Coaches got too conservative at the end.....

[Eddie Gran can coach]

Keep in mind a bowl game is in the back pocket with upcoming Austin Peay game, so the coaches have NOTHIING TO LOSE by playing to win, but Saturday, they hoped not to lose, especially the last 3 minutes.

Eddie Gran has the jump pass in his arsenal (used it at Cincinnati with great success), they have that play with Benny throwing it to Conrad over the middle, the perfect time to use would have been either 1st and goal or 2nd or goal, only thing that kept them from making that call is fear of failure. News flash, coaches, not one fan would have criticized the decision for the jump pass or any other pass designed to WIN the game, a fade to Dorian Baker, is a wimpy call, low percentage, pure and simple. Play to WIN THE GAME.

On defense the final drive, Stoops absolutely froze with fear: No press coverage, no blitzing, nothing just soft coverage and bled a slow death. In a tie game, at home, with 2 minutes to play, facing a true freshman QB, you gotta throw the kitchen sink at him, but once again, they play conservative and give up 3 straight 10 yard out patterns, with corners giving at least 12 yards of cushion.

Take the handcuffs off Steven Johnson on offense, play to win, and on defense, bring pressure, and utilize your 2 corners who can play press coverage.

Stoops said the players didn't have the "edge" or "right look in their eyes", I see that with the coaches too!

Learn from this and go for the jugular in game deciding moments: No risk-it, no biscuit, don't play scared, play smart and GO FOR IT!

 

[RackOps]

Have you considered changing your screen name to "I love irony"?

 

[reflaine]

Jump passes usually work when you are inside the two or three. You don't see jump passes on the nine because there is guys at the four and five reading the play.

 

[Eddie Gran can coach]

Jump passes usually work when you are inside the two or three. You don't see jump passes on the nine because there is guys at the four and five reading the play.

 

[Eddie Gran can coach]

Usually jump passes work best at 5 yards and in, I agree, but Kirby Smart called time out and dressed him team down to sell out to stop the Wildcat Run, it would have worked, cause their backers sold out on the snap on both 1st and 2nd down.....Does it take big balls, absolutely, but how many times will UK ever be in position to potentially win the SEC East......It was very conservative coaching in the last 3 minutes....thought the staff was beyond those fears, gotta trust your players

 

[Eddie Gran can coach]

Have you considered changing your screen name to "I love irony"?

Yeah, good point, but I noticed that Stoops intervened and hurriedly called time out before third down play (with 15 seconds left on play clock), we will never know what the original call would have been, all I do know is that Stoops specifically called for the fade at the end

 

[fuzz77]

Keep in mind a bowl game is in the back pocket with upcoming Austin Peay game, so the coaches have NOTHIING TO LOSE by playing to win, but Saturday, they hoped not to lose, especially the last 3 minutes.

Eddie Gran has the jump pass in his arsenal (used it at Cincinnati with great success), they have that play with Benny throwing it to Conrad over the middle, the perfect time to use would have been either 1st and goal or 2nd or goal, only thing that kept them from making that call is fear of failure. News flash, coaches, not one fan would have criticized the decision for the jump pass or any other pass designed to WIN the game, a fade to Dorian Baker, is a wimpy call, low percentage, pure and simple. Play to WIN THE GAME.

On defense the final drive, Stoops absolutely froze with fear: No press coverage, no blitzing, nothing just soft coverage and bled a slow death. In a tie game, at home, with 2 minutes to play, facing a true freshman QB, you gotta throw the kitchen sink at him, but once again, they play conservative and give up 3 straight 10 yard out patterns, with corners giving at least 12 yards of cushion.

Take the handcuffs off Steven Johnson on offense, play to win, and on defense, bring pressure, and utilize your 2 corners who can play press coverage.

Stoops said the players didn't have the "edge" or "right look in their eyes", I see that with the coaches too!

Learn from this and go for the jugular in game deciding moments: No risk-it, no biscuit, don't play scared, play smart and GO FOR IT!

You realize that UGA's first TD was on a play where "we brought pressure". We tried blitzes all night long and were not getting anyone through. Blitzes are good if they are successful in bringing pressure, otherwise it leaves your defense at a disadvantage.
We did send blitzers on that last drive several times and again they just were not able to get pressure on the QB. Not sure what game you were watching.
Johnson has a problem throwing short passes. He throws a beautiful long ball but as trouble on the shorter routes. Boom and Snell both averaged > 5 yds/carry. On average if you hand them the ball they will get 1st downs on every other carry. Call it conservative if you like but they are playing the percentages. If you go against the percentages you will lose more times than you win. Vegas is built on playing the percentages.

