We lost "the book" on winning strategy.

[JR4AU]

You guys are out thinking yourselves.  ONE yard to go.  TWO downs to make ONE stinking yard.  The game is OVER.  You have a 6'6" 250 lb. QB, a 240 pound fullback and a 215 lb. bowling ball running back and a group of seniors on your interior line.  Yes indeed, first down play on one.  Instead, our D has to hang on for dear life and got extremely lucky because of a dropped pass.  Ram the fucking ball in there for ONE yard and the game is over.  Why is this so hard?

Like I was suggesting...it's all good playcalling when it works, it's bad play calling when it doesn't.  If they'd have run Dyer up the middle...AGAIN, and gotten stuffed, y'all be bitching about the play calling on that too.  Why?  Well mainly because it didn't work...in fact ONLY because it didn't work. 
Below is the play by play, w/ time from the last punt from MSU until the failed 3d down play.

4 2:35 Auburn Newton rush middle for -3 yards to the MissSt 20. 17 14
4 3:25 Auburn Dyer rush middle for 2 yards to the MissSt 17. 17 14
4 4:00 Auburn Dyer rush middle for 7 yards to the MissSt 19. 17 14
4 4:50 Auburn Burns pass completion to the left to Newton for 22 yards to the MissSt 26. 17 14 
4 5:20 Auburn Dyer rush left for 2 yards to the MissSt 48. 17 14
4 6:00 Auburn Dyer rush left for 11 yards to the MissSt 50. 17 14
4 6:30 Auburn Dyer rush left for 16 yards to the Auburn 38.


Yes, Dyer up the middle, off tackle, or whatever would have been "the smart" play call  UNLESS wasn't. Then it would be "they had run that same damn play 5 of the last 6  plays." They knew it was coming.  Which they had, and which was well designed to set up play action, to throw a TD pass to ice the game, or get a big gain for a first down.  I'm not saying it was right, or wrong, it just was, and it appeares to me (read as just my opinion) that they were trying to set up a coup de gras by making MSU think they were milking the clock with Dyer.  They'd just run the double pass, and maybe they thought MSU was thinking THAT was their one kill shot and they're going to milk it from here...at any rate...bitch if that's what you have to do.  It wasn't a forgone conclusion that Dyer, or any of the backs would get the 4 yards needed for the first down on 4th down, or even gotten the one needed on 2 downs on 3rd and 4th down.  It is ALWAYS a forgone conclusion that not only will the fans be disappointed if the play they call to get it doesn't work, the fans will also think they could have done a better job of calling the play tha the guy that gets paid nearly a mil a year to call the plays called. 

Do coaches outthink themselves?  Yes, I think they do.  Would we have been better to keep pounding the rock with Dyer?  Yes, unless we weren't, then we'd still be having this conversation, but it would instead be about how conservative Malzahn got when the game was on the line. 

[wesfau2]

Like I was suggesting...it's all good playcalling when it works, it's bad play calling when it doesn't.  If they'd have run Dyer up the middle...AGAIN, and gotten stuffed, y'all be bitching about the play calling on that too.  Why?  Well mainly because it didn't work...in fact ONLY because it didn't work. 
Below is the play by play, w/ time from the last punt from MSU until the failed 3d down play.

4 2:35 Auburn Newton rush middle for -3 yards to the MissSt 20. 17 14
4 3:25 Auburn Dyer rush middle for 2 yards to the MissSt 17. 17 14
4 4:00 Auburn Dyer rush middle for 7 yards to the MissSt 19. 17 14
4 4:50 Auburn Burns pass completion to the left to Newton for 22 yards to the MissSt 26. 17 14 
4 5:20 Auburn Dyer rush left for 2 yards to the MissSt 48. 17 14
4 6:00 Auburn Dyer rush left for 11 yards to the MissSt 50. 17 14
4 6:30 Auburn Dyer rush left for 16 yards to the Auburn 38.


Yes, Dyer up the middle, off tackle, or whatever would have been "the smart" play call  UNLESS wasn't. Then it would be "they had run that same damn play 5 of the last 6  plays." They knew it was coming.  Which they had, and which was well designed to set up play action, to throw a TD pass to ice the game, or get a big gain for a first down.  I'm not saying it was right, or wrong, it just was, and it appeares to me (read as just my opinion) that they were trying to set up a coup de gras by making MSU think they were milking the clock with Dyer.  They'd just run the double pass, and maybe they thought MSU was thinking THAT was their one kill shot and they're going to milk it from here...at any rate...bitch if that's what you have to do.  It wasn't a forgone conclusion that Dyer, or any of the backs would get the 4 yards needed for the first down on 4th down, or even gotten the one needed on 2 downs on 3rd and 4th down.  It is ALWAYS a forgone conclusion that not only will the fans be disappointed if the play they call to get it doesn't work, the fans will also think they could have done a better job of calling the play tha the guy that gets paid nearly a mil a year to call the plays called. 

Do coaches outthink themselves?  Yes, I think they do.  Would we have been better to keep pounding the rock with Dyer?  Yes, unless we weren't, then we'd still be having this conversation, but it would instead be about how conservative Malzahn got when the game was on the line.

Thanks, Prowler.

You are getting a little wordy, though.  Stick to skreetz and grillz.  Kthxbai.

[JR4AU]

quote function 1, wes 0, but nice try.  And you know I'm right.

[Snaggletiger]

quote function 1, wes 0, but nice try.  And you know I'm right.

Quote taunt fail +1

He bloded Dyer up the middle twice for 2 yards each.  Game over.

[wesfau2]

quote function 1, wes 0, but nice try.  And you know I'm right.

Dammit.  Jumbo, I need the remedial quote class again.

