RE: Game Day: @NIU
I think EMU has the players, and has the plays, but you are losing these close games because you didn't use the right plays at the right time. Coaches have to have the brass to be aggressive, even when it may seem safer to be cautious. Against NIU you guys had the lead late, and the ball, but down in your own territory, and the play calls were very conservative, running the ball and the clock, leading to a punt which went bad. Could have tried to get first downs by doing what you do best on offense, and taking advantage of all the NIU players in the box, but instead did what NIU was praying you would do, and predictably it ended in a 4th and long. Punter gets the blame, buy even if it was a good punt NIU would have had the ball in great field position with plenty of time, because that was your coaches strategy, right?
Thereafter, you have the ball with a tie score, and move it brilliantly until you get in field goal position, and instead of letting your excellent QB do what he does best, and what led you to that spot in the first place, your coach makes an affirmative and very deliberate choice to put the entire game in the hands of a kicker who everyone in the building, including your coaches, knew was far more likely than not to miss the uprights, as he has proved repeatedly that is what he does. Your chances of scoring a touchdown were far greater that your chances of making a FG, and if you didn't score the TD after a few attempts, then the FG attempt is still available.
Far too often football coaches follow a script created over the years just because that is the way others have done it, regardless of whether it is logical or not. Playing for a FG in that situation when you have time to work on a TD is stupid, regardless of the reasons some will site (all of which lack real merit).
CC is a good coach, but he needs to see the wizard of oz and ask for whatever he gave the cowardly lion. You guys win several of those close games if you play to win instead of not to lose. Your players are way better than that.[/u]
(This post was last modified: 10-29-2017 09:10 AM by brovol.)
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