 

[AlaKat]

Really the only coaching criticism I have is on the final drive. I would've played press coverage to throw off timing and made the true freshman QB make tough throws. Otherwise, I thought they called a great game. UGA is a talented team and deserve some credit for winning a tough game on the road.

 

[Mikey Likes It]

Would have been the perfect series to finally find the tight end. If only we could make that throw.

 

[Bluetick2100]

Hindsight is always 20/20

 

[Comebakatz3]

You realize that UGA's first TD was on a play where "we brought pressure". We tried blitzes all night long and were not getting anyone through. Blitzes are good if they are successful in bringing pressure, otherwise it leaves your defense at a disadvantage.
We did send blitzers on that last drive several times and again they just were not able to get pressure on the QB. Not sure what game you were watching.
Johnson has a problem throwing short passes. He throws a beautiful long ball but as trouble on the shorter routes. Boom and Snell both averaged > 5 yds/carry. On average if you hand them the ball they will get 1st downs on every other carry. Call it conservative if you like but they are playing the percentages. If you go against the percentages you will lose more times than you win. Vegas is built on playing the percentages.

Having a blitz with a soft cushion is going to be pretty counter-productive when the offense is in the mode to take what they can get, keep the chains moving, and get in field goal range. We needed to force Eason into making hard throws deeper down the field, but instead we just gave him his strength and essentially quashed our own pass rush by not giving them time to get to the quarterback. To be honest, even getting beat deep was probably better than letting them catch the ball in front of us for first downs because at least if they scored quick we'd have a chance to tie it. With the cushion we gave we basically handed them the game.

I think the being too conservative people are referring to is not about wanting to throw the ball more, but just about being more creative in our run game. I'm not sure what the breakdown was, but it wouldn't surprise me if runs right up the middle weren't 90 percent of our runs. I think more people wanted to see some runs outside of the tackles. Maybe use the sweep or a reverse. Just something to give Georgia something new to defend rather than a run up the middle. Yes, we were getting 3-5 yards per chunk on these, but a lot of those were somewhat superhuman plays and we might have been a bit better had we been able to loosen the UGA defense.

Now, all that being said, had UK completed the two big time throws in the third quarter instead of those being fumbled/intercepted then I think that would have opened the run game up a lot more, and would have helped us a lot. I think we had the opportunity, but when it really mattered we didn't execute.

 

[3Ringer]

I agree that the Offensive and defensive play calling was too conservative late in the game. The WR fumble after a great play and the TD catch-turned INT were plays that seemingly only happen at UK. But the thing I really can't figure out with the coaches.....how do we not have a player in uniform (QB or other position) who can practice the most basic pass plays Monday thru Friday and then execute a few of them on Saturdays?

I realize the biggest blunders all night were on perfectly thrown passes by Johnson. But is he THAT bad that they can't rely on him to throw a decent pass on an out route? A screen? Short pass to a TE? I just don't understand how our coaches can spend so much time with a QB (with whom they had enough confidence in to recruit and offer a spot on the team), yet not be able to draw up a few basic pass plays that they can call to simply keep the defense honest.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

UK's WR had a big size advantage over UGA's DB and would have been the call from most coaches under the circumstances. Its relatively safe because only 1 defender, put the ball where only your guy has a chance. The execution was not good, he was a little late throwing it and ran him out of bounds, plus our guy had it covered as best as he could. Any pass inside was into more traffic which means a higher chance of turnover. At the time I am sure Stoops would have been happy to tie and go into OT at home, which isn't all that unreasonable on his part. UK had done a good job slowing us down, our FG kicker is a true frosh kicking in the enemy's house for a game winner, Stoops had to like those odds. I don't think he expected us to get as close as we ended up getting.

 

[Kats23]

I think they did get too conservative a couple of times and it very well may have cost them the game.

1st drive of the 2nd half, all everyone wants to talk about is the hold on the FG but people are forgetting we opened with 3 straight run up the middle plays after getting the ball back from a fumble. I really thought at the time that was a huge mistake. The momentum was really shifting towards UK after that so why not at least try to air out on first down. You could of crushed Georgia's hopes right there. I know we got a 3 and out and took it down and scored but putting 6 points up after a costly TO to start the half is demoralizing.

I wouldn't call the first and goal toward the end of the game "too conservative" as much as I would call it "too predictable" Just once I would like to see Snell hand that thing off on a jet sweep out of the Wildcat esp when UK was on the right hashline. It would at least have made Georgia think about it. Instead, you had them basically all gunning for Benny and when the field shortens, it makes it that much harder to get loose.

