Someone please show me a situation where a coach kneeled the ball three times and risked getting a punt blocked when he couldn't run the clock out at the end of the game. Maybe happens all the time but I doubt it.
Every other coach in that situation tries to get a first down to finish off the game. Every one.
Plenty to criticize, but spending as much time on this as some have is just dumb.
I will grant you that. When I first saw the situation, my thought also was "OK, we get a first down here, we win the game." The major coaching blunder in my opinion was not trying the get a first down, but rather giving to Warren for a run up the middle. He has been fumble-prone in the past, and was obviously not in a good state of mind ... very obviously. You have two much better options in a keeper by Lanning (yes, I know he fumbled later) or a give to Thomas with a two-hand fullback style run. (Not to mention since our offensive formation does not give the RB a running start,
any run up the gut in an obvious situation is a struggle at best.)
I don't understand why we didn't just kneel at the very end when it was tied. We had lost all momentum and the coaching staff should have just gone into overtime and regrouped. Lanning was trying to do too much
We did not try to drive though. We did not call a timeout. Either go for the win or take a knee.
... and this was the most foolhardy coaching error of them all. We, as a fan base, have griped and griped in the past for CPR not being agressive. So we had 40 seconds and two time outs? I'm fine with them trying to get down in field goal range.... but as soon as Lanning ran for 3 or 4 yards on first down, CALL TIMEOUT!!! (if you're going for it) OR just let the clock run out and take a knee and play for overtime. Lanning should never have been in a situation where he had to run that hurry up play. He should have had the time-out to be coached up, everybody get their blocking assignments, etc. and get the play exactly right.
My goodness it was horrible. I'm not sure if I should be more angry with Sturdy or CPR.