I'll leave the incriminating evidence up for everyone to point and laugh at.

And, yes, JR, you are right....unless you're not.  And then we'd still be having this conversation.

[JR4AU]

Quote taunt fail +1

He bloded Dyer up the middle twice for 2 yards each.  Game over.

I concur, unless I don't.

[Saniflush]

Dammit.  Jumbo, I need the remedial quote class again.

I'll leave the incriminating evidence up for everyone to point and laugh at.

And, yes, JR, you are right....unless you're not.  And then we'd still be having this conversation.

and laughing

[Godfather]

This thread confuses me

[RWS]

4 2:35 Auburn Newton rush middle for -3 yards to the MissSt 20. 17 14
4 3:25 Auburn Dyer rush middle for 2 yards to the MissSt 17. 17 14
4 4:00 Auburn Dyer rush middle for 7 yards to the MissSt 19. 17 14
4 4:50 Auburn Burns pass completion to the left to Newton for 22 yards to the MissSt 26. 17 14 
4 5:20 Auburn Dyer rush left for 2 yards to the MissSt 48. 17 14
4 6:00 Auburn Dyer rush left for 11 yards to the MissSt 50. 17 14
4 6:30 Auburn Dyer rush left for 16 yards to the Auburn 38.


Yes, Dyer up the middle, off tackle, or whatever would have been "the smart" play call  UNLESS wasn't. Then it would be "they had run that same damn play 5 of the last 6  plays." They knew it was coming.  Which they had, and which was well designed to set up play action, to throw a TD pass to ice the game, or get a big gain for a first down.  I'm not saying it was right, or wrong, it just was, and it appeares to me (read as just my opinion) that they were trying to set up a coup de gras by making MSU think they were milking the clock with Dyer.  They'd just run the double pass, and maybe they thought MSU was thinking THAT was their one kill shot and they're going to milk it from here...at any rate...bitch if that's what you have to do.  It wasn't a forgone conclusion that Dyer, or any of the backs would get the 4 yards needed for the first down on 4th down, or even gotten the one needed on 2 downs on 3rd and 4th down.  It is ALWAYS a forgone conclusion that not only will the fans be disappointed if the play they call to get it doesn't work, the fans will also think they could have done a better job of calling the play tha the guy that gets paid nearly a mil a year to call the plays called. 

Do coaches outthink themselves?  Yes, I think they do.  Would we have been better to keep pounding the rock with Dyer?  Yes, unless we weren't, then we'd still be having this conversation, but it would instead be about how conservative Malzahn got when the game was on the line.

Dyer's previous 5 runs averaged 7 ypc. I agree with your statement with how fans are, to an extent. However, your offense is geared towards the downhill run. My theory is when you need a play, you go with what your team's strength is to get that first down. If that is the play action, or run up the middle, wildcat, triple option, then so be it. If it works, it works. But, just as an example, if the game is on the line and my team needs a first down and only has 1 yard to go and has two downs to do it, I want them to run that fucking ball. That's what we're built to do. Pound the ball between the tackles. That's what we do best. I'm not a coach. Maybe the play action was, in Malzahn's opinion, the best way to go for AU. Maybe that's AU's strength. Like you said, we could argue it forever one way or another. My opinion is that he overthought it. But that's just my opinion. 

Like I said before, part of being a good team is having the right players, and having the ability to make it work your way even when the opposing team knows what you are about to do. Part of being a good team is knowing that you can go out there and gain a yard on the ground over the span of 2 downs against a lesser talented SEC team.

[JR4AU]

Dyer's previous 5 runs averaged 7 ypc. I agree with your statement with how fans are, to an extent. However, your offense is geared towards the downhill run. My theory is when you need a play, you go with what your team's strength is to get that first down. If that is the play action, or run up the middle, wildcat, triple option, then so be it. If it works, it works. But, just as an example, if the game is on the line and my team needs a first down and only has 1 yard to go and has two downs to do it, I want them to run that fucking ball. That's what we're built to do. Pound the ball between the tackles. That's what we do best. I'm not a coach. Maybe the play action was, in Malzahn's opinion, the best way to go for AU. Maybe that's AU's strength. Like you said, we could argue it forever one way or another. My opinion is that he overthought it. But that's just my opinion. 

Like I said before, part of being a good team is having the right players, and having the ability to make it work your way even when the opposing team knows what you are about to do. Part of being a good team is knowing that you can go out there and gain a yard on the ground over the span of 2 downs against a lesser talented SEC team.

As I said, Dyer up the middle would have been the right call..unless it wasn't. 

[The Prowler]

The perfect play to call, to get one yard, is the QB sneak...under the Center.  If any disagrees, then you are a ra-tard you shouldn't have a license to operate a motor vehicle...and should seek immediate help, unless whatever call, you'd make, actually picks up the needed yard...then you're a fuckin' genious smart person or your name is Gus Malzahn.

[AUTailgatingRules]

Just being an ass, but did our "strategy" not produce a win?

[JR4AU]

The perfect play to call, to get one yard, is the QB sneak...under the Center.  If any disagrees, then you are a ra-tard you shouldn't have a license to operate a motor vehicle...and should seek immediate help, unless whatever call, you'd make, actually picks up the needed yard...then you're a fuckin' genious smart person or your name is Gus Malzahn.

A full yard?  Not every time.  A "short yard".  Yeah.  It's probably the safest call to not go backwards, UNLESS you're a shotgun spread team that doesn't take under center snaps a bunch, then you raise the pucker factor beyond that of even a normal play under center.  But, with a cool headed 6-5 250lb qb, it's a solid bet. 

Just being an ass, but did our "strategy" not produce a win?

That's beside the fucking point.