Has Mario taken that next coaching step on game days?

[flips]

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

Yeah not going back to tempo in the second half, after the success he had at the end of the first was a choice. We had possessed the ball for over 19 min in the first half. He was down 14 pts. By not running tempo, OSU basically had to be perfect on offense in the second half, while not letting us score more than 7 points, or they were gonna run out of time in all likelihood.

Think what it boils down to is for all his gaudy accuracy numbers and Heisman finalist hype, the fact was Day just didn't trust his QB a ton.

 

[Confidence1000]

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.

It seems like it

 

[E1k]

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

Mario and sark the next in line for the reverse jinx lol

 

[drewm3i]

If Mario remains calm and confident this week--and we keep "cutting loose"--we win going away.

 

[Cribby]

I planned on doing a thread on this subject after the season. Fair criticisms , narratives about Mario vs unfair, untrue narratives .Mario will never be a big brain guru but he understands the game and what wins. He’s also very good at teaching arguably the most important group in football, the O line. O line , D line will always be your best chance of winning. He’ll net be viewed as a good in game coach but just don’t be a liability and things will be fine.

 

[Silver King]

Something tells me that we are done with those days. Mario is also learning a lot as this run is made.

Feels that way—he's even got a different look about him. And all that physicality stuff in those 1-2 sentence on-field interviews before/at halftime/after the game he's finally able to take out of the tackle box and use, that the audience understands exactly what he's saying.

 

[DoctorKrazey]

I agree with this sentiment. Not to excuse some of the things Mario’s done in the past, but every season I watch ALL of these coaches make stupid or questionable decisions at certain points. For some reason, it’s like Mario was always under a microscope and his mistakes were amplified. If you notice one thing about all great coaches is that they have a willingness to adapt/evolve if something isn’t working. I give Mario a tremendous amount of kudos for not being stubborn, or being stagnant, and showing the eagerness to change something quickly if it isn’t working.

If people watched other games from beginning to end, you would realize that every coach out there does questionable things in every close game.

 

[Yoyo423]

I'll be curious to see how he handles Ole Miss. He needs to add a significant amount of wrinkles to this game in my opinion. Go tempo and get some quick strikes..keep Ole Miss on their heels all game.

#letitrip

 

[Disgustipated]

This wasn’t Syracuse at noon in October. This was the most talented team in America in the CFP. You take that momentum and 2 score lead into half every single time. And IIRC the sentiment on the board at the time was it was a dumb TO. We’re cheering the Marioball bc it’s working and what’s needed. So no it’s not at all like you’re claiming.

Nah, using TOs at the end of half was not dumb at all. Taint was pinned deep in their own territory, the defense didn't come through. Taint also was receiving kick to start 2nd half. that was 100% the move, steal a possesion before end of half based on that field position.

 

[Disgustipated]

I'll be curious to see how he handles Ole Miss. He needs to add a significant amount of wrinkles to this game in my opinion. Go tempo and get some quick strikes..keep Ole Miss on their heels all game.

#letitrip

They are not going Tempo so just get that thought out of your mind

 

[Yoyo423]

They are not going Tempo so just get that thought out of your mind

I'm not suggesting he do it the whole game or even the majority of it.. but if we come out and do it in the first drive it would throw their whole game strategy into confusion.

 

[Disgustipated]

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.

I seriously have no idea how anyone could believe he made a bad decision at the end of half. defense didn't come through

 

[JD08]

I never thought he was rigid in his thinking, but learning how to make better decisions under time pressure isn't easy. I'd say he's improved significantly.

 

[TrumpyCane]

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

TrumpyCane wrote this about a year ago after McCord left OSU

Ryan Day is a horrific play caller, he called plays at BC for two years in which their offense was garbage. Meyer had him and Kevin Wilson as co-oc and Kevin Wilson was in charge of play calling, after Meyer left, Wilson stayed on as OC for Day and the offense kept humming. Wilson left, and then Hartline was announced as OC but Ryan Day called plays in 2023. Guess what happened? A total regression in the offense to the point fans were ripping into McCord, who proceeds to leave and put up gaudy numbers while Day hires Kelly to call plays

He's terrible and has no feel for the game

 

[JG13]

Oh, it is exactly like I'm claiming. People around here play the result. Whatever doesn't work, dumb Mario should have done the opposite.

 

[DoctorKrazey]

TrumpyCane wrote this about a year ago after McCord left OSU

Ryan Day is a horrific play caller, he called plays at BC for two years in which their offense was garbage. Meyer had him and Kevin Wilson as co-oc and Kevin Wilson was in charge of play calling, after Meyer left, Wilson stayed on as OC for Day and the offense kept humming. Wilson left, and then Hartline was announced as OC but Ryan Day called plays in 2023. Guess what happened? A total regression in the offense to the point fans were ripping into McCord, who proceeds to leave and put up gaudy numbers while Day hires Kelly to call plays

He's terrible and has no feel for the game

One of the criticisms I’ve heard from their fans is that he abandons the run way too quickly. To be honest, this is something I’ve noticed and been critical of when it pertains to a lot of these play callers in the college game. It’s like they look at the stats at the end of the first quarter and see they’re only averaging 3 ypc and they’re like, “Oh well, time to give up on the run” not understanding that if you keep leaning on a defense that eventually turns into 7-8 ypc. I’ve even seen situations where they ARE having success running the ball from the jump and they still abandon the run. I just don’t get it man…

 

[edge]

My only gripe in the last 3 games was against ATM. The final two minutes before the half was puzzling. Maybe the wind was a factor there, but when you have a chance to go get points you have to get them. We did get in field goal range and missed, but those conditions were not good for a long field goal. The only thing that kind of made sense there is we were getting the second half kick off.

 

[TrumpyCane]

One of the criticisms I’ve heard from their fans is that he abandons the run way too quickly. To be honest, this is something I’ve noticed and been critical of when it pertains to a lot of these play callers in the college game. It’s like they look at the stats at the end of the first quarter and see they’re only averaging 3 ypc and they’re like, “Oh well, time to give up on the run” not understanding that if you keep leaning on a defense that eventually turns into 7-8 ypc. I’ve even seen situations where they ARE having success running the ball from the jump and they still abandon the run. I just don’t get it man…

TrumpyCane thinks its funny you say that because in the UF game, Napier actually just ran the ball their opening drive against us and scored a TD out of the half

Similsar situation to our 1H against OSU where they couldn't do anything on the ground

 

[Canestomp]

I planned on doing a thread on this subject after the season.

Yeah well, PIPO is known for popping off early--

 

[PIPO]

I agree with this sentiment. Not to excuse some of the things Mario’s done in the past, but every season I watch ALL of these coaches make stupid or questionable decisions at certain points. For some reason, it’s like Mario was always under a microscope and his mistakes were amplified. If you notice one thing about all great coaches is that they have a willingness to adapt/evolve if something isn’t working. I give Mario a tremendous amount of kudos for not being stubborn, or being stagnant, and showing the eagerness to change something quickly if it isn’t working.

I listened to an Ole Miss podcast and the first thing they said why they are going to win is Mario and his inability to coach on game days.

Well, we had the same sentiment to an extent about him and they haven’t been paying attention to how well he has been coaching recently and they are about to find out about this team in a few days.