for the nagging doubt I started feeling with WVU up 14. Not something I've felt more than a couple times in the last few years- but we should probably all get used to it.
Bill Stewart has an unacceptable outlook on risk/reward. You could make entirely reasonable arguments for going for it on 4th down or for punting. But there is no justification for running ANY play that has more than a minute chance of blowing up and losing significant yardage.
I don't have a fundamental problem with the squib kick- that TD we coughed up was a result of a consistent pattern of too little pressure and inability to cover one of Teel's two favorite spots to throw (over the middle). I do credit our defense with defending the other- the long ball- serviceably.
In the end- we were bailed out by Rutgers' even greater incompetence. We can probably count on that when it comes to Syracuse too. But it's not going to save our ass from Auburn, nor South Florida, Connecticut, Pitt or Louisville. Clock management has already been discussed, but it's risk management that Stewart needs to work on or we're going to look back at the end of the season and Colorado won't be the only game we've needlessly squandered.
2 comments:
I did have a problem with the squib kick. To start the second half, McAfee kicked the ball 6 yards deep in the end zone and Rutgers started on the 20 yard line. McAfee has been very good on kickoffs and they should have used that weapon. Knowing a squib kick is going to put the opponent on the 35 yard line or better, it shouldn't be used w/ a whole minute to play. WVU's defense played fantastically for 29 minutes of the first half and then seemed to think the last minute was just a formality. It was a defensive breakdown that allowed the TD at the end of the half, but Stewart's squib kick decision w/ 56 seconds was going to give them at least a field goal regardless.
The Jarrett Brown experiment seemed to be effective again on third and short. But you can't line up on every third and short and run the exact same play. Some variety on the third and short package would be a welcome sight. How about bringing Brown in at the halfback position and continue to snap the ball to White now and then? Even if the tendency is for White to hand it to Brown to run for the first down, at least there is something different for the defense to look at and have to consider defending. The fourth and short play was completely idiotic. I wouldn't have argued with punting or going for it at that point, but I agree that the play call was ludicrous. That situation screamed for Brown to run a quarterback sneak from UNDER CENTER. He only needed a few inches! When he came out of the huddle in the shotgun, everybody from Morgantown to Piscataway new what play was going to be run.
I did think that the playcalling was much better overall though. I still don't like using Brown on 1st down, and the reverses just aren't necessary. It's not necessary to over think things and revert to trickery to get your players in space. The whole offense is already designed to do that. I also would like to see less screen/swing passes to the outside. I think they would be better off to run a couple more traditional screens instead that take a couple seconds longer to develop. But Mullen did a much better job of having a plan for the offense and executing it without as much goofiness as there was against Marshall. And the fake punt was a brilliant call, especially given that Rutgers was doubling the gunners and had only 6 defenders on the line of scrimmage.
We still have a long way to go, but I do think we have to give them (coaches) a little time develop with play calling. I also thought the first TD was a brillinat call! There was an obvious emphasis on misdirection in his play calling this week. (Something you see a lot of in Wake Forest games by the way). As for the 4th and short play call. That was the first lost yardage play by Brown, who obviously screwed up by trying to make a move on an obvious dive play. My problem with this call is it was the same spot we failed on a 4th and short against ECU!!! Isdaner is NOT getting the job done!
I've heard Dave Johnson say no freshman should ever play offensive line unless you have no O-line. He said that this preseason regarding Josh Jenkins....who's playing O-line now. Clearly, we have issues with what was suppose to be a talented unit.
Take the win and use the Syracuse game to get better. Auburn will be an interesting measuring stick.
PS. I cracked up everytime the announcers said they were bringing in the big brown package...Bend over the unit is coming in!
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