Good, bad and ugly. Post game reactions vs Dolphins

[MTK]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

I don't get the play calling criticism.



What should have been called differently when?



I thought Gruden (or McVay and/or Callahan however it was) and Kirk checking out of plays at the line, did a great job limiting their pass rush and putting us in manageable situations.



I don't know what you're supposed to call when you're looking at 1st and 20 almost all the way through the third.



Bottom line is that when our own mistakes through penalties didn't put us in a down and distance disadvantage we moved the ball.



Like some other posters in this thread have noted, conservative play calling wasn't unexpected and was warranted with Kirk's reaction to throwing picks last year. I don't have any problem with the way the game was called.



They started keying run int he second half and when we weren't in a hole, Kirk moved the ball through the air.



For the first time in a long time, we had a chance to win against a good team in the last 2 minutes of the game.



In the gameday thread somebody noted the clock could have been managed better at the end of the 2nd half to take our possession past the 2 minute warning. This is a legit criticism.



A lot of generalizations about bad play calling and Gruden not seeming like a head coach in this thread with no real specifics.

Well stated.

[Chico23231]

In regards to the play calls, 2 stood out. The decision to not go for it on 4 and one b4 the missed field goal and the Kirk bad int where we ran 4 wide up against our end zone on 3rd and 18. I thought the back to back runs on third and longs was ok, but if ur gonna do that then take a shot down the field on like a 1st down when pass the 50 yard line...keep the defense a little more off balanced

[skinsfaninok]

O line was great today
D line very good
Cousins average
Morris great
Reed good

Overall team I'd say C+

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

This is a good post and I agree with all points, but do you think Snyder gives Scot that long?

Why do you think he's on a short leash?

He's one of the best talent evaluators in the biz, it was a great move to get him here. Gruden has something to prove, McCloughan on the other hand has a resume that gives him serious clout.

[Skinzman]

There was more than just a couple of plays that made no sense. We ran the ball down there throat in that first drive. Then he tries to pass on a first down and its an 8 yard sack. Then he just gives up on the drive in the next two plays for the FG. The next drive we move the ball, but on 3rd and 3, he tries a power run off tackle with Thompson. I dont criticize the run call, what I criticize is a power run with Thompson when we have Alfred and Jones. Get Thompson outside or run a draw with him. I dont really fault him for going for that second FG.

We get that crazy fumble that we gain possession of in Miami territory. We get a weird drop back pass to the FB where Young had to break a tackle just to get back to the line of scrimmage followed by a WR screen with no one blocking. Just throw it to the WR at the line of scrimmage while he is covered. There were others as well, just those are the ones that stick out to me. There were times we were moving the ball and he went away from what was working and it stalled drives.

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

In regards to the play calls, 2 stood out. The decision to not go for it on 4 and one b4 the missed field goal and the Kirk bad int where we ran 4 wide up against our end zone on 3rd and 18. I thought the back to back runs on third and longs was ok, but if ur gonna do that then take a shot down the field on like a 1st down when pass the 50 yard line...keep the defense a little more off balanced

Not to nitpick, but. . .

My heart always wants to go for it but my head says we can't pass up points against a stout defense.

I can see the argument either way, but it wasn't a bad coaching decision to go for what should have been 3 points.

Kirk should have never thrown the ball on the first interception. It was covered. He was out of the pocket so he could have sailed it out of bounds or thrown it at their feet.

I don't fault the play call, I fault Kirk's decision to throw that one. It's 3rd and 18. Hard to call a play to pick up the first without putting the ball at risk through an interception from pressure, or a sack fumble.

So on play called on the 1st interception, was it the actual play call or the execution you find fault with?

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by Skinzman

There was more than just a couple of plays that made no sense. We ran the ball down there throat in that first drive. Then he tries to pass on a first down and its an 8 yard sack. Then he just gives up on the drive in the next two plays for the FG. The next drive we move the ball, but on 3rd and 3, he tries a power run off tackle with Thompson. I dont criticize the run call, what I criticize is a power run with Thompson when we have Alfred and Jones. Get Thompson outside or run a draw with him. I dont really fault him for going for that second FG.

