Why go on 4th and 10?

Submitted by Lordfoul on
So we try 51 and 48 yard field goals but don't try from the 20 yard line on 4th and 10? WTF? Those three points would be huge right now. Missed extra point is killer. Our defense continues to suck. Nothing to see here. Move along. That is all.
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Lordfoul

November 7th, 2009 at 3:35 PM ^

Coach Rod doesn't seem up on his game theory. Or maybe I am not seeing this right. Can anyone support going for it on that play? Down eight I just thought the FG was an obvious call. I am getting very frustrated. I guess this is how Nebraska fans felt under Callahan. When he was hired I would have laughed at a comparison of Rich Rod to Callahan. Now I am not so sure. Sigh.

Joined: 07/01/2008

MGoPoints: 1747

jblaze

November 7th, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^

more manageable, I could see it. We still had ~5 minutes left and would have likely had 1 more chance on O. Maybe someone can explain the logic?

Joined: 08/29/2008

MGoPoints: 19265

goody

November 7th, 2009 at 9:08 PM ^

RR must have been thinking that was the last chance his offense had because if you watched the game, the defense was not stopping them that often. Questionable move but understandable. This team will never be a contender giving up 35+ points a game.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1532

RDDGoblue

November 7th, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^

This is not second-guessing, because I complained about it before the ball was snapped on that pay. Poor decision by the coaches. These two years and the results are starting to wear a bit thin.

Joined: 09/07/2008

MGoPoints: 1824

BNags

November 8th, 2009 at 11:23 AM ^

I was sitting in the bar with my State buddy, screaming to kick it before they were lining up. Yet somehow I got dinged -10 points on another thread for my only drunken-post yesterday, stating RR should have kicked it. I would like someone to explain how the odds of M def actually making a stop, with 4:40 left on the clock, are somehow dramatically less than converting on 4th and 10, getting a TD, and then getting the 2 pt conversion???

Joined: 04/13/2009

MGoPoints: 428

maizenbluedevil

November 7th, 2009 at 3:20 PM ^

Disagree. It's a judgment call. Yeah, we needed points, but, a FG would require us to rely on a defensive shutdown, b/c we'd still need another possession and score. And yeah, about relying on our defense... Whereas a TD gives us a chance to tie right then. I could see that coaching call going either way, and maybe a field goal would have been a better option were our defense serviceable. I don't think this is a bad call.

Joined: 09/12/2008

MGoPoints: 6906

MichMike86

November 7th, 2009 at 3:23 PM ^

bc we'd be set back even more so but if we could I would welcome it. The team was reduced to pitching it at the end of the game. It was embarassing to watch. I know about the defensive problems with depth and talent but when you're ahead by 2 touchdowns at half and get owned like that in the 2nd half that is coaching. SkyBox sales are going bye bye.

Joined: 08/04/2009

MGoPoints: -1424

ppudge

November 7th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^

We can fire RRod if we hire someone with a similar scheme... Brian Kelly for instance. Not going to happen - after all, we did give Tommy Amaker 6 years to prove he stunk and he had no track record. I'm sure Rich Rod will be here until we set the record for consecutive losses in a row to continually crappy Big 10 teams.

Joined: 10/19/2008

MGoPoints: 11439

A Case of Blue

November 7th, 2009 at 4:27 PM ^

For the umpteenth time - because I'm going to keep posting this until someone actually gives me an answer - what makes everyone think Brian Kelly will have success where RichRod has not (yet)? He's a coach having tremendous success in the Big East with second-tier recruits and the spread offense. He has had success at all the levels where he has coached. Who does that sound like? Maybe the guy who was Big East coach of the year in 2003 and 2005? I'm not saying that Kelly might not be better, but I have yet to have anyone explain to me why he would be better. And how soon.

