False Bravado

What happened the the relentless attacking style of June Jones? Did he leave it on the islands?
Last night was a tough one and it's easy to point fingers. Navy is a solid team, well-coached and disciplined. Their staff made great adjustments and exploited our defense for 30-plus minutes last night. Have to give them some credit. They came back from 14 down on the road and won the game after being down on the mat late in the first half.
Yet, for the THIRD straight week, Jones elected to eat his timeouts in the first half and not try to get more points. It didn't really matter at TCU, it could have made a difference last week vs. East Carolina and last night, having run off 21 unanswered points, he didn't go for the jugular. Last I checked, Navy put up 63 points the week before. Try to get all the points you can get, coach, and KNOCK 'EM OUT. That's not the June Jones SMU thinks it hired. At least I don't think it is. That's playing not to lose.
Another point, and this is personal preference. Down by seven, late in the game, with your defense having been shredded for 28 second-half points, I think you GO FOR 2 after you score with 1:35 left. You need three freaking yards to WIN THE GAME. Instead, you put Navy's offense back on the field -- in regulation AND OVERTIME. Excuse me, guys, but you HAVE NOT STOPPED THEM THE WHOLE SECOND HALF! Even if you miss the 2-pointer, you onside kick and you have ALL THREE TIMEOUTS LEFT! Why in the WORLD would you put Navy's offense back out on the field in a tie game at that point?
Again, playing not to lose. When you play not to lose, you usually lose, unless you get lucky. We are now 1-10 all-time in overtime, the worst record in the nation since the rule came into play, including 0-2 this year -- all without scoring a single overtime point!
At 3-3, we still have improved over last year and this team is still inexperienced. But, my goodness, with a little balls, we should be 5-1 and the talk of the national media going to Houston this weekend. You can't get greedy, but geez, last night was another torturous loss.
Last night was a tough one and it's easy to point fingers. Navy is a solid team, well-coached and disciplined. Their staff made great adjustments and exploited our defense for 30-plus minutes last night. Have to give them some credit. They came back from 14 down on the road and won the game after being down on the mat late in the first half.
Yet, for the THIRD straight week, Jones elected to eat his timeouts in the first half and not try to get more points. It didn't really matter at TCU, it could have made a difference last week vs. East Carolina and last night, having run off 21 unanswered points, he didn't go for the jugular. Last I checked, Navy put up 63 points the week before. Try to get all the points you can get, coach, and KNOCK 'EM OUT. That's not the June Jones SMU thinks it hired. At least I don't think it is. That's playing not to lose.
Another point, and this is personal preference. Down by seven, late in the game, with your defense having been shredded for 28 second-half points, I think you GO FOR 2 after you score with 1:35 left. You need three freaking yards to WIN THE GAME. Instead, you put Navy's offense back on the field -- in regulation AND OVERTIME. Excuse me, guys, but you HAVE NOT STOPPED THEM THE WHOLE SECOND HALF! Even if you miss the 2-pointer, you onside kick and you have ALL THREE TIMEOUTS LEFT! Why in the WORLD would you put Navy's offense back out on the field in a tie game at that point?
Again, playing not to lose. When you play not to lose, you usually lose, unless you get lucky. We are now 1-10 all-time in overtime, the worst record in the nation since the rule came into play, including 0-2 this year -- all without scoring a single overtime point!
At 3-3, we still have improved over last year and this team is still inexperienced. But, my goodness, with a little balls, we should be 5-1 and the talk of the national media going to Houston this weekend. You can't get greedy, but geez, last night was another torturous loss.