Maybe that's why I think we should expect that our OL should be able to get a lot consistent push against teams like Wake and Vandy. We don't need 20 yard plays when we're up 16, but we do need 6 minute drives that salt the games away.
but I disagree with what appears to be a “play not to lose” mentality. Sadly, Digger Phelps had the same style to a fault and it cost him numerous games. I HATED that. A team cannot get too conservative even when trying to salt it away—because you need first downs to do it. You can’t run up the middle three times and expect first downs. But you do need a variety of low risk plays that keep the opponent guessing—-and yes, that includes throwing the damn ball.
been caught, which would have salted the game away. Michigan ends up scoring with 8 seconds remaining and Weis was blamed big time for that one. Every coach runs up the middle or if around the end makes sure the ball carrier stays in bounds. The only problem with running around the end in that situation is you risk getting hit and stripped from the side because you are protecting the ball with less of your body, and less hands on the ball.
Talk about rambling
to get a first down. In this case one first down salts the game away. Downside of course is risk of interception or incompletion which stops the clock. Weis was lambasted for trying to pass in the 2008 case. Now runs up the middle are being criticized as not being a good strategy because the defense knows its coming and is stacking the line versus the idea of punting and not stopping the clock and letting your defense stop them or special team punter pin them down.
Especially if we're still snapping the ball with 20 seconds remaining on the play clock, even when we're in possession of the ball and have the lead.