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Bad News during Weber Game

S

superhornet

Active member
With Smith already out, MBT is down at midfield on a third down during the fourth quarter down 26-20. Duncan White will likely enter after the next series unless MBT recovers in the meantime. He WAS walking off with assistance from a couple of people.
 
It is indeed White. The Hornets were hoping to redshirt him this year, but that likely gets burned unless this is the only game in which he appears. So says the radio guys.

Time is running out. About 9 minutes left, Hornets down 32-20. The one plus is that Weber has blown two PATs and a 2-pt conversion.
 
I didn't hear how Weber got the ball back, but their long kicker had a FG blocked out of the end zone. So with about 8 minutes left, Sac goes from their own 20 down 32-20. White is coverage-sacked on first down and an incompletion on second down, leading to 3rd and 16. Weber is bringing the house. Hill catches one at midfield for a first down. So we're going, anyways.
 
Hill is down as he's blasted helment-to-helmet on a catch, sending his helmet 25 yards down field. The cart is coming out, but he's moving his legs and arms. Man, we can't lose ANOTHER one!

Too late! Hill kips up like a wrestler! The doctor is chasing him to the sideline.
 
Sac TD on 4th and 10! Hornets are still in it!

White to Lane. Wouldn't you know, Hill is the backup holder?

Weber 32, Sac 27.
 
The Radio Guys said:
The Hornets have lost more helmets than Lehman Brothers has lost money.
Click to expand...

After a Hornet defender loses a helmet.

BTW, the Hornets get a huge pass breakup on third down and await a Weber punt at 4:18 left. Hornets take over at own 22.
 
Wilkins is stopped short on 4th and inches at midfield. That's on White, who missed a Weber guy trying to get off the field. White could have gotten the cheap first down if he'd seen that.

Now it's up to the defense to get the rock back.
 
Second thought on that 4th down call. While White can EASILY be blamed for missing the extra Weber man on the field, one could also EASILY jump the OC for calling for Wilkins. That was a perfect situation for a QB sneak. If you can't get one yard on a sneak, you don't deserve to win. Too many things can (and did) go wrong when you pull the ball back into the backfield for a handoff.
 
That 4th down was definitely on White...I know that he was thrown into the game, but he had a good five seconds to call the play as the lineman tried to get off the field, even diving into his own sideline....Classic loss
 
I think we all agree on that, PH. I just have a semantic issue.

White SHOULD have been able to catch that even if the OC blew the call, WHICH HE DID.

I think that even if White didn't see it at all, he'll catch it in film next week. He'll be ready the next time it happens. Defenses are ALWAYS getting caught like that.
 
I think it hurts more because Sac stopped Weber earlier in the game, only to get called for too many men on the field on a 4th-down punt situation, and then Weber went down and scored to make it 14-7...We had a chance to even the situation and we missed out...

I can't be too hard on Duncan...He played extremely well considering the circumstances. not having Hilliard relly hurt today as well.
 
I agree with your assessment of the game but I also feel the play call was terrible today from the coaching staff. That empty backfield at the end of the game will not work 6 times in a row, they proved that. I was thinking anything other than an empty set at that point would have generated some yards, maybe a delayed draw to Croxdale or Wilkins? With your third string QB in the game and an empty backfield you know we are going to pass, they know we are not going run the QB and risk an injury. The D can pin their ears back and get after a pass rush and the secondary knows it is pass and can play a soft cover 2. Oh yeah, if I see Wilkins bounce another dive outside the 7 or 8 hole I am going to walk up to the booth and ask them why they continue to allow that to happen.
 
Might want to be careful about your last statement, WH. While I understand your frustration, and agree to some point, taken to the extreme would signal a return to pre-Lombardi dictatorships where the RB was FORCED to hit the assigned hole regardless whether or not it was open or stuffed.

We should probably coach the RBs to take a middle approach, including the old DBs adage of keeping one's head on a swivel. If the hole is blocked and the outside either way is open, then take it. If not, then cut the losses by taking the assigned hole. If we held every RB to the hole, then that incredible Marcus Allen run vs. the Redskins (I think) would never have happened.

Of course, this occurs strictly on plays where zone blocking is called. Unless the defense has a huge brain fart, one is not going to see many successful cutbacks behind drive blocking.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's some merit to what you're saying, WH, but it can't be taken to the extreme. Like with many things, moderation is the key.
 
SH... Like with everything in life nothing is absolute or a steadfast rule, I just seen Wilkins bounce 80% of his plays to the 7 or 8 holes. Even a small gain run in the correct hole is helpful trying to set up other plays down the road. If there is a log jam and you spin to open air on the corner then I understand but you have to "TRY" and run the ball where it was called.
Football is a violent chess game and one play sets up the next and the next and so on, if (ha ha when) Portland watches film it will be easy for them to see.
 
In support of your theory, I would also posit that he had BETTER not bounce it out late in the game when we're trying to center the ball for a FG. I've seen way too many kickers blow game-winning kicks that were on the hash.

I just had a second thought about Wilkins' bouncing. The more I think about it, the more I realize that you're right. Bouncing clear out to the 7/8 hole is really beyond the cutback principle in zone blocking theory. One may well end up outside, but there's usually only a one- or two-hole difference, particularly on inside dives. If he's taking plays up the 1/2 or 3/4 holes out that far, there's something wrong. That plays into the defense stringing things out so more defenders can come up for the tackle. The DB assigned for run support may have something to say about that, but that usually only happens on off-tacke to outside plays.

Nice pick-up, WH.
 
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