McCarthy's Playcalling

[Patler]

I think everyone admits M3 is a good coach but I think some have the same problem I do. Basically, is he the James Jones of NFL head coaches? Does he do something great only to follow it up with something that maybe messes up the flow and makes you forget about the great thing he just did?

VERY interesting comparison! "The James Jones of NFL head coaches!"

[gbgary]

It was three attempts, one in each drive. One complete, one incomplete and one sack. Starks got one first down and Rodgers got the other in those drives. Not counting the victory formation, those drives cost the Eagles 2 TOs and 2 minutes of clock on Drive 3 (4:02 to 2:00 minute warning), Drive 2 was 4:15 and Drive 1 was 1:35.

The one Rodgers' incompletion, if you can assume 45 seconds ticking off, basically allowed the last Vick throw to Cooper.

thanks! three possessions, thirteen plays (not counting punts), three pass attempts (which includes a sack), one first down, in a quarter and a half. worse than i thought. geesh! if we get a lead against atlanta and mm decides to stop trying to score again we're doomed. way too much pressure to put on the defense.

[mmmdk]

If Stubby beats Hoody it's time for you to start worshipping Stubby........lol

Stubby is much like Brett Favre...in crunch time; BF throws the pick & McCarthy screws up time management or what not. Great up until showdown. BF won a super bowl due to # 1 Packers defense and a ST guy called Desmond Howard. Stubby is in good hands with the 2010/11 Packers defense and ST ace Mashtay and Packers wins the super bowl come february 2011 !

[wist43]

not to beat a dead horse (well...maybe a little), just watched the replay of the philly game on nfl network. i know they edit the game pretty good but can someone correct me if i'm wrong...from the brandon jackson td midway in the third quarter on, how many passes did AR attempt/complete? the replay showed one...a completion to driver...there was the sack of AR also. so that's it...2? in a quarter and a half? two three and outs and one seven and out?

As I made this point earlier... the play calling was good overall, but I agree that McCarthy puckers his ass when the pressure is on.

I haven't analyzed the play calling on the other possessions after Jackson's TD... that last possession was nearly disasterous for us though. If you go back and look at the game, we were a finger nail away from giving up a TD to Jackson with under 2 minutes to go... if Bishop (I believe) doesn't trip up Jackson he could go the distance. As I said in the earlier post - the goal on that last possession is to simply hang on to the ball; the best chance for that to happen is to spread the field, and pass on 2nd and 3rd down - McCarthy's way almost cost us the game, and if he continues to manage the ends of games like that, it will cost us.

[vince]

Playing ball control and running the clock with the lead does not equal puckering of the ass. It's how games are won. It's not new or unique fellas.

In general, teams score by passing and finish games off by protecting their lead by shortening the game and minimizing costly mistakes. It's a proven formula that has no relationship whatsoever to getting nervous under pressure. In fact, it likely relates to being more steadfast and confident under pressure than nervous. When you have a great defense, teams tend to do it to an even greater extent.

[Fritz]

"As I made this point earlier... the play calling was good overall, but I agree that McCarthy puckers his ass when the pressure is on."

- Wist

...Except when it's third and short and MM goes for the long bomb but then gets ripped for taking unnecessary risks.

[Smeefers]

I haven't had a problem with his play calling since the middle of the season or so. Sure, things don't work out every time, but when the season started off, he was calling some pretty dunce plays. Back then we were only throwing the ball to receivers who were at least 10 yards down the field. We'd try gimmicks like the end around. We'd hand the ball off to Kuhn 7 times in a row because he had one good play. We'd do things we weren't really good at, because IMO, McCarthy was trying to out coach the other guy. "They'll never see this coming! (maniacal laughter)"

That was my problem with his play calling, not running the ball when we have the lead to run down the clock. Would I like them to be more aggressive at the end of the half? Sure. Would I like to see him mix it up a bit more when we have the lead in the 4th quarter? Definitely. I see this things as smaller mistakes though that can be fixed with time an experience and in the end don't signify very much. Running the ball when you have the lead in the 4th is good in my opinion so it's hard for me to complain that we weren't going for a home-run.

[Pugger]

Fans don't have a problem with playcalling unless the players don't execute them.

[gbgary]

"As I made this point earlier... the play calling was good overall, but I agree that McCarthy puckers his ass when the pressure is on."

- Wist

...Except when it's third and short and MM goes for the long bomb but then gets ripped for taking unnecessary risks.

i only have a problem with the 3rd and 2 bomb when, we HAVE to get a first down when we're deep in our own territory, when we're trailing on the scoreboard and need to sustain a drive, when the defense have been on the field most of the game and another three-and-out is the last thing they need, etc. it's a low percentage drive killer.

[mraynrand]

"As I made this point earlier... the play calling was good overall, but I agree that McCarthy puckers his ass when the pressure is on."

- Wist

...Except when it's third and short and MM goes for the long bomb but then gets ripped for taking unnecessary risks.

Or fourth and short with a backup QB in there TO WIN THE GAME!!

McCarthy isn't tight - he's just a tad stubborn and a bit tubby; thus Stubby.

[vince]

i only have a problem with the 3rd and 2 bomb when, we HAVE to get a first down when we're deep in our own territory, when we're trailing on the scoreboard and need to sustain a drive, when the defense have been on the field most of the game and another three-and-out is the last thing they need, etc. it's a low percentage drive killer.

Is it lower percentage than running (when you haven't mounted a rushing attack) into 8 or 9 in the box and press coverage denying the quick short routes? Maybe, maybe not. I suspect McCarthy has a pretty educated and informed opinion on that.

[mraynrand]

Is it lower percentage than running (when you haven't mounted a rushing attack) into 8 or 9 in the box and press coverage denying the quick short routes? Maybe, maybe not. I suspect McCarthy has a pretty educated and informed opinion on that.

I bet Patler has stats on that.

[vince]

Also, the Packers are a top 10 team in 3rd down conversions. However McCarthy is handling them, he's doing a damn good job.

[gbgary]

Also, the Packers are a top 10 team in 3rd down conversions. However McCarthy is handling them, he's doing a damn good job.

agreed...but that's not exactly what we're talking about.

[vince]

Don't you think judging McCarthy as a playcaller by talking only about 3rd and 2 when McCarthy calls a play in which the players don't execute is a little myopic?