Play calling and crisis management

CyFarmer · 10-03-2006, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

We aught to be able to out coach UNI enough to go into the 4th quarter with a comfortable lead.

Instead, we're in a tight game that relied on a missed kick to win. Why?

I did think the play calling last night was about as good as it's been this season. If you look at the plays, the ones that went sour were passing plays where Meyer had little/no protection. When we did run the ball, our two backs got over 4 yards a carry. I didn't really see any play calls that made me cringe. The team came out flat though, especially after the early turnover.

So maybe that's where the coaching staff needs to improve - crisis management. Each time this year we've had something bad happen, we've folded up shop for a while. Seriously think about it...each game when we had droughts on offense and poor play on defense...came after an adverse play.

We can't do that. Football is all about adversity. I've rarely watched a game when both teams did not face some sort of adversity. It's the teams that can rise up in the face of such adversity and overcome it - that are successful. So far we've overcome these things...however...we're needing last minute heroics to do it.

I'm not sure what the staff can do to fix this...but they must recognize it and do something to rectify it.

If there is anything this team has done well for the past two and half seasons it's not "fold up shop" when adversity hits. There is no greater adversity than giving up quick scores and snapping the ball over the punters head on the home field of the defending National Champions yet we didn't pack it in when it would have been VERY easy to do so. This team handles adversity better than any ISU team I've ever seen. Even the great 2000 team folded, big time, when real adversity hit. this team has supreme character and cohesion even if they lack in other areas.

Wesley · 10-03-2006, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by klerme

In my mind, the problem wasn't the decision whether we run or pass, it was the personnel that we had in the game for the play. We took out Blythe, Davis and Flynn, and ran a 3 TE package with Kock and Stevie. Therefore we were not putting any pressure to stretch out their defense. Since this was 4th and 2 (almost 3), not 4th and 1, not putting any pressure on the defense to consider pass is not a good decision. That is why, in that formation, I would have been much happier (make or miss) with a play action call with 2 TE's flooding right and either Kock or the 3rd TE doing a fake block action and then slipping out to the left. As jacked up as UNI's defense was, we either would have had an easy TD on a quick throw to a TE right if the defense bit on the fake hand-off, or Bret would have the option to throw back left - a play that works repeatedly at both the college and pro level. If the decision is to run, then leave Blythe and Flynn or Davis in the game and stretch out the defense to give the OL better targets to block. Then if they put 9 in the box, you call an automatic audible to Blythe on a fade or fade-stop route. This is not rocket science.

I do not care how many tightends you have in a game. If UNI has nine in the box, unless your back can fly over the pile, it will be stuffed. We do not have Adrian Peterson or Jon Cornish or Cody Glenn who can bounce to the outside with some stutter steps. Or at least I have not seen the stutter steps work yet in the last few years for our team. Let's not telegraph the play and then run the obvious.

Wesley · 10-03-2006, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by CyFarmer

If there is anything this team has done well for the past two and half seasons it's not "fold up shop" when adversity hits. There is no greater adversity than giving up quick scores and snapping the ball over the punters head on the home field of the defending National Champions yet we didn't pack it in when it would have been VERY easy to do so. This team handles adversity better than any ISU team I've ever seen. Even the great 2000 team folded, big time, when real adversity hit. this team has supreme character and cohesion even if they lack in other areas.

Flynn and Blythe will not let that happen.

Wesley · 10-03-2006, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Amusing.

If we throw the ball on that play and it falls incomplete or Meyer gets sacked...fans will gripe about not running it...citing the 4 yards per carry by Hicks and Scales.

Damned if you do...damned if ya don't.

I don't care if we run the ball or throw it there...our players aught to be able to execute and convert against a UNI on 4th and 2. It's that simple.

Well we never they never have to worry about uis throwing the deep bomb in this situation with single coverahge. Too predictable.

Rudy Katoot · 10-03-2006, 07:38 PM

Coach,
Bret has shown for 2 years that he can run a 2 minute offense. On the 2nd series of the Husker game let’s go no huddle and let Bret call the plays. I say the Huskers won’t respond and we will move the ball like we did in the second half against UNI.
Rudy

Rudy Katoot · 10-03-2006, 07:42 PM

Coach,
Bret has shown for 2 years that he can run a 2 minute offense. On the 2nd series of the Husker game let’s go no huddle and let Bret call the plays. I say the Huskers won’t respond and we will move the ball like we did in the second half against UNI.
Rudy

jdoggivjc · 10-03-2006, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Rudy Katoot

Coach,
Bret has shown for 2 years that he can run a 2 minute offense. On the 2nd series of the Husker game let’s go no huddle and let Bret call the plays. I say the Huskers won’t respond and we will move the ball like we did in the second half against UNI.
Rudy

Ithink that's agreat idea and should implement it. It would likely thrown Nebraska off, and it would show Mac is doing something different

ISUFan22 · 10-03-2006, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Rudy Katoot

Coach,
Bret has shown for 2 years that he can run a 2 minute offense. On the 2nd series of the Husker game let’s go no huddle and let Bret call the plays. I say the Huskers won’t respond and we will move the ball like we did in the second half against UNI.
Rudy

A reliable source stated that Mac and the staff has plans to go no huddle this weekend on a few drives.

ISUFan22 · 11-06-2006, 12:20 AM

Just thought I'd resurrect this, seeing how the failure to handle adversity had a big impact on every game this season.