Closing out games

[Glasgow Seahawk]

That game was as comfortable as it gets and should have been a blow out (barring some really sloppy mistakes). Yet again we proceed to make an absolute mess of closing the game out whether it be picks, fumbles or going super conservative (why punt on that 4th and 1? Tush push it).

Logic says we should have just ran the ball in the 4th quarter and tried to run the clock out. We didn't try that despite our running backs putting up decent yards.

Why the weird play calling? Do we not trust the run game? Is it fixable mid season?

 

[Jerhawk]

They are fortunate to have started fast last night going up 14-0.

Abysmal play calling by Kubiak yet again. I appreciate his scheme with more intermediate passes, but outside of that, he’s an absolute idiot with situational play calling. He gets too cute too often. Knock it off. Either commit to the run game or stfu about it.

 

[nanomoz]

Run. The. F******. Ball.

That safety we gave up wasn't on the goal line. We had the ball at like the 7 yard line. And Kubiak calls a slow developing pass play out of shotgun. There was some maddening play calling.

 

[James in PA]

I'm trying to be positive, but it's a cause for concern. They did the same thing vs Arizona. Part of being great is knowing how to play with a lead. Kubiak was pulling some REALLY head-scratching BS last night. I hope MM makes it crystal clear that he needs to do better.

 

[GeekHawk]

I hope MM is researching and following potential OC candidates for next off-season. Or JS, or *somebody* is.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Run. The. F******. Ball.

That safety we gave up wasn't on the goal line. We had the ball at like the 7 yard line. And Kubiak calls a slow developing pass play out of shotgun. There was some maddening play calling.

I think the talent is there with this team but the situational awareness is going to cost us a game down the line. Probably in the play offs.

 

[sutz]

Relax guys. Klint is just screwing up to ensure he doesn't get any head coaching offers next year, so he can stay here. All in the master plan.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

I'm honestly not worried at all. Is what everyone is saying correct? Yes. This team is learning each other. The offense as a whole only has 7 games together. The defense didn't come together last year until the bye week. Guess where we're at now? I think it may take a little longer but there are a lot of positives they can build off of. Units take time. I know we all want it now but you have to be patient

 

[sutz]

And the fact that we're 5-2 when the offense isn't quite clicking on all cylinders bodes well for the future.

 

[Maelstrom787]

I hope MM is researching and following potential OC candidates for next off-season. Or JS, or *somebody* is.

I hope so too, because Kubiak is a head coach next year if he wants to be.

 

[Frank12]

Didn't even try to run the ball in the 4th quarter with the lead, you gotta blame Mike on that as well he has the power to overrule Klint on the playcalling in critical situations and Mike must have been fine with not burning the clock with a lead in the 4th I guess...

 

[Hawknight]

Relax guys. Klint is just screwing up to ensure he doesn't get any head coaching offers next year, so he can stay here. All in the master plan.

I knew there was a reason...thanks man!

 

[warden]

We put up 27 against the number one scoring defense in the league. That is hard to do. Yeah we looked ugly at times but that is what number one defenses can do to you

Is there room for improvement? Hell yeah. The running game is not where it needs to be and other than JSN, the WRs could get more involved

It takes time to implement a new offense. It takes time for everyone to get a good feel for what everyone else is doing

Just imagine what our defense will play like when we finally get a healthy secondary.

 

[Torc]

It's all about the running game.
- We suck at third down conversions. Part of that is that we're not getting quality runs on first and second down, so we're always in third and long.
- when you want to close out a game, you have to do what is successful to get first downs and bleed clock. Ideally, that's the run game. But when you don't have a reliable run game, you end up having to pass instead, or just use up as much clock as you can in three downs and punt it.
- a bad run game is one where you get 1 and 2 yard runs. Our run game is worse - we have WAY TOO MANY runs that lose yardage. We're not just in 3rd and 10, we're in 3rd and 12 or 14. I'd rather see Walker hit the line and get tacked for a one yard gain than see him try to escape to the outside and lose 2 or 3 yards. 3rd and 6 is better than 3rd and 12.
- If the run game succeeds, the passing game gets even better. Scary thought.
- We've had a couple of games that we've won where we had a low time of possession. The lack of run game is stressing the defense, because the offense is scoring too fast and not using clock.

 

[glenwo2]

I hope MM is researching and following potential OC candidates for next off-season. Or JS, or *somebody* is.

It has to be someone that runs a similar style of offense, though.

Otherwise, Sam won't be as effective. Just saying.

 

[glenwo2]

It's all about the running game.
- We suck at third down conversions. Part of that is that we're not getting quality runs on first and second down, so we're always in third and long.
- when you want to close out a game, you have to do what is successful to get first downs and bleed clock. Ideally, that's the run game. But when you don't have a reliable run game, you end up having to pass instead, or just use up as much clock as you can in three downs and punt it.
- a bad run game is one where you get 1 and 2 yard runs. Our run game is worse - we have WAY TOO MANY runs that lose yardage. We're not just in 3rd and 10, we're in 3rd and 12 or 14. I'd rather see Walker hit the line and get tacked for a one yard gain than see him try to escape to the outside and lose 2 or 3 yards. 3rd and 6 is better than 3rd and 12.
- If the run game succeeds, the passing game gets even better. Scary thought.
- We've had a couple of games that we've won where we had a low time of possession. The lack of run game is stressing the defense, because the offense is scoring too fast and not using clock.

Here is the silver lining for that :

We are more than likely getting Robbie Ouzts back after the bye.

 

[HagFaithful]

What I don't understand, since coaches/coordinators/consultants don't count against the salary cap, why don't owners amass the best talent by overpaying?

 

[Atradees]

Kubiak has me scratchng my head for sure.

Head coach has to put his foot down on gimmicks and avoidable turnovers.

The offense with a qb like Darnold could be great. It's tettering on maddening errors and poor play calling. This seems like a college offense. In the pros if one calls gimmicks plays all the time that fail; it should get you fired fast.

 

[sutz]

Kubiak has me scratchng my head for sure.

Head coach has to put his foot down on gimmicks and avoidable turnovers.

The offense with a qb like Darnold could be great. It's tettering on maddening errors and poor play calling. This seems like a college offense. In the pros if one calls gimmicks plays all the time that fail; it should get you fired fast.

Well, in Kubiak's defense, he is hardly calling them "all the time." It's been - what - 3 times in 7 games? Certainly more than we like. Hell, if any one of them had worked we'd be calling him a genius. IAE, he needs to stop for a while, at least until they can actually execute them.

 

[Torc]

Mike made a good point about defensive plays in the radio show - the more plays he inserts the less practice time he has to spend on each one to make them perfect. I think the same applies - you have these super unique plays and you have to spend practice time....and maybe not enough of that given how the success rate has been. Let's get the basics of the offense down before using valuable practice reps on gadget plays.