Play calling

[th87]

For those of you who have issues with the play calling, what specifically do you have an issue with? Too many long passes? Not enough running?

I don't consider myself as having the expertise to criticize the play calling, as I don't have decades of coaching experience, access to film, and the proper visual perspective of the field. What situations dictate what play should be called?

[cap360]

throwing the deep pass instead of moving the chains

[CaptainD]

Running the dive play to the fullback on two straight plays out of the I formation. Defense was packed inside on both plays. Late 3rd early fourth we gave up on the run and tried to get cute throwing the ball.

[Patler]

I won't complain about what was called, my complaint is about HOW the plays were called.

Other than the one long pass to Jones, the Packers success was really in taking shorter gains, even running the ball, and moving the chains. Their scoring drives were:

11 plays - 6:15 - 40 yards for a field goal
3 plays - 1:01 - 69 yards for a TD
13 plays - 6:26 - 82 yards (22 by penalty) for a TD
13 plays - 6:56 - 69 yards for a TD
11 plays - 5:05 - 53 yards for a field goal

Their final possession starter at 4:22 and they needed 57 yards. I saw little urgency in their play before the two minute warning, as they ran just 5 plays, getting two first downs and 22 of the yards they needed. After the two minute warning, with two timeouts at their disposal, they ran 6 plays getting one first down and 20 yards. They ran out of time trying to get their 7th play off at the 15 yard line. Ya, they got the ball snapped, but they had no clue what they were doing because they did not have time to get a play in.

I think running out of time is ridiculous. They had success moving in small increments against NE. A little more urgency and a few more plays early in that drive might have gained a few more yards and put them in position for shots into the endzone.

They milked the clock early in the drive, then ran out of time. It would have been better to use the clock more efficiently early, still taking the yards that were given in small increments, then milk the clock late if given the opportunity. They ran most of that drive as if time was no issue, but then ran out of time at the end of the drive.

[Scott Campbell]

With all the other cramming they had to do to get Flynn ready this quickly, it looks like the 2 minute drill suffered.

[Patler]

With all the other cramming they had to do to get Flynn ready this quickly, it looks like the 2 minute drill suffered.

But its not even the two minute drill. Its MM getting the plays in and the team moving with a little urgency in getting up after a play and lining up for the next one. The last minute was a shambles, but the three and a half minutes before that looked like they were in la-la land playing football in the backyard.

[Pugger]

I'm guessing they didn't want to give the ball back to Brady had they scored with any time left and I don't blame them.

[Patler]

I'm guessing they didn't want to give the ball back to Brady had they scored with any time left and I don't blame them.

Well sure they didn't. But get at least close enough to have a chance to score, THEN milk the clock if you think you have to. You don't have to waste away the time early, you can do it late. Running out of time they way they did was ridiculous.

Maybe MM should be congratulated. He managed to prevent Brady from having a final drive. Only problem is that he wasted away his own chance to score and lost the game.

[th87]

Having a minute left on about the 25 is plenty of time. But for whatever reason, we took our sweet time after that. It was as though Flynn didn't even realize the clock was running out. That could be on MM, but I'm shocked at Flynn's lack of urgency.

[sharpe1027]

They should have had plenty of time to get in the endzone. The sack is what really killed them. If they don't have the sack, then I don't think it comes down to the clock running out.

[Patler]

Having a minute left on about the 25 is plenty of time. But for whatever reason, we took our sweet time after that. It was as though Flynn didn't even realize the clock was running out. That could be on MM, but I'm shocked at Flynn's lack of urgency.

Agreed, but I fail to understand wasting away the first two and a half minutes picking up only about 20 of the yards that were needed. I was going nuts after there first couple plays and all the time they wasted.

Time and time again, MM has shown he is willing to play the end of games for long shot opportunities. More often than not he seems to fail.

Just a little bit more urgency might have gotten them one or two more plays and a first down inside the 20 with enough time to take 2, 3 or 4 shots into the endzone. As it was, starting from just 57 yards away with 4:22 remaining, they never even ran a play with a real chance to score, and they used up the entire time along with two timeouts and the two minute warning.

I expected to see them run 9 or 10 plays getting 3 first downs and then having enough time to use their last set of downs throwing into the endzone from close enough to have a chance of success. Heck, they way most of their drives went they might have been able to run 10-15 plays and get four first downs to be at the 10-15 yard lines.

[packerbacker1234]

throwing the deep pass instead of moving the chains

Again, not sure how much if this is on MM and how much is on the play style of Rodgers. Look at what we did with Flynn. Almost 40 runs and 40 passes because Flynn took what was given, and rodgers is always looking long. So is it the play calling now, or is the QB checking into and always looking at the deep man first?

[Fritz]

I won't complain about what was called, my complaint is about HOW the plays were called.

Other than the one long pass to Jones, the Packers success was really in taking shorter gains, even running the ball, and moving the chains. Their scoring drives were:

11 plays - 6:15 - 40 yards for a field goal
3 plays - 1:01 - 69 yards for a TD
13 plays - 6:26 - 82 yards (22 by penalty) for a TD
13 plays - 6:56 - 69 yards for a TD
11 plays - 5:05 - 53 yards for a field goal

Their final possession starter at 4:22 and they needed 57 yards. I saw little urgency in their play before the two minute warning, as they ran just 5 plays, getting two first downs and 22 of the yards they needed. After the two minute warning, with two timeouts at their disposal, they ran 6 plays getting one first down and 20 yards. They ran out of time trying to get their 7th play off at the 15 yard line. Ya, they got the ball snapped, but they had no clue what they were doing because they did not have time to get a play in.

I think running out of time is ridiculous. They had success moving in small increments against NE. A little more urgency and a few more plays early in that drive might have gained a few more yards and put them in position for shots into the endzone.

They milked the clock early in the drive, then ran out of time. It would have been better to use the clock more efficiently early, still taking the yards that were given in small increments, then milk the clock late if given the opportunity. They ran most of that drive as if time was no issue, but then ran out of time at the end of the drive.

I would definitely agree. I know you don't want to score and give the Pats too much time, but, uh, you still need to score. Better to have a little extra time and run a couple runs to shave time off at the end than to run out of time.

[rbaloha1]

Play calling was excellent except in the goal line area. Nice balance of run and pass. Loved the checkdowns and passes to rbs.

[bobblehead]

I thought that, considering how well we were running it, we should have been calling run plays more in the 4th quarter. Especially when there was 1:05 left and the patriots were lining up giving us the middle. We had a chance to gash off 15 yards, run up and spike it, but we didn't. That isn't exactly criticizing, just what would have been nice. MM called an ok game, my biggest complaints against him were:

1) End of the first half with 1:53 on the clock he doesn't use his timeout on 2nd and goal, but lets it run down to 1:06...patriots scored on 3rd down. After the kickoff we had less than a minute left instead of 1:45 or so.

2) Not letting flynn call his own plays in the final drive. While flynn waited for the 4th and 1 play, the clock ran off 17 seconds and ended our game. MM had his nose in the book looking confused and unaware that the game was running out on him.