Was it God or Was it Ditka: Week 6 Thread

[SFBadger96]

BRAD’s house bringing in the wins!

[betarhoalphadelta]

BRAD’s house bringing in the wins!

Was great to actually see an exciting game at Cal with my kid (and some of his friends).

Even better that they got to experience that excitement ending in a win after some of the most boneheaded coaching I've ever seen that last 0:18 of the game. Coaching staff almost gave it away. 

[betarhoalphadelta]

So now that I'm home, what I was alluding to above.

Cal scores to take a 25-20 (after failed 2pt conversion) lead, with 0:18 remaining. Obviously a FG does nothing, so you want to protect the end zone at all costs--try to avoid them getting into hail mary range if you can. 

Coach elects to squib kick it. It's caught and returned to the 40 yard line, with 0:14 remaining. I immediately turned to my son and said "I don't like the squib kick there." I'd rather boot one into the end zone for a touchback. I know 4 seconds were burned, but I'd rather give the opponent a longer field. For them to gain 15 yards through the air will probably take 4 seconds anyway, but you have the upside that they could throw an incompletion. But now they're at the 40 and they're pretty much one mid-range completion away from hail mary range.

VT throws a pass and it's an incompletion... But it's defensive PI. Give them 15 yards, now they're on the Cal 45 with 10 seconds remaining and basically in hail mary range. No coaching problem there.

VT completes a short-mid out to the sideline down to the Cal 27. I believe VT still had TOs remaining, so I can't fault the coaching for not protecting the sideline there. Pass takes 4 seconds. 

Now the other coaching blunder. 6 seconds remain. Ball on the 27. Cal lines up with all their DBs standing directly on the goal line, basically anticipating the hail mary. VT is spread wide, and there's not a defender anywhere remotely near any WR. So what does VT do? Throw a quick pass to the left side wideout who advances it to the 7 yard line out of bounds, taking only 3 seconds off the clock. I realize you want to protect the goal line, but I don't know why you don't have defenders at least SOMEWHERE challenging a play like that. 6 seconds might not be enough for a hail mary if you have a good pass rush and you have defenders actually guarding receivers. But this was an easy pitch and catch that gave VT 20 yards.

So now VT has the ball on the 7 yard line with one play to win the game. It's 7 yards so they ostensibly have the entire playbook open. You don't HAVE to throw the ball in the end zone. So you are forced to defend everyone/everything. 

VT threw a pass just out of the reach of a WR in the back of the end zone, and Cal escaped with a W that should have been FAR easier once they scored with 0:18 left. 

[FearlessF]

to go into a prevent that allowed them to move to the 7 yard line could have prevented a win

[MikeDeTiger]

Our household was O-fer this weekend.  Cowboys lost Thursday night, Horns lost the 2:30 slot, and LSU lost the nightcap.  

Must need to sacrifice more baby goats to the football gods.   

[FearlessF]

why not, baby goats taste gooood

[rolltidefan]

I agree, but I'll allow it since Bama is coming after Nebraska's AP Poll record

lol, where the hell is the dislike button.

[FearlessF]

I've asked for that many times

[MikeDeTiger]

why not, baby goats taste gooood

I had to make a trip over to Louisiana yesterday, so I missed the NFL games except for SNF.  The Vikings were on tv here since the Cowboys already played Thursday.  We hardly ever get Vikings games here, but it appears Jefferson played well, just looking at the stats.  As per usual, I missed it, and if I'd been watching, he would've done nothing or been hurt.  I've never seen Jefferson have a good game in the pros.  I'm a Jefferson curse.  If I watch, he can't perform.  

Apparently, he's a really good NFL receiver.  Going by what I've personally seen over the years, he was a really good college receiver who is either hurt or gets shut down in the pros.  

[847badgerfan]

I had to make a trip over to Louisiana yesterday, so I missed the NFL games except for SNF.  The Vikings were on tv here since the Cowboys already played Thursday.  We hardly ever get Vikings games here, but it appears Jefferson played well, just looking at the stats.  As per usual, I missed it, and if I'd been watching, he would've done nothing or been hurt.  I've never seen Jefferson have a good game in the pros.  I'm a Jefferson curse.  If I watch, he can't perform. 

Apparently, he's a really good NFL receiver.  Going by what I've personally seen over the years, he was a really good college receiver who is either hurt or gets shut down in the pros. 

I will buy you NFL Sunday Ticket if you promise to watch the ViQueens every weekend.

[MikeDeTiger]

to go into a prevent that allowed them to move to the 7 yard line could have prevented a win

I've never been a fan of soft coverage in waning moments with a small lead.  I'll say "soft coverage" because "prevent defense" is a specific thing and a lot of fans complaining about prevent defense don't realize they're not looking at a prevent defense.  

Anyway, it cost us again Saturday night.  We made Kentucky pretty miserable all night with press coverage and simulating pressure at the line.  We made a wheelbarrow full of coaching blunders that gave that game away, but among them was the decision to play way off the ball and let UK go right down the field....and score.  With a minute and a half left, would it kill you to play the defense that choked them the rest of the second half?  

[MikeDeTiger]

I will buy you NFL Sunday Ticket if you promise to watch the ViQueens every weekend.

The Vikings don't necessarily lose when I watch.  I can only guarantee that one particular receiver will have a crap day.  

[grillrat]

BTW, if anybody actually watched the Purdue / Minn game, holy moly did my faith in Big Ten refs take a hit.
The head ref who was the one talking to the crowd / TV to announce penalties had to go to the little TV to review a couple of plays, and because of the Michigan 1 second snafu, they are sharing those conversations live with the audience.

Purdue challenged whether a Minnesota receiver retained possession of the ball before going out of bounds (which was upheld).  During the conversation with the Big Ten review center, the ref asked "So, the challenge is lost, that means they have one left right?"  The Big Ten office said "Yes", to which the ref said "Should I tell them that, when I announce this?".

Seriously?  Is this your first game as head ref?

Later, there was another review where there was another challenge, PJ was arguing for a better spot for his field goal kicker (2 yards), but lost the challenge because you can't use a challenge to check a spot, only to confirm whether a first down was made or not (which the receiver was well short of).  The ref asked "So, the receiver did not make the line to advance, what down is it then?"

Really, you're the head ref and you don't know what down it is?

[FearlessF]

The Vikings don't necessarily lose when I watch.  I can only guarantee that one particular receiver will have a crap day. 

he should just worry about the Packers beating the bear's ass