Profiles In Strange Coaching Decisions, Pt. I: Accepting Hold, Caleb Porzel
by Ben Broman on Oct 24, 2009 10:28 PM EDT
in Football
7 comments
If you were wondering, there will be a part two (tomorrow, though). Because there were just that many weird decisions that don't make a lot of sense in this game. Let's start off with two pretty specific events, shall we?
Accepting a Hold on 4th and One
Here's the situation: Duke has a third and eight on the Maryland 28 yard line, 3:14 left on the clock, Maryland down four with no more timeouts. Thaddeus Lewis hits his man, but for a seven yard gain, to the Maryland 21. There's a hold on the play. A coach has two options: accept the penalty, thus forcing Duke out of field goal range and saving three points at the expense of another 40 seconds running of the clock, or decline the penalty, let Duke kick the field goal, and save 40 seconds.
Here's my argument: regardless of whether or not Duke kicks the field goal, you need a touchdown. They'd probably be insane to go for it there: it was a long one and, if they didn't get it, Maryland would have all the momentum and a shot at winning, not just tying. The problem is the time: with just three minutes left and needing a touchdown, Maryland has no timeouts. They needed as much time as they could get, and letting it burn away could really hurt. Not to mention the possibility that Duke would convert on the second chance they just received. I shudder to think the reaction had they picked up the first.
Of course, Friedgen would accept the hold and the defense would execute, sacking Lewis. Tony Logan would fumble the ensuing punt, and the game would be over. I'm not blaming Ralph for the fumbled punt, but the decision to accept it still doesn't make sense to me.
Caleb Porzel on 4th and 1
Early in the game, Maryland's first drive. The Terps are driving and looking good, but get stopped on 3rd down just short of the line. It's fourth and one at the Duke 31. I'm not going to criticize going for it: that's completely acceptable. What I will criticize, however, is the personnel.
On fourth and one, if you're going to run straight up the gut of the defense (who has an All-American DT, might I add), does it make any sense to use the 5-9 (on stilts), 180 (directly after eating a Baconator) scatback Caleb Porzel? This team also has relative workhorse Davin Meggett, powerback Morgan Green, and human bulldozer Corey Jackson. Instead, we pick literally the smallest player in the team and ram him into the heart of the defense?
That drive could've been momentum-building, letting Maryland grab the game at the start with a quick score. Porzel, however, got stuffed at the line, and never really got close to getting the first down. Duke would receive the ball, march down the field, and score.
Tomorrow comes with Eric Franklin's redshirt burning, Torrey Smith (and the Wildcat), and the dreaded QB draws.
0 recs |
7 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
4th and 1
Agreed…Porzel should not have been in there to run the ball. Still, I was glad to see an attempt at smash-mouth football rather than a pass. The OL has improved and should be able to get us a yard or two with the right back.
I was also glad that they didn’t try to have Chris slide down the line looking for an opening. Chris looks much slower this year than last. He can still pick up a yard or two on dive plays, but he is easliy stopped on any play that takes time to develop. Why they still try to run him wide from time to time is difficult to understand. Even when he appears to have running room, they close on him very quickly.
by wmterp on Oct 25, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the coaching and play calling have been questionable all year. Why would anything be any different yesterday or the rest of the year.
by fkterp on Oct 25, 2009 8:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Disagree completely about the holding penalty
You 100% accept that penalty and I guarantee you 99.999999% of college football coaches would accept it too. What do you gain by declining? It’s 4th and 1, Duke could go for it and ice the game since you have no timeouts left or they kick a field goal and theTD drive you need no longer wins the game for you but just ties it and then you’re looking at OT. If you can knock them out of field goal range and make it so they have to get 18 yards to get a first down, you do it. And if you can hold them, you give your team good field position and have a chance to get a huge gain from your returned (assuming he doesn’t fumble…ugh. He would have made it to Duke territory minimum on that return if he didn’t fumble). You might lose 40 seconds, but we still have 1:40 left and they practice that 2 minute drill at every practice. Plus, this is college, not the NFL and the clock stops on every first down. If there was only going to be a minute left, I think you have a valid argument. But in this situation, Ralph did the right thing. But why not put Smith back there to return the punt?
My real question is, why the hell did they do a QB draw play on 3rd and 3 a few drives before that?
by Dave Tucker on Oct 25, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to poll college coaches
No shot 99 percent take it, and no shot Duke goes for it there. You gain a lot of time – this offense is far from efficient. In my eyes, you gain nothing by going for it except giving Duke another shot and wasting 40 seconds.
BTW, Smith never returns punts, so not having him back there was good.
by Ben Broman on Oct 25, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with homertuck on the penalty...
Fridge did the right thing by accepting it. You can’t give them a 4th and 1 just outside the red zone. 90% of coaches would go for it there and make it, or automatically take the 3 points. With the way our defense was playing, I’ll take the ten yards and expect us to hold, which we did. The fumble by Logan was really unfortunate, but it shouldn’t automatically make you think the Ralph did the wrong thing by taking the penalty.
by kckb8 on Oct 25, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It wasn't the fumble
I stated as much as I said in the game thread, right after the penalty, before anything else happened.
I just don’t see any advantage for accepting it, but you still lose 40 seconds and give them another shot. I’m pretty confident they wouldn’t go for it on 4th and a long one.
by Ben Broman on Oct 25, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Declining that penalty would have been a horrendous call. You virtually guarantee they will kick a FG or pick up the one yard which probably let’s them burn enough clock to ice the game. They made the right decision… One of their few.
One of the worst coaching decisions of the game (and there were many) was kicking the PAT instead of going for two after their touchdown. If you make the two-point, it’s 14-17 and a FG ties the game. If you don’t make it, it’s 12-17, which is no different from 13-17, you still need a TD to take the lead. If Duke kicks a FG to make it 12-20, if you get another touchdown you’d have another chance to make a two-point conversion to tie it up.
by JC1 on Oct 25, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
