The biggest coaching error yesterday

by Lots of Pulp on Oct 2, 2011 1:27 PM EDT

I had a problem with the field goal on 4th down in overtime, but I could see why Marrone didn't have confidence in the offense. I also thought we should have punted on 4th down at the end of regulation rather than force a pass, which almost ended the game for Rutgers - although that didn't end up hurting us, so it wasn't that big a deal.

To me, the major coaching mistake yesterday - besides the terrible play calling all day - was taking Antwon Bailey out of the game on 3rd and 1 on the first possession of overtime. In my opinion, this move essentially cost SU the game.

1. Bailey is your best offensive weapon - obviously he made THE key mistake later in the game, but at that time he was having the best day - and when you need a big play, you have to give it to your best player. I want the ball in Bailey's hands whenever I need a conversion on the ground.

2. Jerome Smith only runs straight - which could be a good thing on 3rd and short - but when when you LITERALLY cannot cut at all, there is no chance of a conversion if the blocking breaks down at any point. Bailey could have made a cut and improvised. Smith could not.

3. Smith is only 12 lbs heavier than Bailey, according to the roster. Considering Smith is taller, Bailey basically has as much "bulk" as Smith and should be able to move a pile just as well.

You need a yard on the ground, so you downgrade your running back position. This makes absolutely no sense. Convert that 3rd down, and SU probably wins the game. They didn't, and they didn't. Big mistake.

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I thought the biggest error was pre-OT

With a 3rd and 10 at about the 40 yard line, Nassib threw an INT when they should have just had a run play. Design a draw and just go for a long FG. At best, you win the game. At worst, it goes to OT without letting RU get that last FG. RU missed it, but it could have cost us the game earlier.

by actioncuse on Oct 2, 2011 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

you must have forgotten

that they already had blocked 2 kicks , and neither of them were as long as this one would have been………….besides if not for a bad personal foul call the second blocked kick would have been returned for a touchdown

by 86trash on Oct 2, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Playing scared is playing to lose

Especially in football

by actioncuse on Oct 2, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

the biggest coaching error...

…in my opinion was the decision to pass the ball on 1st and goal from the 4 yard-line in the 3rd quarter. Bailey was running pretty well up to that point. Why not give him a couple of cracks at the goal line? You can always spread things out on 3rd down and try a pass then.

"Over?! Did you say over?! Nothing is over until we decide it is!" John Blutarsky (John Belushi) in the movie 'Animal House'

by orangebookworm on Oct 2, 2011 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

What?

You don’t like the idea of emptying the backfield (to let the defense know it is definitely a pass) and then passing the ball on a slant (where the mass of the defense will be) to a player that has yet to catch a pass all season (Foster)?

HCDM is great, but if he thinks that play was bad luck, he doesn’t understand luck.

Dictated, but not read.

by ezcuse on Oct 2, 2011 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I hated that play call as well.

"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998

by kotite4ever on Oct 3, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

the two blocked kicks still bother me the most

Since the early 1990's I have not been able to get Mike Hopkins' bloody face out of my brain. I don't remember what game it was but I'll never forget that as my first memory of SU basketball. Mike Hopkins, bloody face, bloody nose, all for the love of Syracuse.

by JFerg393 on Oct 3, 2011 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

The biggest mistake

Was calling any defensive scheme that leaves Deon Goggins 1-on-1 with Mohammed Sanu inside the 5 on third and goal. Goggins is a man beast on the line, but he’s not going to cover anyone well, much less the oppoistion’s best WR. In that situation, there’s no reason not to have your best CB on top and best LB underneath. I understand that there was some scrambling on defense. But call a TO. The Orange blew that game, but the tying TD by Rutgers should have been a lot harder than Sanu simply making Goggins look like a Pop Warner player.

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Oct 4, 2011 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah that was pretty damn questionable

Gotta wonder if that was really the design of the play, or if something broke down.

I remember a lot of finger pointing and looking confused just prior to the snap on that play. Someone HAD to be out of position there. If the plan was really to have Goggins covering Sanu, that’s pretty indefensible.

http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/

by Lots of Pulp on Oct 4, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions