Special teams and "Feel" coaching

[Kaptain Obvious]

Personally, (not having a dog in the fight since 2009-10 when I publicly placed MY dog in the fray), in my opinion, I think Alabama lost on the special teams kickoff. You cant kick the ball short against a high powered passing offense with a very mobile QB.

Now I did not watch the game, but I was able to listen to most of the 4th quarter on the radio. After Alabama went up on the Hurts TD run, if I recall correctly, the kickoff was terrible.

It put Clemson at the 32, after a decent return. And I knew Alabama would be in a lot of trouble, regardless of defensive ranking. I knew Clemson was very well capable of scoring a TD, let alone a FG.

And I thought to myself...this is a lot like how the Carolina Panthers lost the SB against the Patriots. Except their kicker actually kicked the ball out of bounds...and I knew it was game over against a Brady and company.

The kicker should have simply kicked it out of the back of the end zone. I mean a team of Bama's caliber must have a kicker who can do that on demand! If I, as a Coach, cant snap my fingers and send my kicker out there knowing it is going to go beyond the goal post BLINDFOLDED...then I cant say my kicker is all that strong. Its an issue, and a ace in the hole that every team should have.

Even a specialist, perhaps a fat frat kid, who can kick the ball a mile straight, should be given a partial scholarship for this ALONE. There are Aces in the hole that there is no excuse not to have.

Then you play the defensive odds by giving Clemson the ball at the 20. Risking any kind of return AT ALL in that situation is just not smart.

And later on in the final drive I heard the announcers wondering why Clemson was letting the clock run. And I said to myself "Well its because they are going for the TD...they are playing for the win and will not give Bama any time to respond if a very likely TD is scored"

Really, someone on the Bama staff should have felt the flow, recognized the momentum and known the inevitable...Notified Coach Saban and had him simply use his timeouts, essentially knowing that Clemson would score regardless.

People would have been screaming, "What the hell is Saban doing!?. But these are "feel of the inevitable" calls. And in the future I really think there is a place for this "feel of the inevitable" coaching.

You know you always see it. A team has trouble moving the ball the entire game, but they are put in a position to drive for the final TD...and oftentimes they get it.

We see it all the time and we, as viewers get that "Feel" knowing the inevitable.

So sometimes it pays to recognize this, categorize it and disrupt it. Calling a timeout in these scenarios helps rally the defense, even if it is a usually illogical call that would appears to give the driving team more time.

But you must think, "Im not giving THEM time, Im giving ME time and Im recharging my defense( especially when you have a statistically superior D) to EXECUTE...screw the clock in these RARE scenarios"

Anyway I think both of these things would have served Bama well.

But Congrats to Clemson. They executed and did what they had to. I certainly don't begrudge them a well earned title.

 

[Art]

There's two minutes of my life wasted. The only part of that drivel worthy of a comment is that there are no partial scholarships in football.

 

[Grant Green]

I think Alabama would have won if they would have just installed the Army triple option.

 

[Woodpecker]

It put Clemson at the 32, after a decent return.

The kicker should have simply kicked it out of the back of the end zone.

So the difference between the ball at the 32 and at the 25 is huge?

 

[Art]

I think Alabama would have won if they would have just installed the Army triple option.

But what if Clemson had done the same?

 

[Grant Green]

But what if Clemson had done the same?

Ha!
Go to the top secret quadruple option?

 

[Kaptain Obvious]

There's two minutes of my life wasted. The only part of that drivel worthy of a comment is that there are no partial scholarships in football.

NCAA Division I


FCS teams are allowed to award partial scholarships, a practice technically allowed but essentially never used at the FBS level.


So maybe teams should use it to secure a big unorthodox kicker who they can use as an ace in the hole in a pinch situation.

 

[Woodpecker]

NCAA Division I


FCS teams are allowed to award partial scholarships, a practice technically allowed but essentially never used at the FBS level.


So maybe teams should use it to secure a big unorthodox kicker who they can use as an ace in the hole in a pinch situation.

Alabama gonna follow Idaho?

 

[Art]

NCAA Division I


FCS teams are allowed to award partial scholarships, a practice technically allowed but essentially never used at the FBS level.


So maybe teams should use it to secure a big unorthodox kicker who they can use as an ace in the hole in a pinch situation.

Yes, technically an FBS school can award a partial scholarship to a kicker. It can also award a partial scholarship to its star QB. But getting back to the kicker, one of any sort, why would a coach award a partlal scholarship unless he's just being cheap?

 

[psuro]

Personally, (not having a dog in the fight since 2009-10 when I publicly placed MY dog in the fray), in my opinion, I think Alabama lost on the special teams kickoff. You cant kick the ball short against a high powered passing offense with a very mobile QB.

Now I did not watch the game, but I was able to listen to most of the 4th quarter on the radio. After Alabama went up on the Hurts TD run, if I recall correctly, the kickoff was terrible.

It put Clemson at the 32, after a decent return. And I knew Alabama would be in a lot of trouble, regardless of defensive ranking. I knew Clemson was very well capable of scoring a TD, let alone a FG.

And I thought to myself...this is a lot like how the Carolina Panthers lost the SB against the Patriots. Except their kicker actually kicked the ball out of bounds...and I knew it was game over against a Brady and company.

The kicker should have simply kicked it out of the back of the end zone. I mean a team of Bama's caliber must have a kicker who can do that on demand! If I, as a Coach, cant snap my fingers and send my kicker out there knowing it is going to go beyond the goal post BLINDFOLDED...then I cant say my kicker is all that strong. Its an issue, and a ace in the hole that every team should have.

Even a specialist, perhaps a fat frat kid, who can kick the ball a mile straight, should be given a partial scholarship for this ALONE. There are Aces in the hole that there is no excuse not to have.

Then you play the defensive odds by giving Clemson the ball at the 20. Risking any kind of return AT ALL in that situation is just not smart.

And later on in the final drive I heard the announcers wondering why Clemson was letting the clock run. And I said to myself "Well its because they are going for the TD...they are playing for the win and will not give Bama any time to respond if a very likely TD is scored"

Really, someone on the Bama staff should have felt the flow, recognized the momentum and known the inevitable...Notified Coach Saban and had him simply use his timeouts, essentially knowing that Clemson would score regardless.

People would have been screaming, "What the hell is Saban doing!?. But these are "feel of the inevitable" calls. And in the future I really think there is a place for this "feel of the inevitable" coaching.

You know you always see it. A team has trouble moving the ball the entire game, but they are put in a position to drive for the final TD...and oftentimes they get it.

We see it all the time and we, as viewers get that "Feel" knowing the inevitable.

So sometimes it pays to recognize this, categorize it and disrupt it. Calling a timeout in these scenarios helps rally the defense, even if it is a usually illogical call that would appears to give the driving team more time.

But you must think, "Im not giving THEM time, Im giving ME time and Im recharging my defense( especially when you have a statistically superior D) to EXECUTE...screw the clock in these RARE scenarios"

Anyway I think both of these things would have served Bama well.

But Congrats to Clemson. They executed and did what they had to. I certainly don't begrudge them a well earned title.

Did I ever thank you for all those hotel recommendations?

 

[Kaptain Obvious]

So the difference between the ball at the 32 and at the 25 is huge?

Touchback
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In standard outdoor American football, the team awarded the touchback receives possession of the ball at its own 25-yard line, for professional football, and the 20 yard-line for college football


The rules have been changed so much, (and apparently a new weird Ivy League rule as well instituted last summer and expiring this Feb), that I dont know what it is anymore

I thought it was 20 yd line for pro and college.

Anyway the difference is huge, the difference between a win and a loss. perhaps Clemsons 6'3" receiver doesn't make the leaping grab, but it is a major difference favoring Alabama.

Any yardage over the traditional Touchback, whatever it is, greatly favors a passing juggernaut with a big reciever like Clemson.

But a touchback would have greatly favored the Defensive juggernaut of Bama.

I cant see why it wasn't just kicked for the TB.

If so I think Bama's defense holds. It all depended on Touchback or not.

Suppose they did risk it, which they did, and got a tackle at the 10-15 yard line. Same thing....Bama likely closes it out with the D for the win.

Regardless, too bad PSU didn't get the chance to play Clemson.

 

[bjf1991]

Personally, (not having a dog in the fight since 2009-10 when I publicly placed MY dog in the fray), in my opinion, I think Alabama lost on the special teams kickoff. You cant kick the ball short against a high powered passing offense with a very mobile QB.

Now I did not watch the game, but I was able to listen to most of the 4th quarter on the radio. After Alabama went up on the Hurts TD run, if I recall correctly, the kickoff was terrible.

It put Clemson at the 32, after a decent return. And I knew Alabama would be in a lot of trouble, regardless of defensive ranking. I knew Clemson was very well capable of scoring a TD, let alone a FG.

And I thought to myself...this is a lot like how the Carolina Panthers lost the SB against the Patriots. Except their kicker actually kicked the ball out of bounds...and I knew it was game over against a Brady and company.

The kicker should have simply kicked it out of the back of the end zone. I mean a team of Bama's caliber must have a kicker who can do that on demand! If I, as a Coach, cant snap my fingers and send my kicker out there knowing it is going to go beyond the goal post BLINDFOLDED...then I cant say my kicker is all that strong. Its an issue, and a ace in the hole that every team should have.

Even a specialist, perhaps a fat frat kid, who can kick the ball a mile straight, should be given a partial scholarship for this ALONE. There are Aces in the hole that there is no excuse not to have.

Then you play the defensive odds by giving Clemson the ball at the 20. Risking any kind of return AT ALL in that situation is just not smart.

And later on in the final drive I heard the announcers wondering why Clemson was letting the clock run. And I said to myself "Well its because they are going for the TD...they are playing for the win and will not give Bama any time to respond if a very likely TD is scored"

Really, someone on the Bama staff should have felt the flow, recognized the momentum and known the inevitable...Notified Coach Saban and had him simply use his timeouts, essentially knowing that Clemson would score regardless.

People would have been screaming, "What the hell is Saban doing!?. But these are "feel of the inevitable" calls. And in the future I really think there is a place for this "feel of the inevitable" coaching.

You know you always see it. A team has trouble moving the ball the entire game, but they are put in a position to drive for the final TD...and oftentimes they get it.

We see it all the time and we, as viewers get that "Feel" knowing the inevitable.

So sometimes it pays to recognize this, categorize it and disrupt it. Calling a timeout in these scenarios helps rally the defense, even if it is a usually illogical call that would appears to give the driving team more time.

But you must think, "Im not giving THEM time, Im giving ME time and Im recharging my defense( especially when you have a statistically superior D) to EXECUTE...screw the clock in these RARE scenarios"

Anyway I think both of these things would have served Bama well.

But Congrats to Clemson. They executed and did what they had to. I certainly don't begrudge them a well earned title.

Good Grief

My eyes started to bleed on the 3rd sentence......so much so that I checked to see "Who is this posting such drivel?"

Fortunately, when I saw if was Kaptain Skull Hump, I knew enough to stop reading

 

[sluggo72]

There's two minutes of my life wasted. The only part of that drivel worthy of a comment is that there are no partial scholarships in football.

I bet if Nick had today's paper , last night ,he would have done things differently

 

[Art]

I bet if Nick had today's paper , last night ,he would have done things differently

Yeah, he would have made a killing in the market and forgotten about the game.

 

[Tweedbear]

Two partial scholarship brings two more players to the table. Reward to two walk ins.

 

[Art]

Two partial scholarship brings two more players to the table. Reward to two walk ins.

Huh? I'm missing something.

 

[androcles]

...isn't Tuesday morning quarterbacking wonderful!!!...
...and fool proof - or maybe not....

 

[bjf1991]

Two partial scholarship brings two more players to the table. Reward to two walk ins.

Uh.......



