Rubes Posted January 9, 2005 Posted January 9, 2005 Two things I've seen a lot of recently really irk me. Coaches at this level should know better. Well, it doesn't irk me that much since these are coaches of other teams doing this, but you'd think this is pretty basic stuff. 1. Going for two before the 4th quarter. Come on now, how many times does this have to happen before coaches, even coaches of playoff teams for crying out loud, figure this one out? The Jets nearly blew it by going for two at the end of the third. If they just kicked the point, then OT would not have been necessary. 2. Positioning the ball for a final FG attempt. If you're going to run a play to get a couple of yards just to set up a final FG attempt, for God's sake why make the hashmarks even an issue? Run it so the guy gets tackled in the middle of the field and give the kicker the best chance possible. Sure kickers at this level should be making these kicks regardless of the ball's position, but it's the coaches ass if he misses. Marty really blew it by running to the right just before the OT FG attempt. Notice that Herm did the opposite and ran the ball to the middle of the field right before the winning kick. These guys get paid millions...
stuckincincy Posted January 9, 2005 Posted January 9, 2005 Two things I've seen a lot of recently really irk me. Coaches at this level should know better. Well, it doesn't irk me that much since these are coaches of other teams doing this, but you'd think this is pretty basic stuff.1. Going for two before the 4th quarter. Come on now, how many times does this have to happen before coaches, even coaches of playoff teams for crying out loud, figure this one out? The Jets nearly blew it by going for two at the end of the third. If they just kicked the point, then OT would not have been necessary. These guys get paid millions... 199242[/snapback] John Fox's failed attempt in last year's SB is a good example. That extra point could well have been the winner in regulation time.
KD in CA Posted January 9, 2005 Posted January 9, 2005 Both good points Rubes. I can't count the number of times I've seen games where failed 2 point tries later came back to bite the team in the ass. And on the hash marks, I don't know why they don't just run a QB sneak on the penultimate play to put the ball right in the middle. The SD kick would have been good if not spotted on the right hash.
stuckincincy Posted January 9, 2005 Posted January 9, 2005 Both good points Rubes. I can't count the number of times I've seen games where failed 2 point tries later came back to bite the team in the ass. And on the hash marks, I don't know why they don't just run a QB sneak on the penultimate play to put the ball right in the middle. The SD kick would have been good if not spotted on the right hash. 199264[/snapback] Yep. 200-page playbooks are spiffy, but it pays to remember what the Rockne's and the Lombardi's of football did.
MRW Posted January 9, 2005 Posted January 9, 2005 Why why why is clock management so horrible at the pro level? Guys like Parcells and Belichick stand out, quite honestly, not because they're geniuses about this stuff, but because they just make common sense decisions. Case in point yesterday, the Chargers driving for that tying touchdown, why didn't the Jets use their time outs and give themselves time to try for a win in regulation? I don't think you need to be a Mensa member to figure it out.
MRW Posted January 9, 2005 Posted January 9, 2005 Both good points Rubes. I can't count the number of times I've seen games where failed 2 point tries later came back to bite the team in the ass. 199264[/snapback] For a prominent recent example, how about last year's Super Bowl. Carolina went for 2 early in the 4th (not quite what was being talked about, but I don't think you should go for 2 until halfway through the 4th) and then had to try again. If they'd just kicked, they would have been up by 3 when the Patriots made their drive at the end of the game, and who knows what might have happened.
Recommended Posts