Worst Call of the game

[CNY in Miami]

in the second overtime it was quite obvious that the defense was not capable of making a stop. I really thought going for two at that time was our best chance of winning the game.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think we should have gone for the 2 as well, I just don't think our staff feels confident enough in their job security to pin everything on one play.

 

[Libero2]

I think we should have gone for the 2 as well, I just don't think our staff feels confident enough in their job security to pin everything on one play.

I also think that Shafer isn't sure how much he trusts Dungey in a winner take all spot.

We all know the traditional run would have been completely off the table in that scenario. So do you trust the kid to make a play to win it? The right call would have been a roll out to the right and give him a run/pass option, possibly with an Erv shovel pass inside... But if that was the call who honestly thinks Dungey would have thrown the ball? He would have tried to take it into his own hands and win it on the ground IMO. So IdK what that outcome would have been.

But given how efficiently we were destroying their defense in OT, he also had to feel confident we would score another TD. Unfortunately triple OT didn't go as planned and Dungey got sacked twice.

I think going for two was the call I would have made, but I can't hate on Shafer for not going for two there given the way his offense was playing with more than one play to execute.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I also think that Shafer isn't sure how much he trusts Dungey in a winner take all spot.

We all know the traditional run would have been completely off the table in that scenario. So do you trust the kid to make a play to win it? The right call would have been a roll out to the right and give him a run/pass option, possibly with an Erv shovel pass inside...

But given how efficiently we were destroying their defense in OT, he also had to feel confident we would score another TD. Unfortunately triple OT didn't go as planned and Dungey got sacked twice.

I think going for two was the call I would have made, but I can't hate on Shafer for not going for two there given the way his offense was playing with more than one play to execute.

See I think this is a case where you can make things really simple, and throwing in too many variables just paralyzes you.

It comes down to this - on any one play, do you trust your offense to get 3 yards.

If the answer is yes, go for it. If the answer is no, don't.

But if you don't trust your offense to get you 3 yards, I mean, geez. Take your ball and go home.

 

[Oswego93]

At the time, I didn't think it was necessarily a poor choice. In retrospect, I wish they would have tried (obviously). Our D just kept getting worse each drive. We had them on the ropes when we scored the TD top ISH, and they had to start on the 40...then our good friend Whigham showed off his stock and trade, as Whitner looked on in awe.

 

[gocraz4dasu]

I was at the game and telling everybody I wanted us to go for two if we scored in the second overtime for essentially the reasons you stated. Our defense was tired and UVA had figured out that they could run a different variation of about 4 plays and our defense had no ability to stop it. I really wanted the two point conversion because I had faith Dungey could miraculously pull it off even if the play broke down. Unfortunately that is not how it went.

 

[orangecuse]

I think we should have gone for the 2 as well, I just don't think our staff feels confident enough in their job security to pin everything on one play.

It was a 'crossroads' moment imo for SS...and, he took the path of least resistance.

 

[Bayside44]

SS is radically inconsistent with his playcalling. Doesn't take the easy 3 to get points on the board when it's sunny and doesn't go for the W 3 hours later.

We don't have that kind of margin.

 

[timkay99]

See I think this is a case where you can make things really simple, and throwing in too many variables just paralyzes you.

It comes down to this - on any one play, do you trust your offense to get 3 yards.

If the answer is yes, go for it. If the answer is no, don't.

But if you don't trust your offense to get you 3 yards, I mean, geez. Take your ball and go home.

People are overlooking the fact that Syracuse got stuffed on 4th and 1 in the first quarter.

Shafer is a defense first coach and trusts his defense to get stops. After getting burned earlier in the game, I believe he was extremely hesitant to trust the offense in a short yardage situation again.

 

[Millhouse]

SS is radically inconsistent with his playcalling. Doesn't take the easy 3 to get points on the board when it's sunny and doesn't go for the W 3 hours later. We don't have that kind of margin.

the first call was a no brainer. No complaints there

 

[OttoinGrotto]

People are overlooking the fact that Syracuse got stuffed on 4th and 1 in the first quarter.

Shafer is a defense first coach and trusts his defense to get stops. After getting burned earlier in the game, I believe he was extremely hesitant to trust the offense in a short yardage situation again.

Yeah. I wouldn't care.