Never mind, just let this one die.

 

[Grant Green]

I would have been much more impressed with Captain Obvious if he suggested that Alabama hold the WRs on the final play. Penalty moves the ball just about to the goal line with 1 or 2 seconds left. Clemson has no choice but to kick the FG.

 

[Kaptain Obvious]

I would have been much more impressed with Captain Obvious if he suggested that Alabama hold the WRs on the final play. Penalty moves the ball just about to the goal line with 1 or 2 seconds left. Clemson has no choice but to kick the FG.

Grant Green YOU ARE A GENIUS! And Ill give credit where credit is due.

In the "feel situation", at the goal line with little time, that is the thing to do.

But I limited this "feel coaching" last drive by citing reference to a defensive coaching technique as a remedy to stop a red zone and goal line situation from even developing. And I mean techniques to decrease the likelihood of the " exciting final drive momentum generator function" of a decent passing offense becoming a factor....preventing them from crossing 50 yard line.

But what you said would have worked. I doubt that Clemson would have gone for it.

 

[Grant Green]

Grant Green YOU ARE A GENIUS! And Ill give credit where credit is due.

In the "feel situation", at the goal line with little time, that is the thing to do.

But I limited this "feel coaching" last drive by citing reference to a defensive coaching technique as a remedy to stop a red zone and goal line situation from even developing. And I mean techniques to decrease the likelihood of the " exciting final drive momentum generator function" of a decent passing offense becoming a factor....preventing them from crossing 50 yard line.

But what you said would have worked. I doubt that Clemson would have gone for it.

I can't take credit for it. I think Chip Kelly did it once this year. Other coaches have done it, but I don't recall who.

 

[Kaptain Obvious]

Good Grief

My eyes started to bleed on the 3rd sentence......so much so that I checked to see "Who is this posting such drivel?"


Fortunately, when I saw if was Kaptain Skull Hump, I knew enough to stop reading

Sports is all entertainment at the end of the day. Must I remind you of the body painted, screaming fans and frenzied mannerism of stadiums filled with 10 thousands of people in relation to this game.

Not to mention the mascots...... tigers, elephants.

I mean Cmon man!

And I am the crazy one? Reviled for entering the fray and going a bit unorthodox in conversation in regards to a sport and a practice that is, in my opinion, already less than sane?!

You, Sir, are a bit too serious about boys throwing around a pig skin that is filled with air.

I, on the other hand, see the sport as the entertainment that it is.

Nothing more than backflipping court Jesters or clowns at the circus...juggling and doing funny physical feats. I only wonder why there are not many fan boards dedicated to Clowns and Jesters.

I guess that is because they are on football fields now. And it is highly entertaining...I admit that.

But to take it too seriously, well that is most unfortunate. Though, I, in my conversation, UNORTHODOX AS IT MAY BE, give the sport the respect that it deserves.......

......But I REFUSE to give this mere sport...... the WORSHIP it sometimes DEMANDS!

That is reserved for GOD alone. And when I say GOD I mean the FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST.

And before you go all stupid on me, know that Tim Tebow would wholeheartedly agree with the last sentence I just wrote!

See that's the difference between me and you. I know, at the days end, how to prioritize things. Football least among them.

Hey, and speaking of humps Camels have them. GOD designed them that way for a reason. You wouldn't want to be in a desert without a Camel to help.


And you say "Good Grief" like Charlie Brown...but it was Snoopy that had the Sopwith Camel.

l

 

[Marylovesthelions]

"I did not watch the game but feeled compelled to be an idiot." Please excuse the paraphrase in quotes.

 

[PSU_Nut]

Two partial scholarship brings two more players to the table. Reward to two walk ins.

No not true at all. The reason why no one gives partial scholarships is because Football is a head count sport. That means you get 85 counters. A counter is a person who receives any amounts of athletic financial aid is a counter and counts a 1 head count toward the 85. So a guy getting a half scholarship counts just as much as a guy getting a full scholarship. Other sports are equivalency sports were you can add up partial scholarships to the total.