Republicane
Spirited but Cordial
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2011
- Messages
- 4,499
Even though he is still partially wrong. In defending his seven losses, Golden offered this up as one of the reasons:
"The red zone offense was not great, we needed more touchdowns."
I can't believe I'm going to say this but, I agree with Al Golden. The problem is, Golden presents that idea like he has zero control over actually getting TD's instead of FG's. He's the one who decides if they're going to send out the FG team. He's the one who decides if they go for it on fourth down. I keep waiting for coaches to realize that a TD and XP is worth more than two times as much as FG and hence worth taking a little bit more or a risk to get one, but they keep joyfully sending out the FG team. Because losing by the book is better than losing unconventionally while trying harder to win.
When your defense has been trash for years, you have to realize at some point that forget forcing a punt, just allowing a FG is a win for you. If your defense is poor, and your offense is unreliable that means you can't just trade FG's. Eventually they'll score TD's, you won't, and then you'll lose the game. Especially against teams with high powered offenses that you need the stars to align for just so you can keep up with them offensively.
I understand the mindset of getting down close to the end zone and not wanting to come away empty handed but at some point you need to start thinking through a lens of probability and and not through a lens of psychology. Let's look at Golden's decision making on red zone FG's in this year's losses.
This isn't contained only to losses, Al's "by the book" philosophy rears its ugly head in victories too.
4th & G from the FAMU 3 (made)
4th & G from the FAMU 6 (made)
4th & 6 from the FAMU 15 (missed)
4th & 2 from the Duke 12 (made)
4th & 6 from the UC 8 (made)
So in some of the losses it really wouldn't have mattered, and in the games where it would have, it was Golden's ridiculous safety first conservatism that ****ed him over not the failure of some magical touchdown fairy sprinkling 7 point dust on the offense to appear. Golden correctly identified a problem but as per usual, refuses to acknowledge that it was caused by him and his clenched **** coaching philosophy.
"The red zone offense was not great, we needed more touchdowns."
I can't believe I'm going to say this but, I agree with Al Golden. The problem is, Golden presents that idea like he has zero control over actually getting TD's instead of FG's. He's the one who decides if they're going to send out the FG team. He's the one who decides if they go for it on fourth down. I keep waiting for coaches to realize that a TD and XP is worth more than two times as much as FG and hence worth taking a little bit more or a risk to get one, but they keep joyfully sending out the FG team. Because losing by the book is better than losing unconventionally while trying harder to win.
When your defense has been trash for years, you have to realize at some point that forget forcing a punt, just allowing a FG is a win for you. If your defense is poor, and your offense is unreliable that means you can't just trade FG's. Eventually they'll score TD's, you won't, and then you'll lose the game. Especially against teams with high powered offenses that you need the stars to align for just so you can keep up with them offensively.
I understand the mindset of getting down close to the end zone and not wanting to come away empty handed but at some point you need to start thinking through a lens of probability and and not through a lens of psychology. Let's look at Golden's decision making on red zone FG's in this year's losses.
vs. Louisville
2Q 7-7 Miami: 4th and 5 from the 7: Made FG. (Next possession Louisville returns subsequent KO for a TD)
3Q 14-10 UL leads. Miami:4th and G from the UL 7: Made FG (Forces UL punt)
Six points is okay, but converting just one of those opportunities would have given them more points than they gained on both, which is exactly what the UL KO TD did. Score two TD's and Miami is leading and suddenly it's UL's green QB who is playing from behind instead of Miami's. Also worth noting it's that same green QB who would have had to drive UL at least 93 yards TWICE to score TD's had Miami not converted. But even if they would have converted both into TD's they still would have lost.
vs. Nebraska
4Q 31-21 Nebraska leads. Miami 4th and G from the 18: Made FG (Next possession NU kicks a FG to make it 34-21)
No second guessing here, Golden made the right decision. But even if they score a TD on this drive instead of a FG, they still lose.
vs. GT
3Q 21-14 GT leads. Miami: 4th and 5 from the 10. Made FG (Next GT possession is 13 play, 7 minute, TD drive)
My personal philosophy would be in most instances 4th and anything from inside the 10, I'm going for it. But a measly 4th and 5? It should be a no-brainer. If you don't get it, they have to go 95 yards. If you go for it, and score they might still score a TD after that but at least it would be breaking a tie instead of making the lead two scores. They likely still lose.
vs. FSU
2Q 23-10 Miami leads. Miami: 4th and 3 from the 12: Missed FG (Next FSU possession is an INT)
You've got the #1 team in the country on the ropes and could go up by 20 points in the first half. That's worth the risk of going for it. If Miami doesn't convert and FSU goes 90 yards for a TD, so be it. You aren't going to knock out Mike Tyson with jabs. You have to throw haymakers when you have the opportunity.
