Clock Management or lack thereof

Still ... 3 straight plays right up the middle. Remember the earlier play where Portis went in the middle - saw the crowd, bounced off and went outside for the TD. On 3rd and 2, we could have ran a bootleg, an outside run, pitch, or short pass to someone - yet 3 straight runs to the middle. That was the game itself.

Yes I know: defense is to largely blame (See Mike Wise's column in today's Wash Post). I dearly miss Antonio Pierce but - could have won game with a simple play on 3rd and 2.

Good teams do what they want no matter what. I heard Jake Jacoby on sports talk 980 this morning say that back in the day they would come to the line and tell randy white "the play is coming over you" and then proceed to do it and make the yardage. That was a good team and thats what they did. This skins team is a so-so team that may make the playoffs.

Irish, I agree with you that good teams impose their will on the other team, but Gibbs should also know his team better. Most of our 4th and 1 successes are with Brunell running the QB Sneak. We don't get 2 yards by running up the middle with Portis. If anything put in Betts or Broughton and make them "think" you are going right up the middle and then do something else. Gibbs must learn that this is not the 1980's Skins. These Skins are more finese than power. I just hate the call because it is so predictable. If Gibbs steps down someday, I would not mind having "Chucky" Gruden as our coach. Gutsy playcall that the Football Gods smiled on.

Good teams don't need to get cute on 3rd and 2, and yes this is the way Gibbs will approach these situations 99% of the time and he's won a lot of games this way, so get used to it is what I'm saying.

With the way we were running all day against the #1 ranked D, calling running plays when you need to run out the clock isn't exactly a crazy idea.

I think it would have been gutsy if Gruden had gone for two before the penalties putting Tampa at the one yard line.

Going for two when you're just one yard away...my guess is most coaches would do that. Except maybe Marty

Irish, I agree with you that good teams impose their will on the other team, but Gibbs should also know his team better. Most of our 4th and 1 successes are with Brunell running the QB Sneak. We don't get 2 yards by running up the middle with Portis. If anything put in Betts or Broughton and make them "think" you are going right up the middle and then do something else. Gibbs must learn that this is not the 1980's Skins. These Skins are more finese than power. I just hate the call because it is so predictable. If Gibbs steps down someday, I would not mind having "Chucky" Gruden as our coach. Gutsy playcall that the Football Gods smiled on.

But your point was that good teams are deceptive and dont do the expected and I showed that's not really true.

Anyway, I know nobody knows the team as well as Gibbs especially a bunch of Monday morning QBs like us.

What good teams do, is not what you think they are going to do....... Everyone knew Portis was going to run right up the middle on 3 and 2 and what did he do........? Run right up the middle. 4th down let's punt. I love the fact that Indy was still throwing the ball all over the field last Monday night against the Pats while they were up by 14 points! Play aggressive. Don't do what everyone expects you to do! Roll out, go deep, something unexpected, not right up the middle. I mean really Gibbs, how many times, late in the game, to protect the lead, have you run the ball 3 times and punted..... let me tell you A LOT!! When will we learn. Great job Gruden on being aggresive on the 2-point conversion.... I gurrantee, Gibbs would never do that!
i couldnt agree more

Gibbs would go for two to win the games. How many times has Gibbs gone for it on fourth down? A LOT!!!

We dominated the time of possession.

Damn it..........I knew there had to be a reason, but I was so agitated (to put it mildly) that I wasn't thinking straight.

Thanks for the info Matt.:goodjob:


LOL!!! :food-smil