Going for two in 2nd OT: Coaching 101

[Dooby]

June is a frustratingly conservative coach. You would think he wouldn't be with the offense he preaches, but he is. He has always punted at midfield. He has always passed up short 4th downs for field goals.

I used to be so perplexed by announcers saying SMU ran an up tempo offense. Until this year, the SMU offense has had the slowest tempo possible. We routinely snapped the ball with no time on the play clock.

THe reality of June is so far afield of what outsiders perceive, it makes you wonder if they ever watched a snap of SMU football.

[PonyKai]

"I don't think about punting."

[mrydel]

"I don't think about punting."

He doesn't. He just does it. Just like he doesn't think about long passes on 3rd and 1. He just does it.

[AusTxPony]

The biggest mistake was not deferring and getting the wind in the first place. June always wants the ball, we do what we do.

[SoCal_Pony]

PAY ATTENTION:

Going for two in the FIRST OT vs. the SECOND OT are TWO COMPLETELY different strategies.

You don't go for two in the first OT because you get the ball LAST in the SECOND.

You don't go for two in the first OT because you've scored first and now the other team needs to score and kick a PAT just to extend the game. And, again, you get the ball last in the second OT.

Flood went for two at Fresno State because they had the ball last -- being on the road had nothing to do with it. The game was already four hours long, with 100-plus points scored and he needed three yards to win the game. Fresno State would have had the ball last -- and at home -- in the SECOND OT if Rutgers kicked the PAT. That's is why they made the EXACT RIGHT PERFECT call. They just didn't get the 2-pointer.

Some of you guys are as dumb as the coaches.

Not that I agree with going for 2, but you bring up an interesting point. More amusing is some of the responses. It's like you are talking to some 3-yr olds.

[pwnyxpress]

I think Rutgers won the toss and deferred.

[ponyte]

One play win or lose. Sounds like a James Bond movie.

In OT play, one has two chances to win at the beginning of the OT period. One on defense and one on offense.

Going for 2 at the end of the second overtime would eliminate the next two chances. Why take one chance when patients gives the team two chances to win in the next OT period?

[SMU 86]

One play win or lose. Sounds like a James Bond movie.

In OT play, one has two chances to win at the beginning of the OT period. One on defense and one on offense.

Going for 2 at the end of the second overtime would eliminate the next two chances. Why take one chance when patients gives the team two chances to win in the next OT period?

Agreed.

[kull]

The way we were moving the ball I'm pretty sure June was confident that they'd would screw up before we did (came pretty damn close). I have no problem with him extending the game.

concur.

[SMUer]

You take one chance because while you are "hot", they have the superior team; the more chances you give, the more opportunity you create for them to assert their superiority.

Look at La-Monroe vs. Arkansas last year for how to pull out upsets.

[ghost]

Like the Cowboys, hope they get some confidence out of this. I think it would have been worth a try to go for two. If you can't stop a team on 3rd and 28 in OT then have Gilbert try to win it with his legs since you d has coverage and takling issues and your o line is having trouble even staying close enough to guys to hold!

[Alaric]

I was a little surprised that in the third OT, we kicked the FG. I understand that it was 4th and 5(?), but, given that Rutgers had just scored a 29 yard TD pass on Third and 24, and we had demonstrated a solid inability to prevent them from scoring touchdowns, I thought we should have gone for it. I know, hindsight and all, but they had scored 7 touchdowns on the day up to that point (yes, two in OT).

That's what I was surprised with as well...I would have gambled but I wouldn't second guess the decision, just not what I would have done

[PoconoPony]

The biggest mistake was not deferring and getting the wind in the first place. June always wants the ball, we do what we do.

Rutgers won the coin toss and elected to defend. We chose the field end.

[AusTxPony]

Oh...nevermind.

[mrydel]

The biggest mistake was not deferring and getting the wind in the first place. June always wants the ball, we do what we do.

Rutgers won the coin toss and elected to defend. We chose the field end.

We would not have chosen to go against the wind. Rutgers either deferred and we chose to receive or Rutgers chose the wind and we chose to receive. Since Rutgers got the ball to start the second half I have to assume that they deferred and we chose to receive. That is Jones' normal call.

I just understood what Poconopony was saying. He is referring to the OT. I think (could be wrong) that AusTxpony was referring to the start of the game. Either way, it is over now.