Why do we defer?
Watching this game of body blows, I can't help wondering why we defer when we're clearly so much more dominant on offense than on defense? I'm not a mathematician, but seems to me it's possible to have more possesions in a game only if you receive the ball to start, or recover an onsides kick. We're basicaly assuring our offense will receieve the same number of possesions, or one fewer for the game, by kicking off to start the 1st half. Not a big deal, but in a game like this that one extra posession could mean OT or a loss. Nice to get the ball to start the 2nd half, but in the grand scheme it doesn't make sense.
I just keep thinking about how IU had one more posession than we had during the first half, no guarantee that'll even out in the 2nd half. Thoughts?
October 2nd, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
it's all pretty even. I'd defer to get the ball last. Also weather, wind and sun would factor in.
October 2nd, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
Yeah, you're right - about not being a mathematician.
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
Truly. How does getting the ball to begin the first half get you more possessions than getting it the 2nd half.
October 2nd, 2010 at 6:55 PM ^
I want the ball to start the 2nd half to tilt the momentum in our favor for the rest of the game. Worst case scenario, we're likely to be right around tied at the half, and a TD to start the 3rd can get the ball rolling for us.
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:02 PM ^
This game is the reason why Michigan defers. The game was tied at halftime, and we got the ball last. Denard worked his magic and we won. The entire second half, as long as the offense holds serve, we are in a position to play with the lead.
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
I'm not a mathematician, but seems to me it's possible to have more possesions in a game only if you receive the ball to start, or recover an onsides kick.
Yes - in the second half. Think about it - there are two possibilities if you get the ball in the second half.
1. Other team has the ball to end the first half. Then you've just traded possessions and everything comes out even. Except, you've shortened one of their possessions.
2. You have the ball to end the first half. Then you've gotten one extra possession, albeit a shorter one.
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:07 PM ^
Defer to get the ball in the 2nd half and strike like they did today
It's not about how you start, it's about how you finish
Even if Mich had opted to receive ball who knows how good that D would have held Chappell, I'd rather defer and get the ball in the second half in a tie game
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^
You want the last possession of the game in a shootout, not the last possession of the first half. Ideally both, but you can't usually get that.
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:20 PM ^
Because a possession in the second half is more important than a possession in the first.
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
I'd stick to deferring to the second half, simply hoping that RRod and staff are able to make adjustments at halftime. They just spent more time than at any other point during the last week speaking precisely how to adjust to what the D is doing..
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
We essentially had the last possession in today's game (and scored the winning TD on that possession). If we didn't get the ball to start the 2nd half, we might not have had that possession.
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:43 PM ^
That game just showed why you defer and try to get the extra possession in the 2nd half.