- Joined
- May 20, 2007
- Messages
- 4,741
- Reaction score
- 4,237
Ok folks, the Sparano bashing is at an unprecedented level and rightfully so with the ill-advised decision to throw a halfback pass on first and goal yesterday. But here is an item that has me baffled to say the least - and it has happened nearly every week he has been the coach and won the coin toss.
Sparano defers every time he wins the toss. No big deal you say? Well here is the big deal, and let me tell you why. I have two reasons why the decision to defer can cost Miami the game and basically did the Dolphins in yesterday. Reason number 1 is opinion, and reason number 2 is fact.
Reason number 1: take the ball and start a ball control, face smashing drive to set the tone. There is nothing more demoralizing than chewing up 7-8 minutes to start the game and get up 3-0 or 7-0. Why play defense first? It is a defensive mentality and shows no confidence in the offensive unit.
Reason number 2: when you defer, the choice to defend a goal is the 2nd choice. So in the first half yesterday, the Fins chose to defend a goal after the Bills took the ball. In the second half, Miami has first choice (ball or goal to defend) and they of course choose the ball. So Buffalo gets to choose a goal, and they take the goal where the wind is with them in the 4th quarter.
So in a nutshell, every time Sparano has deferred, he ends up with the poor side of the field in the 4th quarter. This has come into play at Miami home games where I always was asking why we had to kick off the infield dirt in the 4th quarter. Now we all know why. Yesterday, Lindell kicks a 56 yard FG with the wind at his back. No way in hell he even tries it in the other direction. Ok, so the wind was not overly strong yesterday, but it still was a factor. If you noticed, all kickoffs in the wind aided direction were deep in the end zone, while kickoffs the other direction never made it to the goal line. Additionally, Lindell missed a 44 yard FG in the first half when he did not have the wind direction.
The 56 yarder was basically the game winner, even though we had time to come back. But a kick like that is like a punch to the stomach of a football team.
The fact that Sparano defers directly can impact the outcome of the game, and it contributed yesterday against the Bills. If you win the toss, you basically get the ball to start the game and the wind direction in the 4th quarter. It is a no-brainer.
Sparano defers every time he wins the toss. No big deal you say? Well here is the big deal, and let me tell you why. I have two reasons why the decision to defer can cost Miami the game and basically did the Dolphins in yesterday. Reason number 1 is opinion, and reason number 2 is fact.
Reason number 1: take the ball and start a ball control, face smashing drive to set the tone. There is nothing more demoralizing than chewing up 7-8 minutes to start the game and get up 3-0 or 7-0. Why play defense first? It is a defensive mentality and shows no confidence in the offensive unit.
Reason number 2: when you defer, the choice to defend a goal is the 2nd choice. So in the first half yesterday, the Fins chose to defend a goal after the Bills took the ball. In the second half, Miami has first choice (ball or goal to defend) and they of course choose the ball. So Buffalo gets to choose a goal, and they take the goal where the wind is with them in the 4th quarter.
So in a nutshell, every time Sparano has deferred, he ends up with the poor side of the field in the 4th quarter. This has come into play at Miami home games where I always was asking why we had to kick off the infield dirt in the 4th quarter. Now we all know why. Yesterday, Lindell kicks a 56 yard FG with the wind at his back. No way in hell he even tries it in the other direction. Ok, so the wind was not overly strong yesterday, but it still was a factor. If you noticed, all kickoffs in the wind aided direction were deep in the end zone, while kickoffs the other direction never made it to the goal line. Additionally, Lindell missed a 44 yard FG in the first half when he did not have the wind direction.
The 56 yarder was basically the game winner, even though we had time to come back. But a kick like that is like a punch to the stomach of a football team.
The fact that Sparano defers directly can impact the outcome of the game, and it contributed yesterday against the Bills. If you win the toss, you basically get the ball to start the game and the wind direction in the 4th quarter. It is a no-brainer.
even in baseball I'd rather bat last. With today's Dolphins that is one last 2nd half possession for the defense which is a good thing. I'd rather have defense play the extra possession in the first half.
