Diaco's playcalling & clock management

[Matrim55]

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but the sequence starting at about 2:30 left -- when the defense got the stop and Diaco allowed UVa to take 45 seconds off the clock via delay of game -- was astounding.

1) we finally got a stop around midfield with 2:30 left on the clock. we have all 3 timeouts
2) we do not use any of the timeouts. they run the clock down to 1:40, take a delay of game.
3) they do this b/c they have an awesome punter who'll pin us no matter what, even with the 5 extra yards
4) they pin us at the 13
5) first down: incomplete pass
6) second down: sack

Bear in mind, we allowed them to run 45 seconds off the clock prior to the punt, basically saying "*** it we value the timeout more than the time."

Which is completely *****ng incorrect.

Ok, so we're at 3rd down. Pretty clear we're not going to move the sticks, but if we do it has to be up the middle so that we don't give UVa time to run their 2-minute drill on us. If we don't get the first down we have to keep the clock moving and, force them to use a timeout

KEEP THE CLOCK MOVING

7) we a sideline pattern short of first down yardage, pushed out of bounds, clock stopped and we save UVa a timeout with 1 minute remaining
8) the defense bails Dumb***k Diaco out
9) UVa punt, again we're pinned deep.
10) there are like 20 seconds left, and UVa are out of timeouts. We are not in any position to think about putting together a 90 yard drive
11) Instead of calling for the QB to take a knee, Diaco calls an actual play. Shirreffs gets smoked (again), and nearly fumbles

Even if we win this game -- and we might, because UVa is trash -- I have zero confidence in this team's ability to do anything against quality competition. I think the talent gap is smaller than in previous years, but the coaching gap is a CHASM against anybody who's played more than one or two games of Madden.

 

[JMick]

You know how they say the adjustment in speed is huge for players from HS-College-NFL? I think the pace of a college football game is just too much for Diaco to deal with.

 

[zls44]

You know how they say the adjustment in speed is huge for players from HS-College-NFL? I think the pace of a college football game is just too much for Diaco to deal with.

When he was on the field screaming about a call that was correctly enforced and nearly cost them a delay, the hold inside the five, it occurred to me that he literally doesn't know some of the rules.


That's...a problem.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I'm not reading this thread.

Everyone knows it sucks. Strike that. Abysmal.

 

[SubbaBub]

Nothing wrong with letting the clock go there as you have 3 timeouts. 2 minutes and 3 timeouts is an eternity in college football. Saving them was the right call there.

 

[Sky ball]

I bet if he ran 3 up the middle there would be a clamoring of why not pass and try to get a score.

 

[SubbaBub]

The play calling was very, very uninspiring. Shirreffs did not have a good game. Pulled the ball down way too early. He is locking into one receiver or side and if he isn't open he tucks and runs (or just gets hammered)

I don't know if this is his instruction, but it looks ugly.

That short curl to Thomas worked a bunch of times a's did the back shoulder to Malaya. That one dree more flags than completed passes but still.

Didn't mind the int in the endzone. At least we took a shot. Could have let it go earlier but rather that than eating it. I know we were in FG range.

If BD shows some confidence in his team and gives them stuff they can handle. I'll live with the outcome. I just dont want them to keep swinging between stupid and scared.

 

[sportsart]

Nothing wrong with letting the clock go there as you have 3 timeouts. 2 minutes and 3 timeouts is an eternity in college football. Saving them was the right call there.

The problem is he saved the time outs and the clock ran to like 1:35. Burn 1 time out and you have eternity. Instead we had purgatory.

No wait, purgatory is what we long time fans are in right now. All you sinners, knock it off so we can move towards the light.

 

[Padutch5]

The play calling was very, very uninspiring. Shirreffs did not have a good game. Pulled the ball down way too early. He is locking into one receiver or side and if he isn't open he tucks and runs (or just gets hammered)

I don't know if this is his instruction, but it looks ugly.

That short curl to Thomas worked a bunch of times a's did the back shoulder to Malaya. That one dree more flags than completed passes but still.

Didn't mind the int in the endzone. At least we took a shot. Could have let it go earlier but rather that than eating it. I know we were in FG range.

If BD shows some confidence in his team and gives them stuff they can handle. I'll live with the outcome. I just dont want them to keep swinging between stupid and scared.

I agree re Shirreffs not having a good game. He had happy feet . Not sure if it is that the offensive line is so porus he has no confidence in it or that he can't see more than his initial read. In any event, I see no way he goes through the season without significant injury. He does have a good arm when he actually throws it.