Has Mario taken that next coaching step on game days?

[drewm3i]

The 63 yards they gained after the TO led to the FG not the TO. You'll are just considering stuff that happened subsequent to the TO to criticize taking the TO.

I don't understand why we think it was a mistake. They gained 4 yards on first down and were at their own 6 yard line. It wasn't like it was 2nd and short.

They only had 91 yards on 18 plays at that point (they were averaging 1.8 ypp outside the Smith bomb). Trusting the defense and trying to get them to punt to Toney from their end zone and getting the ball back with :35-40 was good.

It was a mistake because he got a bit greedy and it almost cost us 3--when he took it, I knew it was a mistake. If he took it after third down, it would've been no big deal.

 

[flips]

I thought taking the timeout was the only call to make given how the defense was playing and the field position. Dawson actually admitted to Gary Ferman that he got ''greedy'' in that previous drive when he called for a deeper pass and Beck got sacked. I think if he had to do it over again he'd keep pounding Fletcher and get to a three possession lead (17-0) at the very least.

Yeah and the jet sweep to Toney after the double move shot play sack were really the only "mistakes" Dawson made the entire night. They just happened to come back to back and knocked us out FG range. Unfortunate.

I don't remember what OSU was doing on defense after we got the ball back up 14, but in Dawson's defense Fletcher only had 9 yards on 4 carries after Keionte's pick-6 and before those 2 calls, so if there were ever a time to get antsy that was it.

 

[k9cane]

Yeah and the jet sweep to Toney after the double move shot play sack were really the only "mistakes" Dawson made the entire night. They just happened to come back to back and knocked us out FG range. Unfortunate.

I don't remember what OSU was doing on defense after we got the ball back up 14, but in Dawson's defense Fletcher only had 9 yards on 4 carries after Keionte's pick-6 and before those 2 calls, so if there were ever a time to get antsy that was it.

Flips, Im a huge believer in always trying to get up by 3 possessions, even if that means kicking a short FG on 4th and 1, I know analytics says otherwise.

But the other thing about that drive -- and it's something that Tom Brady talks about -- sometimes late in halfs/games, you just run the ball up the middle because you will either grind off 40 seconds, or force the opponent to burn a TO. The yardage almost doesn't matter, really. You're just trying to gain full tactical control of that situation

I actually think that if Ryan Day had to do it all over again, he might run more tempo. Mario played this game right by squeezing the clock

 

[flips]

It was a mistake because he got a bit greedy and it almost cost us 3--when he took it, I knew it was a mistake. If he took it after third down, it would've been no big deal.

I get you on the greedy part. I think had we not just given away a chance to get up 3 scores, Coach would have let them go to half. Since we only had 2 TOs left, he should have waited to call the first TO after their second down play, if he were inclined to be aggressive/greedy. We'd still have gotten the ball back with same amount of time on the clock, and OSU would have been much more likely to run it again on 2nd down.

I had forgotten, but am guilty of questioning the call in the GameDay thread after they had driven down the field (playing the result), but thinking about now, when am not on tenterhooks, I've changed my mind, lol.

Post in thread 'Miami vs Ohio Taint Quarterfinals Playoffs 12/31/25 Game Thread'

Post in thread 'Miami vs Ohio Taint Quarterfinals Playoffs 12/31/25 Game Thread'

Wednesday at 9:15 PM

On 1st and 10 from the 2, they ran up the middle with a TE and H-back in the field. Gain of 3. Miami calls timeout, and Day changes personnel. Sayin stepped up in the pocket and wanted to down the field but Miami had everything covered so Sayin threw out to the flat.

It’s all for nought, but Day was looking to run out the clock until Mario took the timeout.

100. We were chasing the points we just gave away and it nearly cost us. How much time would we have had left after the punt had they kept running? :20-30 with no TOs?

• flips

 

[E1k]

I think im gonna start listing questionable game day coaching as a requirement for elite head coaches lol. Kirby got these questions, ryan day got these questions, les miles and ed o got these questions (probably were right tho). All got something else in common too

 

[k9cane]

I think im gonna start listing questionable game day coaching as a requirement for elite head coaches lol. Kirby got these questions, ryan day got these questions, les miles and ed o got these questions (probably were right tho). All got something else in common too

The way Ryan Day played the last two-plus minutes of the game was highly questionable. From letting the clock run to the 2-minute warning and then not calling a timeout after the first play after that and THEN letting UM score..

That whole sequence was...odd

 

[E1k]

The way Ryan Day played the last two-plus minutes of the game was highly questionable. From letting the clock run to the 2-minute warning and then not calling a timeout after the first play after that and THEN letting UM score..

That whole sequence was...odd

I said pre game that they have as much concerns about ryan as we have about mario. And this is AFTER they won a natty last year lmao. Day gets nervous when he sees the physicality and intensity pick up

And also that game was the most calm and locked in i have seen mario since he’s been here. He usually has like a stiff and worried look but he was insanely confident and locked in from start to finish

 

[k9cane]

I said pre game that they have as much concerns about ryan as we have about mario. And this is AFTER they won a natty last year lmao. Day gets nervous when he sees the physicality and intensity pick up

And also that game was the most calm and locked in i have seen mario since he’s been here. He usually has like a stiff and worried look but he was insanely confident and locked in from start to finish

Day suddenly deciding to be a play-caller was something I thought could be a factor in his overall role in preparing the team and making situational decisions

I love the fact that right now Miami has a very stable staff, and Mario seems to really feel like he's got a horse he can ride all the way

 

[MikeyCanez]

Day suddenly deciding to be a play-caller was something I thought could be a factor in his overall role in preparing the team and making situational decisions

I love the fact that right now Miami has a very stable staff, and Mario seems to really feel like he's got a horse he can ride all the way

Honest question, didn’t Day always sorta have his hands in the play calling? I thought Hartline was “in name only”.