 

[Comebakatz3]

UK's WR had a big size advantage over UGA's DB and would have been the call from most coaches under the circumstances. Its relatively safe because only 1 defender, put the ball where only your guy has a chance. The execution was not good, he was a little late throwing it and ran him out of bounds, plus our guy had it covered as best as he could. Any pass inside was into more traffic which means a higher chance of turnover. At the time I am sure Stoops would have been happy to tie and go into OT at home, which isn't all that unreasonable on his part. UK had done a good job slowing us down, our FG kicker is a true frosh kicking in the enemy's house for a game winner, Stoops had to like those odds. I don't think he expected us to get as close as we ended up getting.

I think that it was a safe throw. I don't like it, but it definitely was a safe throw. What I would have preferred is something that possibly gives Johnson the option to run or to throw. Roll him out and if you can drag a tight end or a receiver across the field and he gets open then hit him. If not, see if you Johnson can get upfield and near the endzone. Then you can consider going for it on 4th down if you're close.

That being said, I know it is easy in hindsight to second guess. If the fade worked there then no one would care that we called that play.

 

[megablue]

Having a blitz with a soft cushion is going to be pretty counter-productive when the offense is in the mode to take what they can get, keep the chains moving, and get in field goal range. We needed to force Eason into making hard throws deeper down the field, but instead we just gave him his strength and essentially quashed our own pass rush by not giving them time to get to the quarterback. To be honest, even getting beat deep was probably better than letting them catch the ball in front of us for first downs because at least if they scored quick we'd have a chance to tie it. With the cushion we gave we basically handed them the game.

I think the being too conservative people are referring to is not about wanting to throw the ball more, but just about being more creative in our run game. I'm not sure what the breakdown was, but it wouldn't surprise me if runs right up the middle weren't 90 percent of our runs. I think more people wanted to see some runs outside of the tackles. Maybe use the sweep or a reverse. Just something to give Georgia something new to defend rather than a run up the middle. Yes, we were getting 3-5 yards per chunk on these, but a lot of those were somewhat superhuman plays and we might have been a bit better had we been able to loosen the UGA defense.

Now, all that being said, had UK completed the two big time throws in the third quarter instead of those being fumbled/intercepted then I think that would have opened the run game up a lot more, and would have helped us a lot. I think we had the opportunity, but when it really mattered we didn't execute.

Yes.....they were "big time throws" and people seem to forget how good and timely they really were.

 

[fuzz77]

I agree that the Offensive and defensive play calling was too conservative late in the game. The WR fumble after a great play and the TD catch-turned INT were plays that seemingly only happen at UK. But the thing I really can't figure out with the coaches.....how do we not have a player in uniform (QB or other position) who can practice the most basic pass plays Monday thru Friday and then execute a few of them on Saturdays?

I realize the biggest blunders all night were on perfectly thrown passes by Johnson. But is he THAT bad that they can't rely on him to throw a decent pass on an out route? A screen? Short pass to a TE? I just don't understand how our coaches can spend so much time with a QB (with whom they had enough confidence in to recruit and offer a spot on the team), yet not be able to draw up a few basic pass plays that they can call to simply keep the defense honest.

Put any of the QBs out there throwing against air and they make those passes all day long. You don't know how well any QB will throw under pressure until you see them under pressure. Johnson was 17-22 throwing against N.Mexico State and many of those were shorter passes. I'm sure against JC competition he completed a high percentage. Johnson struggles with short passes and throwing on the move. Hey, some MLB pitchers can throw pin-point pitches to the plate but can't throw it to first base.
We've all seen what Johnson can do. Yes, he can make those throws but he can't do so consistently.
Patrick Towles has an NFL arm but Johnson is completing a higher percentage (56% vs 51%) and has a higher QBR (127 vs 113) than does Pat. With all his warts I still like SJ. I think the kid is a winner.

 

[megablue]

Is it possible for Snell to hand the ball off to Johnson in motion and then follow him for an option pitch back, going wide to the far side?

 

[Eddie Gran can coach]

Yes.....they were "big time throws" and people seem to forget how good and timely they really were.

