3 plays or less he gets an extra down. So a 3rd and 7 at mid field a team that is playing conservative its a passing down. A team that plays aggressive every play in the playbook is open, because if you get 3-5 yards you go for it on 4th and 3 or less