(10-11-2014 09:28 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote: I'm also growing tired of our giving up on 3rd and 8+ yards, and almost always calling the draw play in such situations.
You say you're growing tired of it, so that implies that this issue has been going on for at least a couple of games. Let's see what the play calls were on third and 8+ yards during the past two games. From a quick scan, the results were:
Hawaii (
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay...period=4):
First Quarter: Pass incomplete, sack, and completed pass on third and 8+ yard plays.
Second Quarter: Possible QB draw, 81 yard TD pass, sack.
Third Quarter: No long yardage third downs.
Fourth Quarter: Possible draw (on third and 25).
So to recap, against Hawaii there was one possible QB draw and one possible RB draw out of seven third and long situations, and the only possible draw to a running back came on third and 25.
Army (it's not recognizing the link, but you can get to it through the Hawaii one):
First Quarter: Possible draw (from the 5 yard line)
Second Quarter: No third and longs
Third Quarter: 10 yard TD pass, possible draw
Fourth Quarter: No third and longs
To recap, two possible draws, one from the 5 yard line, out of three third and long situations.
Altogether there were 10 third and longs in the last two games. There were three possible draws to the running back, a possible QB draw, and six passes or pass attempts, including two touchdowns. Two of the three possible draws to the running backs were in situations where many coaches call draws--inside their own 10 and third and ridiculously long (and the third was with a 17 point lead towards the end of the third quarter).
I'm having a hard time finding this epidemic of draws on third and longs that has you so concerned. Even if all of the possible draws were actual draws, 40% is still well short of "almost always." Heck, 40% is short of usually. It is sometimes though.
Me, I'd be a little more worried about an epidemic of third and longs, not what the play call was. But fortunately there were only three third and longs in the Army game. That doesn't seem that bad.