Frankly folks, that quarterback with that arm combined with out patterns with soft cushion = easy throws. Eason has struggled against pressure and press coverage, he waits until receivers are open to throw as Jesse Palmer pointed out on telecasts, giving him out pattern gimmes on last drive is just inexcusable coaching. Westry and Baity are both capable of playing press coverage against those receivers. You cant let Eason play pitch and catch for 40 yards down the field

 

[3Ringer]

Put any of the QBs out there throwing against air and they make those passes all day long. You don't know how well any QB will throw under pressure until you see them under pressure. Johnson was 17-22 throwing against N.Mexico State and many of those were shorter passes. I'm sure against JC competition he completed a high percentage. Johnson struggles with short passes and throwing on the move. Hey, some MLB pitchers can throw pin-point pitches to the plate but can't throw it to first base.
We've all seen what Johnson can do. Yes, he can make those throws but he can't do so consistently.
Patrick Towles has an NFL arm but Johnson is completing a higher percentage (56% vs 51%) and has a higher QBR (127 vs 113) than does Pat. With all his warts I still like SJ. I think the kid is a winner.

I am not bashing Johnson personally, seems like a very likable kid. I just don't understand how he can be the best answer we have at QB. You say yourself that he struggles with short passes and throwing on the move. Our staff has ZERO confidence in him and prefers to run up the middle 3-4 times in a row to move the chains. We are the most predictable one-dimensional offense (ranked 229th in passing yardage) in the country because of our QBs limitations and our staff's lack of confidence in him. Our O-line and core of running backs are good enough to pummel inferior competition (when our D minimizes their mistakes), but an offense with ZERO threat to pass will not succeed in the long run.

 

[fuzz77]

I am not bashing Johnson personally, seems like a very likable kid. I just don't understand how he can be the best answer we have at QB. You say yourself that he struggles with short passes and throwing on the move. Our staff has ZERO confidence in him and prefers to run up the middle 3-4 times in a row to move the chains. We are the most predictable one-dimensional offense (ranked 229th in passing yardage) in the country because of our QBs limitations and our staff's lack of confidence in him. Our O-line and core of running backs are good enough to pummel inferior competition (when our D minimizes their mistakes), but an offense with ZERO threat to pass will not succeed in the long run.

If you are moving the chains running the ball up the middle, why would you throw?
How can you say they have "ZERO confidence in him" yet he attempted 20 passes against UGA? (We rushed the ball 40 times).
Purdue is ranked 16th in passing yardage and they are 3-6, Syracuse is ranked 11th and are 4-5. There is only one statistic that really matters and that is wins.

 

[Blueaz]

Yeah, good point, but I noticed that Stoops intervened and hurriedly called time out before third down play (with 15 seconds left on play clock), we will never know what the original call would have been, all I do know is that Stoops specifically called for the fade at the end

you do know that? how?
I think he wanted a pass...but, how do you know he called the fade?. Which BTW IMO was a poor call

 

[sluggercatfan]

Keep in mind a bowl game is in the back pocket with upcoming Austin Peay game, so the coaches have NOTHIING TO LOSE by playing to win, but Saturday, they hoped not to lose, especially the last 3 minutes.

Eddie Gran has the jump pass in his arsenal (used it at Cincinnati with great success), they have that play with Benny throwing it to Conrad over the middle, the perfect time to use would have been either 1st and goal or 2nd or goal, only thing that kept them from making that call is fear of failure. News flash, coaches, not one fan would have criticized the decision for the jump pass or any other pass designed to WIN the game, a fade to Dorian Baker, is a wimpy call, low percentage, pure and simple. Play to WIN THE GAME.

On defense the final drive, Stoops absolutely froze with fear: No press coverage, no blitzing, nothing just soft coverage and bled a slow death. In a tie game, at home, with 2 minutes to play, facing a true freshman QB, you gotta throw the kitchen sink at him, but once again, they play conservative and give up 3 straight 10 yard out patterns, with corners giving at least 12 yards of cushion.

Take the handcuffs off Steven Johnson on offense, play to win, and on defense, bring pressure, and utilize your 2 corners who can play press coverage.

Stoops said the players didn't have the "edge" or "right look in their eyes", I see that with the coaches too!

Learn from this and go for the jugular in game deciding moments: No risk-it, no biscuit, don't play scared, play smart and GO FOR IT!

Good post!!

 

[sluggercatfan]

I am not bashing Johnson personally, seems like a very likable kid. I just don't understand how he can be the best answer we have at QB. You say yourself that he struggles with short passes and throwing on the move. Our staff has ZERO confidence in him and prefers to run up the middle 3-4 times in a row to move the chains. We are the most predictable one-dimensional offense (ranked 229th in passing yardage) in the country because of our QBs limitations and our staff's lack of confidence in him. Our O-line and core of running backs are good enough to pummel inferior competition (when our D minimizes their mistakes), but an offense with ZERO threat to pass will not succeed in the long run.