Totally agree on staff stability. Hope we try to allocate resources there to retain these guys.

 

[SaiyaMan305]

Funny enough our most success has come from "bro ball" on offense at least. The running game is a def more creative than earlier in the season tho. Lets not forget people were blaming dawson for calling a bad game vs TAMU, what saved us was the running game in the 4th qrt of that game. I think Mario def handed full control of the offense to Dawson which shows he is adjusting.

The difference in this season is our defense is elite which is props to mario as he hired Hetherman. I dont believe mario ever has had a defense like this before at Oregon so this is uncharted teritory.

From his perspective he is seeing 2 views in his 2 most successful seasons:

2024: 10-2 Elite Offense and awful defense
2025: 12-2(final record pending) Mid offense and Elite defense

Both of these seasons show you must have an elite unit to be successful (obviously), now its up to him to see which way he builds the team and if he continues to allow freedom to the offensive coordinator in calling plays.

Still TBD to me. He 100% is showing progress even if it did take dawson screaming at him for that to happen

 

[k9cane]

Honest question, didn’t Day always sorta have his hands in the play calling? I thought Hartline was “in name only”.

Totally agree on staff stability. Hope we try to allocate resources there to retain these guys.

yeah, he may have, I mean, Day is an offensive guy. But my assumption is that some of the responsibilities changed going into the Cotton Bowl

 

[simplycanes]

No.

Part of his charm.

 

[miamicanes305]

That’s fair.

But one of those decisions was when the officials ****ed Miami on the Carson spot and Mario (against his instincts which was to go for it) made the decision to punt and he flipped the field and we got the ball back where as Kirby Smart ****ed his team for being too reckless.

He’s also letting Shannon set up some plays on 3rd down to go for them on 4th down.

Completely right. Not talking abt Ohio state specifically but just in general. We were in no position to try to **** ourselves in the OSU game, but Freeman, Lanning, DeBoer, Kirby will do crazy **** like fake punt, fake fg, go for it on the 50, go for the TD instead of taking the fg…etc. not saying to do it all the time and since we haven’t really been trailing or needed to, good to avoid, but all based on game flow. Even if it’s just that thing where u have the punt team out there and run the offense out for a late sub to try to get the defense to jump offside for a free first down and if not, take the delay of game. Just nitpicking, but stealing possessions is the next level for him

 

[CaneinBroward]

One definite difference has been the penalties especially on offense.

I am going to knock on wood and hope it keeps going but we were abysmal with the offensive line penalties and he and staff have fixed that.

To me that’s another way how he has evolved.

I do agree with you there. I wasn't thinking of that as a difference in game day coaching, but he must have put an emphasis on that in practice.

 

[miamicanes305]

I do agree with you there. I wasn't thinking of that as a difference in game day coaching, but he must have put an emphasis on that in practice.

Think it’s a combo of our discipline and refs swallowing their whistles all postseason. ACC refs are out of it

 

[PIPO]

The way Ryan Day played the last two-plus minutes of the game was highly questionable. From letting the clock run to the 2-minute warning and then not calling a timeout after the first play after that and THEN letting UM score..

That whole sequence was...odd

I couldn’t believe he made the same mistake that Elko made: he let the clock run down to the 2 minute warning when you of the time should take timeouts to stop the clock prior to that 2 minute timeout.

 

[k9cane]

I couldn’t believe he made the same mistake that Elko made: he let the clock run down to the 2 minute warning when you of the time should take timeouts to stop the clock prior to that 2 minute timeout.

the insertion of the 2 minute warning in college football has actually confused college coaches a bit in terms of how to manipulate that situation. Think about it, Day basically let 45-50 seconds off the clock and then let UM walk in with a touchdown

We should all sign a thank you card and send it to him

 

[caneingville]

I think im gonna start listing questionable game day coaching as a requirement for elite head coaches lol. Kirby got these questions, ryan day got these questions, les miles and ed o got these questions (probably were right tho). All got something else in common too

You forgot Dabo…he also gets a lot of heat for this too.

 

[caneingville]

Think it’s a combo of our discipline and refs swallowing their whistles all postseason. ACC refs are out of it

One of the most enjoyable things about watching these CFP games is not having to deal with ACC refs. I feel like the games are smoother and half the length!

 

[Dude]

During these playoffs, just like we’ve seen an evolution since the SMU game from the offensive philosophy, has Mario taken that next step on game day coaching/management?

From what I have seen during this run so far, my answer is a resounding, YES!!!!!

I’ve only really questioned 1 timeout and 1 play (the Fletcher fumble play as I didn’t like the bunch up set that brought extra defenders into the box, hence the fumble). One can argue that he was going to go for it on 4th down anyway, but aside from that, I have been pleased with the way Mario has handled the CEO role since SMU.

The earned reputation has been Mario will get the talent but **** it all up on any given game day.

During the highest of stakes during these playoffs and the end of year run, I don’t think he’s made many mistakes. He’s been cool under pressure.

What do you guys think?

Knocking on wood that the good coaching and field play continues as we make the final run home.

Well, the penalties have gotten much better and I am watching the other teams burn timeouts while we use ours responsibly. I wish we committed to running the ball a little more in the redzone vs A&M.