 

[Millhouse]

People are overlooking the fact that Syracuse got stuffed on 4th and 1 in the first quarter. Shafer is a defense first coach and trusts his defense to get stops. After getting burned earlier in the game, I believe he was extremely hesitant to trust the offense in a short yardage situation again.

A sample of one shouldn't make a big difference

If they abandoned everything after it failed once, it would be Riley Dixon every down which might not be so bad actually

 

[timkay99]

A sample of one shouldn't make a big difference

If they abandoned everything after it failed once, it would be Riley Dixon every down which might not be so bad actually

I don't disagree, but I can see getting burned once in the game affecting how Shafer goes about the game.

 

[orangefan13]

3rd and 15 for the game virginia from their own 20 haven't completed a pass alll game behind our defense. I know it gives the offense a chace to setup but I like a to there. faskmask killed us.

Still mad about that dungy pass was ruled as interception ball when 10 feet forward and they didn't hit his arm.

 

[Brooky03]

Put the game in Riley's hands with a fake FG haha. He hasn't disappointed yet.

 

[Bayside44]

the first call was a no brainer. No complaints there

Yeah well it cost them.

 

[Millhouse]

Yeah well it cost them.

I'm glad shafer was smart there. Harbaugh should've gone for it I guess

 

[Entropic]

I liked the fact we went for the kill shot early. What I hated were the play calls. Running from the pistol from a half yard out...

 

[alphaorange]

See I think this is a case where you can make things really simple, and throwing in too many variables just paralyzes you.

It comes down to this - on any one play, do you trust your offense to get 3 yards.

If the answer is yes, go for it. If the answer is no, don't.

But if you don't trust your offense to get you 3 yards, I mean, geez. Take your ball and go home.

Three yards from the three is not the same as 3 yards from midfield. That said, I thought we should go for it. It was a chance to absolutely win the game and since we couldn't seem to stop them at that point, roll the dice. Takes balls, though.

 

[SaltineWarrior]

in the second overtime it was quite obvious that the defense was not capable of making a stop. I really thought going for two at that time was our best chance of winning the game.

I could not agree with you more. It comes down to a simple understanding of what your team is capable of executing at that time. The defense was gassed, plain and simple. Hell the fact that we scored in 1 play in the 2nd OT was going to work against them! (Less time to rest while the offense is on the field)

The time to avoid the obvious mismatch (UVA Offense vs SU Defense) and let the offense actually win the game in 1 play was clear. Considering the fact that this guy is not afraid to run a fake kick, his failing to call for a 2 point conversion is mind boggling.

In my mind, the other awful call was the fact that we went for a TD on 4th and goal rather than just take the points early. We have a spread offense, no fullback and a line that does not seem to be able to get a real push up front. We do not have an offense that is set up to win short yardage battles. Its early in the game, you are on the road and you are moving the ball: take the points and move on.

 

[SaltineWarrior]

I liked the fact we went for the kill shot early. What I hated were the play calls. Running from the pistol from a half yard out...

It was way too early to call a 7-0 lead on the road a kill shot. If we ran a pro style offense, maybe its OK. Then again, with a pro style offense, it doesn't get to 4th down.

 

[Bayside44]

I'm glad shafer was smart there. Harbaugh should've gone for it I guess

Not scoring is dumb.

I didn't watch the Michigan game, was at ours.

 

[JoeSU]

People are overlooking the fact that Syracuse got stuffed on 4th and 1 in the first quarter.

Shafer is a defense first coach and trusts his defense to get stops. After getting burned earlier in the game, I believe he was extremely hesitant to trust the offense in a short yardage situation again.

In fact, we had a couple of tries and couldn't punch it in. This had to enter HCSS's mind.
Having said this, I wonder if the TE throwback is still in our playbook?

 

[Entropic]

UVA was a team with little fan support, most of the people around me were already resigned to a loss so they could fire their coach. 7-0 early on a team that had nothing going for them, little fan support, and a struggling offense. Maybe not a kill shot but a maiming blow.

 

[longtimefan]

the first call was a no brainer. No complaints there

My problem with the 4th and goal play was that they rushed it, and didn't seem organized. No need to be in a hurry, as the play clock had more time on it than the 1st quarter game clock (I believe). Let the quarter expire, switch ends, and use the long time out to choose the proper play and get the whole offense on the same page.