If WR don't drop the ball on Sat SJ is over 70% and 200 yds

 

[megablue]

Frankly folks, that quarterback with that arm combined with out patterns with soft cushion = easy throws. Eason has struggled against pressure and press coverage, he waits until receivers are open to throw as Jesse Palmer pointed out on telecasts, giving him out pattern gimmes on last drive is just inexcusable coaching. Westry and Baity are both capable of playing press coverage against those receivers. You cant let Eason play pitch and catch for 40 yards down the field

Frankly folks, that quarterback with that arm combined with out patterns with soft cushion = easy throws. Eason has struggled against pressure and press coverage, he waits until receivers are open to throw as Jesse Palmer pointed out on telecasts, giving him out pattern gimmes on last drive is just inexcusable coaching. Westry and Baity are both capable of playing press coverage against those receivers. You cant let Eason play pitch and catch for 40 yards down the field

I was talking about the throws to Garrett Johnson and Badet by SJ. Eddie Gran said the same thing after the game.

 

[megablue]

If WR don't drop the ball on Sat SJ is over 70% and 200 yds

Exactly

 

[WildCard]

Good post!!

I had to read it a couple of times and think about it a bit, but yeah, the OP is dead on. Sure, the Cats messed up earlier but in games decided by 7 or less the loser can almost always point to a play or two that could have been a winning difference.

When Kirby called that TO facing 1st and Goal, I thought he was going to strangle every player on the GA defense. I won't pretend to know what the Cats should have called but, at that point, Snell between the tackles was pretty much off the table.

And, yes, the defense was equally "conservative" on the winning FG drive. Maybe even "worse". You gotta do something to get GA behind the sticks. Instead, GA moved the ball 67 yards on 8 plays and NEVER faced a 3rd down situation.

Peace

 

[Eddie Gran can coach]

I was talking about the throws to Garrett Johnson and Badet by SJ. Eddie Gran said the same thing after the game.

I thought Steven Johnson threw about 16 or 17 quality passes on the money out of 20 attempts, I do know this much: UK is not 5-4 with any other quarterback on the roster, he has done a damn good job for a 1st Year JuCo

 

[lookinfor8]

Keep in mind a bowl game is in the back pocket with upcoming Austin Peay game, so the coaches have NOTHIING TO LOSE by playing to win, but Saturday, they hoped not to lose, especially the last 3 minutes.

Eddie Gran has the jump pass in his arsenal (used it at Cincinnati with great success), they have that play with Benny throwing it to Conrad over the middle, the perfect time to use would have been either 1st and goal or 2nd or goal, only thing that kept them from making that call is fear of failure. News flash, coaches, not one fan would have criticized the decision for the jump pass or any other pass designed to WIN the game, a fade to Dorian Baker, is a wimpy call, low percentage, pure and simple. Play to WIN THE GAME.

On defense the final drive, Stoops absolutely froze with fear: No press coverage, no blitzing, nothing just soft coverage and bled a slow death. In a tie game, at home, with 2 minutes to play, facing a true freshman QB, you gotta throw the kitchen sink at him, but once again, they play conservative and give up 3 straight 10 yard out patterns, with corners giving at least 12 yards of cushion.

Take the handcuffs off Steven Johnson on offense, play to win, and on defense, bring pressure, and utilize your 2 corners who can play press coverage.

Stoops said the players didn't have the "edge" or "right look in their eyes", I see that with the coaches too!

Learn from this and go for the jugular in game deciding moments: No risk-it, no biscuit, don't play scared, play smart and GO FOR IT!

Good summary & spot on.

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

Playing conservative and scared against a more talented team usually won't work. The last two runs up the middle by Snell and playing cushion defense on GA's last drive is very much the overall mind set of the coaching staff. We will play that way again Saturday. Hoping to keep it close, run the clock and have an attitude that we are playing in Neyland Stadium and the only way to win is to try and keep it close and hope for the best. Now, the players will believe they can't make a mistake or turn the ball over because according to their coaches this is their only chance.

Their mind set, from the coaches, should be that we are going to hurt, on every play, on offense and defense. We are going to play so hard and so physical and we aren't going to let up when we get ahead but go for the blow out and go for the hurt on every play till the very last play. We will be the mentally and physically tougher and if some of us get thrown out of the game because of it, we have Austin Peay next. We despise the TN fans and we will send all 100,000 of them home very sad. They will have no effect on us, their yelling, whaling and knashing of their teeth will mean nothing to us because what can they do but sit there and make noise. We know their coach is not very good, we are as big and talented as them. Why should we allow them to be meaner, tougher and want it more than us? Why shouldn't we just go in there and beat their brains in? Cause physical and mental harm.

Play to win. Not to lose.