Joined: 03/22/2009

MGoPoints: 577

Tha Quiet Storm

November 7th, 2009 at 3:37 PM ^

It was still a one-possession game and if you kicked the FG you would still have been down by 5, needing to make a stop and come all the way back down the field and score a TD. Why not just go for the TD right at the moment?

Joined: 12/22/2008

MGoPoints: 2260

los barcos

November 7th, 2009 at 3:41 PM ^

it was 4th and 10 not 4th and 1. saying "going for the td right at the moment" overlooks the fact that the odds were stacked against the offense in that situation. i also think alot of the frustration isnt just this call, but it seems to be an every game thing where rr makes a very questionable call. i understand the idea of having the pedal to the metal, but there are times when you're in a school zone with children around where you need to use the brake.

Joined: 03/27/2009

MGoPoints: 10797

petered0518

November 7th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^

I don't understand why no one actually works through the potential scenarios. We were down by 8 points with about 4-5 minutes left. We will most likely have only one or two more drives for the game, meaning that we need to get at least one touchdown. If you go for it, you have two, maybe three if you are lucky, chances to get the touchdown. If you take the field goal, you only have one chance to get the touchdown. I don't have probabilities to back everything up right now, but I am fairly confident that he made the right play and it didn't work out. At least I believe that it was the right call.

Joined: 08/05/2009

MGoPoints: 902

BlueInDallas

November 7th, 2009 at 4:17 PM ^

RR needs to stop chasing points. I realize that the missed XP puts you in a bad position, but with 4th and 10 at the 20, you take the FG and make it a one TD to WIN game. By chasing points on an unmanageable 4th and 10, you put yourself in the position of having to chase points AGAIN when/if you score a TD, just to TIE the game. Regarding the defense needing a stop ... hey, even if we score on 4th and 10, convert the 2pts to tie the game, we STILL need to stop them with 4 mins left to win the game. Stopping them was necessary either way. RR blew this call because he didn't think ahead and he can't resist the urge to chase points.

Joined: 09/14/2009

MGoPoints: 559

BlueInDallas

November 7th, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^

I agree that the ultimate blame falls on the defense for sucking so bad. But, that just means RR has little margin for error on his decisions. By chasing points on 4th and 10, he failed not only on that drive, but then put himself in the position of chasing points again when they scored the TD. Can you still blame the defense? Yes, of course. But, RR still blew it when he had a chance to overcome his defense's poor play with superior coaching. Besides, the aggressive thing to do is actually to try to WIN the game with a FG and TD, not hope for a TIE and then have to rely on the defense in the OT.

Joined: 09/14/2009

MGoPoints: 559

Blue2000

November 7th, 2009 at 5:34 PM ^

The decision to go for it on 4th and 10 was Weisian in its stupidity. I've been a huge RR supporter up to this point, but that call was indefensible. Actually, can you imagine if Weis had made the same call? We all would be laughing hysterically.

Joined: 01/06/2009

MGoPoints: 7901

bigbluetrue

November 7th, 2009 at 9:39 PM ^

and we got a touchdown on that drive, and the defense still stops Purdue, the score ends up being 44-38 and Purdue gets the ball back with 1-2 minutes left. The defense would've had to make the stops of their lives, but it would have been a better scenario than the one we ended up with.

Joined: 09/29/2008

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Double Nickel BG

November 7th, 2009 at 10:48 PM ^

but the year LSU won the NC, Les Miles went for a ton of 4th downs and it worked out. RR made the decision to either be the hero or the goat, and unfortunately he turned out to be the goat.

Joined: 02/04/2009

MGoPoints: 398

ChalmersE

November 8th, 2009 at 6:36 PM ^

and with 4 minutes or so remaining? What has been lost in this narrative is that even if we score -- and get the two point convesion, the defense has to stop Purdue. So either way, RR knew the defense was going to have to do something. You can't go for it at that point. Anyone who thought RR was going to be make better in-game decisions than Lloyd has to be sorely disappointed.

Joined: 11/19/2008

MGoPoints: 5196