How does all the blame fall on the coaches?

[EdgewoodNHV]

Your players have to be prepared to execute properly. The good field generals put their players in position to compete at an elite level by giving them ample opportunity.

And what, exactly, do you think our field generals did wrong which led out field goal kicker to miss 4 field goals? Or force Dwayne Gratz to fall down and give up a huge play with less than a minute left in the game? Or Chandler Whitmer to fumble another ball?

At some point, the kids have to actually make the plays.

 

[ZooCougar]

And what, exactly, do you think our field generals did wrong which led out field goal kicker to miss 4 field goals? Or force Dwayne Gratz to fall down and give up a huge play with less than a minute left in the game? Or Chandler Whitmer to fumble another ball?

At some point, the kids have to actually make the plays.

1. Try a different kicker. Go for it on fourth instead of wasting the down on a likely missed kick.

2. If your offense old actually stay on the field, maybe Gratz doesn't fall.

3. Don't demote the successful Oline coach so that the QB has no protection.

 

[Husky25]

They do directly impact the game. And I'm certainly not defending this staff's ability to do so. But you can have the best plan in the world, and if players don't make plays you're not going to win.

Pardon me, but I think that is the point. Parts of this past game notwithstanding, my non-expert opinion continues to be that the coaches are not putting their players in the best position to succeed (i.e. they don't have remotely close to the best plan in the world...especially for this group of players).

 

[huskymedic]

1. Try a different kicker. Go for it on fourth instead of wasting the down on a likely missed kick.

2. If your offense old actually stay on the field, maybe Gratz doesn't fall. No - but then your receivers will let ball go through their hands, or slip on cuts, or run routes shorter than designed. Keep blaming all on the coaches if it makes you feel better.

3. Don't demote the successful Oline coach so that the QB has no protection.

 

[UconnFamily]

huskymedic if the receivers continue to run shorter routes than designed who should get in those kids faces to do it right the next time??

There's no excuses for the drop ball's though!

 

[ZooCougar]

The defense always gets tired more quickly than the guys they at defending. Not having the initiative has a wy of doing that.

I would rather have a receiver slip and fall, than cb in single coverage. No. Brainer.

 

[ZooCougar]

huskymedic if the receivers continue to run shorter routes than designed who should get in those kids faces to do it right the next time??

There's no excuses for the drop ball's though!

Good point. Maybe we run too many plays. The Air Raid probably uses half as many passing plays and gets twice the output. Probably with similar talent.

 

[jdb50]

Really? I'm an Edsall fan, but I would almost guaranty you that what Edsall thought at the time was "I think I have a better chance to win the game letting Hurd lead Todman through the hole and converting the 1st down here than I have letting Pitt start at their own 40 only needing a FG to win."

No more,, no less. Any coach -- even our current one -- is trying to win the game, not please fans or send a message to his players. If you're winning games, your players will assume you believe in them because everyone will believe in them.

You're right BL, Edsall admitted in the postgame that we hadn't stopped them and he felt we'd lose if they got the ball back. My point is that at that time, home, up 14-0 and with a 3-3 record we needed to not manage the game but attack and keep attacking.

 

[whaler11]

The tide is slowly turning on coach's going for it on fourth down. If more fans understood it was the right choice the tide would turn more quickly.

 

[J187Money]

They make decisions that directly impact the game on every down. The field is just one part of the battlefield.

So if a player says it is his fault it is still the coach's fault?

 

[J187Money]

The tide is slowly turning on coach's going for it on fourth down. If more fans understood it was the right choice the tide would turn more quickly.

I just rewatched the game. Emotionally (as I did when I was watching live) I wanted them to go for it but it isn't the right call IMO.

 

[whaler11]

I just rewatched the game. Emotionally (as I did when I was watching live) I wanted them to go for it but it isn't the right call IMO.

In the first quarter? It was obvious they should go for it. They had the chance to end the game before it started but they chose the safe way. They got exactly what they deserved.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

In the first quarter? It was obvious they should go for it. They had the chance to end the game before it started but they chose the safe way. They got exactly what they deserved.

I bet that if you polled people who cover or coach football for a living, you'd probably get a fairly even split as to go for it or punt. But if you say it's obvious....then I guess it's obvious. I don't see it as an obvious choice. I'll agree to disagree and be done with it.

 

[J187Money]

In the first quarter? It was obvious they should go for it. They had the chance to end the game before it started but they chose the safe way. They got exactly what they deserved.

I guess I feel this way because I don't have confidence in the team in short yardage, not as an absolute.

 

[whaler11]

I bet that if you polled people who cover or coach football for a living, you'd probably get a fairly even split as to go for it or punt. But if you say it's obvious....then I guess it's obvious. I don't see it as an obvious choice. I'll agree to disagree and be done with it.

Sure. That's my point. People are slowly realizing that going for it on fourth down is the right play there.

When you are outgaining someone 190-15, have a 14-0 lead and are at their 40 and have the chance to finish them why let off the hook with a punt.

That is the best thing about this season. The defense is supposed to be so great and the offense so bad but yet the coaches punt on the rare occasion they have an advantage and don't trust the defense to make a stop short of midfield.

It was not a coincidence they punted, quickly gave up score and never got started again. No coincidence at all.

But sure we can disagree. Play the damn game to win. At least make them beat you.

 

[whaler11]

Quick note on people who cover college football. If they are as dumb as baseball writers I'd do the opposite.