vs. UVa
2Q 10-7 UVa leads. Miami: 4th and 3 from the 17: Blocked FG (Returned to the 3, luckily Mike London is also a coward and he kicks a FG)
It's three yards but you're playing for the tie in the second quarter? Quit being a ***** Golden. Luckily it didn't matter as Al got thrashed by the Fightin' Londons.
vs. Pitt
3Q 28-20 Pitt leads. Miami 4th and 10 from the 19: Made FG (Next possession was a UVa punt)
I would have been fine with it had he gone for it, but kicking the FG was the right move. It wouldn't have made a difference in the final result.
vs. So. Carolina
1Q 0-0. Miami 4th and 8 from the 10: Made FG
2Q 3-0 Miami leads. Miami 4th and 3 from the 9: Made FG
A meaningless bowl game with fans demanding a victory and Golden still can't find the testicular fortitude to try and jump on the Gamecocks early. Once again, you don't convert either and USC has to go 90+ yards twice to score TD's. But it's still not as dumb as sending out Badgley to kick a 50+ yarder on 4th and 9 from the 33. Going strictly by the numbers, Miami wins if Golden isn't so scared and conservative.
2Q 7-7 Miami: 4th and 5 from the 7: Made FG. (Next possession Louisville returns subsequent KO for a TD)
3Q 14-10 UL leads. Miami:4th and G from the UL 7: Made FG (Forces UL punt)
Six points is okay, but converting just one of those opportunities would have given them more points than they gained on both, which is exactly what the UL KO TD did. Score two TD's and Miami is leading and suddenly it's UL's green QB who is playing from behind instead of Miami's. Also worth noting it's that same green QB who would have had to drive UL at least 93 yards TWICE to score TD's had Miami not converted. But even if they would have converted both into TD's they still would have lost.
vs. Nebraska
4Q 31-21 Nebraska leads. Miami 4th and G from the 18: Made FG (Next possession NU kicks a FG to make it 34-21)
No second guessing here, Golden made the right decision. But even if they score a TD on this drive instead of a FG, they still lose.
vs. GT
3Q 21-14 GT leads. Miami: 4th and 5 from the 10. Made FG (Next GT possession is 13 play, 7 minute, TD drive)
My personal philosophy would be in most instances 4th and anything from inside the 10, I'm going for it. But a measly 4th and 5? It should be a no-brainer. If you don't get it, they have to go 95 yards. If you go for it, and score they might still score a TD after that but at least it would be breaking a tie instead of making the lead two scores. They likely still lose.
vs. FSU
2Q 23-10 Miami leads. Miami: 4th and 3 from the 12: Missed FG (Next FSU possession is an INT)
You've got the #1 team in the country on the ropes and could go up by 20 points in the first half. That's worth the risk of going for it. If Miami doesn't convert and FSU goes 90 yards for a TD, so be it. You aren't going to knock out Mike Tyson with jabs. You have to throw haymakers when you have the opportunity.
vs. UVa
2Q 10-7 UVa leads. Miami: 4th and 3 from the 17: Blocked FG (Returned to the 3, luckily Mike London is also a coward and he kicks a FG)
It's three yards but you're playing for the tie in the second quarter? Quit being a ***** Golden. Luckily it didn't matter as Al got thrashed by the Fightin' Londons.
vs. Pitt
3Q 28-20 Pitt leads. Miami 4th and 10 from the 19: Made FG (Next possession was a UVa punt)
I would have been fine with it had he gone for it, but kicking the FG was the right move. It wouldn't have made a difference in the final result.
vs. So. Carolina
1Q 0-0. Miami 4th and 8 from the 10: Made FG
2Q 3-0 Miami leads. Miami 4th and 3 from the 9: Made FG
A meaningless bowl game with fans demanding a victory and Golden still can't find the testicular fortitude to try and jump on the Gamecocks early. Once again, you don't convert either and USC has to go 90+ yards twice to score TD's. But it's still not as dumb as sending out Badgley to kick a 50+ yarder on 4th and 9 from the 33. Going strictly by the numbers, Miami wins if Golden isn't so scared and conservative.
This isn't contained only to losses, Al's "by the book" philosophy rears its ugly head in victories too.
4th & G from the FAMU 3 (made)
4th & G from the FAMU 6 (made)
4th & 6 from the FAMU 15 (missed)
4th & 2 from the Duke 12 (made)
4th & 6 from the UC 8 (made)
So in some of the losses it really wouldn't have mattered, and in the games where it would have, it was Golden's ridiculous safety first conservatism that ****ed him over not the failure of some magical touchdown fairy sprinkling 7 point dust on the offense to appear. Golden correctly identified a problem but as per usual, refuses to acknowledge that it was caused by him and his clenched **** coaching philosophy.
