[NU Sports] In defense of McCall's Play Calling

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

I'm not sure he is trying to run ball control.

In the Illinois game he may have been, but in the Michigan game, our effective running game disappeared in the second half.

Which leads me to believe a big part of the problem is that he's not very good at reacting to the other team's halftime adjustments. The play calling in the first half was terrific (save for that fourth down option to the FRIGGIN' SHORT SIDE OF THE FIELD that led to their second scoring drive and the slow play call at the goal line to end the half), but the mix was gone in the second half. We lost tempo, we lost the ground game and we lost control.

It wasn't so much that we played not to lose in those games, we just didn't seem to have a response once the other team scored to cut into the lead and eventually erase the lead. We looked like a deer caught in the headlights and the quick 3-and-outs only fueled the defensive collapse more. As you said, we just seem to watch and expect the collapse to happen. I know Fitz is fired up and trying his best not to let it happen on the sideline, but I think our coordinators don't really know how to handle second half changes.

We need a couple "go to" plays for a first down to get a drive started, and we have the players to do that in Persa, Ebert, Dunsmore, etc. And we need to play Wildcat football regardless of the scoreboard.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT
 
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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________________________________
From: Roy S. Lamberton <rstetson at capps-assoc.com>
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 7:32 AM
Subject: [NU Sports] In defense of McCall's Play Calling

He is trying to run a ball control offense once we get a big lead, one what eats the clock
and keeps the other team's defense on the field.

But as the pros know, once you change your basic game plan, you allow the other team to
get into their comfort zone, and as in the past three weeks, come back from the brink.

The good teams stay with their original game plan, maybe run a bit more, but keep the
balance that got them the lead.

Everyone remembers the old Green Bay Packer or Miami Dolphin running machine and forget
that they could and did complete passes when they had to maintain the ball control. We
seem to telegraph when we are going to pass by our play calling on down and distance, and
therefore see the big pass rush on 3rd and long.

This year we're missing the off balance plays, the quick snaps and passes on 1st and 2nd
down. The ball is being passed around, still 7 or 8 receivers with catches, but our
percentage of completion seems a bit low.

A few years back, I asked then DC Colby about NU's "prevent" defense - something he
replied, "Prevents you from winning, but you have to do it so you don't get burned for the
losing TD."

NU broke the mold for a brainiac school when Barnett convinced the 85 guys on the team
that they should "expect victory." I worry that now our present team expects the other
guys to come back at the end of the game - a far cry from the previous year's Cardiac
Cats.

rsl 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
Coach Roy's Random Thoughts - http://coachroy.org
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