The Call Was Bad Simply Because...
...it didn't appreciate where the players were mentally at the time. When the players are smashing it down the other team's throat running the ball, they want to be shown some appreciation and relied on to do it when it matters most.
Think of it this way -- you're an offensive lineman or a running back, you've had success running the ball all day, and you've just pounded the ball all the way down the field running it. You're DOMINATING the opposing defense at the point of attack.
The call comes in on 3rd and 2 near the goal line and you're hearing it in the huddle -- it's a play-action pass. Where does your head go? Do you break the huddle and line up thinking, "the coaches must be seeing what we're doing -- they have confidence in us that we can keep doing it and with the game with it."
I don't think so. I think you break the huddle and line up scratching your head, wondering why the coaches aren't relying on you to do what you've done well all game.
THAT's why the call was bad. And that has nothing to do with execution, tricking the defense, or taking what the defense was giving us. It has everything to do with knowing your players and getting the most out of them.
Saban needs to take this into consideration, and with the quotes I'm seeing from him about the call, I'm afraid he isn't. That's disappointing -- I thought he was a coach who thought along these lines.
...it didn't appreciate where the players were mentally at the time. When the players are smashing it down the other team's throat running the ball, they want to be shown some appreciation and relied on to do it when it matters most.
Think of it this way -- you're an offensive lineman or a running back, you've had success running the ball all day, and you've just pounded the ball all the way down the field running it. You're DOMINATING the opposing defense at the point of attack.
The call comes in on 3rd and 2 near the goal line and you're hearing it in the huddle -- it's a play-action pass. Where does your head go? Do you break the huddle and line up thinking, "the coaches must be seeing what we're doing -- they have confidence in us that we can keep doing it and with the game with it."
I don't think so. I think you break the huddle and line up scratching your head, wondering why the coaches aren't relying on you to do what you've done well all game.
THAT's why the call was bad. And that has nothing to do with execution, tricking the defense, or taking what the defense was giving us. It has everything to do with knowing your players and getting the most out of them.
Saban needs to take this into consideration, and with the quotes I'm seeing from him about the call, I'm afraid he isn't. That's disappointing -- I thought he was a coach who thought along these lines.