We get that crazy fumble that we gain possession of in Miami territory. We get a weird drop back pass to the FB where Young had to break a tackle just to get back to the line of scrimmage followed by a WR screen with no one blocking. Just throw it to the WR at the line of scrimmage while he is covered. There were others as well, just those are the ones that stick out to me. There were times we were moving the ball and he went away from what was working and it stalled drives.

When Kirk made the weird pass to Young, he was running backwards as fast as he could because two Miami players were chasing him. It looked as if they beat the protection quicker than anticipated.

They really started keying the run after the half by bringing another defender in the box.

When Kirk started connecting they seemed to play more honest.

A lot of the play calling was based on the defensive looks they were giving.

Their defensive strategy wasn't static throughout the game.

[punch it in]

"It's frustrating, because we did have some opportunities there, both sides of the ball," coach Jay Gruden said. "And we've got to punch it in."
My sentiments exactly.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

Not to nitpick, but. . .

My heart always wants to go for it but my head says we can't pass up points against a stout defense.

I can see the argument either way, but it wasn't a bad coaching decision to go for what should have been 3 points.

Kirk should have never thrown the ball on the first interception. It was covered. He was out of the pocket so he could have sailed it out of bounds or thrown it at their feet.

I don't fault the play call, I fault Kirk's decision to throw that one. It's 3rd and 18. Hard to call a play to pick up the first without putting the ball at risk through an interception from pressure, or a sack fumble.

So on play called on the 1st interception, was it the actual play call or the execution you find fault with?

It was an aggressive playcall in an area of the field u can't make a mistake in...and on the other hand we went way conservative on their side of the field where being aggressive against the defense is more the status quo.

U could have thrown the ball but with a safer call...WR/rb screen, maybe a wheel route with the rb (by the way I thought we wanted to throw more to the rb?), maybe a boot, Etc...

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

It was an aggressive playcall in an area of the field u can't make a mistake in...and on the other hand we went way conservative on their side of the field where being aggressive against the defense is more the status quo.

U could have thrown the ball but with a safer call...WR/rb screen, maybe a wheel route with the rb (by the way I thought we wanted to throw more to the rb?), maybe a boot, Etc...

You put the interception more on Jay or whoever called the play than Kirk?

He was rolling away from pressure, not sure if it was by design, and could survey the field, and threw it anyway.

[Skinzman]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

When Kirk made the weird pass to Young, he was running backwards as fast as he could because two Miami players were chasing him. It looked as if they beat the protection quicker than anticipated.

They really started keying the run after the half by bringing another defender in the box.

When Kirk started connecting they seemed to play more honest.

A lot of the play calling was based on the defensive looks they were giving.

Their defensive strategy wasn't static throughout the game.

Of course they started keying the run, we ran it down their throats. But thats what I talk about when I talk about no halftime adjustments. That has to be predicted. I knew that would happen and I dont have a job in football so someone making 5 mil a year as a career football guy has to anticipate that.

A lot of the play calling was not based on the defensive looks they were giving, they were based on the defensive looks that they gave earlier in the game. No anticipation on what the defense might do. Once the dolphins started adjusting, we were lost.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

You put the interception more on Jay or whoever called the play than Kirk?

clearly calling an agressive throw on 3rd and 18 backed up against your end zone makes zero sense when your running draws on 3 and 8 on your opponents' 30 yard line...its not consistent.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

You put the interception more on Jay or whoever called the play than Kirk?

He was rolling away from pressure, not sure if it was by design, and could survey the field, and threw it anyway.

He was rolling away from pressure because of the formation...I believe they had 3 WR and 1 TE...and the TE was split out. I think it was either pistol or shotgun. So that's aggressive out within your own red zone

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

He was rolling away from pressure because of the formation...I believe they had 3 WR and 1 TE...and the TE was split out. I think it was either pistol or shotgun. So that's aggressive out within your own red zone

If he is rolling away from pressure because of the formation and the play gives him a view of the defense unobstructed by rushers, isn't that a really safe pass to call on 3rd and 18?

[HonoluluBlue]

I'm a Michigan State alumnus so I know a bit about Cousins.

Cousins can take you where you need to go under the right circumstances. He's got very good character and just enough talent.

No, he's not going to be Tom Brady, but he can be Eli Manning or Joe Flacco with enough time and the right supporting cast. Of course with your team getting the right supports is going to take some time.

But, hey, they didn't blow a 21-3 lead today. Unlike some teams.

*sits in a corner and cries*