I wonder if the real problem here was not the play call, which seemed horrific, but with Clifford’s decision to throw long. Were there not other receivers running short routes he could have gone to?
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I said the same thing to my wife. Look for something underneath.I wonder if the real problem here was not the play call, which seemed horrific, but with Clifford’s decision to throw long. Were there not other receivers running short routes he could have gone to?
I wonder if the real problem here was not the play call, which seemed horrific, but with Clifford’s decision to throw long. Were there not other receivers running short routes he could have gone to?
"The third down play with 2 minutes left".....
should have been the third down play with 85 seconds left if PSU is smart enough to let the play clock run down and then snap the ball with 1 or 2 seconds left on the play clock..... and then even a running play on that 3rd down play would have used up half of the remaining time and the game would have been over with pitt still deep in their own territory.....
Poorest end of game time management I have ever seen.
They did other than the first snap. Did you want a delay of game call?"The third down play with 2 minutes left".....
should have been the third down play with 85 seconds left if PSU is smart enough to let the play clock run down and then snap the ball with 1 or 2 seconds left on the play clock..... and then even a running play on that 3rd down play would have used up half of the remaining time and the game would have been over with pitt still deep in their own territory.....
Poorest end of game time management I have ever seen.
Poorest end of game time management I have ever seen.
In the post game presser, Franklin said a player ran the wrong play. I’m guessing it shouldn’t have been a long throw.
Another 3rd down call that was terrible:
3rd and 6 at ~50 yard line. It was the drive right after the Cain TD and quick stop by our defense. Ran the ball to the short side of the field for no gain. Even Fowler commented on how unbelievably conservative the call was when PSU had all the momentum.
Rahne just doesn’t have it.
They did other than the first snap. Did you want a delay of game call?
Just watched it to see the actual times. The first play of the drive was not shown on TV in detail (split screen with no play clock shown), but that first play was run with 15+ seconds on the play clock.
1st down 15+ seconds
2nd down 14 seconds - resulted in a 1st down
1st down 9 seconds
2nd down 4 seconds
3rd down 4 seconds - unadvised long chuck pass that stopped the clock.
If each of those 5 plays were snapped at 3 seconds (a reasonable average although a QB looking at the clock should be able to run it down to 1 or 2 seconds), and then the 3rd down play was a run or a short pass completion which should be the strategy when the game clock is the most important game factor:
31 seconds lost due to not running clock down before snaps
37 seconds due to stopping the clock with the chuck pass (40 second play clock and snapped at 3 seconds for the punt)
1 minute 8 seconds could have been run off additionally.
Pitt started the drive with 1:56 and 1 time out, and with basic strategy to drain the clock Pitt would have instead had just 48 seconds on the game clock when they ran their first play after receiving the punt.
Just watched it to see the actual times. The first play of the drive was not shown on TV in detail (split screen with no play clock shown), but that first play was run with 15+ seconds on the play clock.
1st down 15+ seconds
2nd down 14 seconds - resulted in a 1st down
1st down 9 seconds
2nd down 4 seconds
3rd down 4 seconds - unadvised long chuck pass that stopped the clock.
If each of those 5 plays were snapped at 3 seconds (a reasonable average although a QB looking at the clock should be able to run it down to 1 or 2 seconds), and then the 3rd down play was a run or a short pass completion which should be the strategy when the game clock is the most important game factor:
31 seconds lost due to not running clock down before snaps
37 seconds due to stopping the clock with the chuck pass (40 second play clock and snapped at 3 seconds for the punt)
1 minute 8 seconds could have been run off additionally.
Pitt started the drive with 1:56 and 1 time out, and with basic strategy to drain the clock Pitt would have instead had just 48 seconds on the game clock when they ran their first play after receiving the punt.
I wonder if the real problem here was not the play call, which seemed horrific, but with Clifford’s decision to throw long. Were there not other receivers running short routes he could have gone to?
You hope some of this is on the QB, but since McSorley did the same thing, you have to conclude that it is poor coaching and is part of the offensive philosophy. At least they are consistent on something because the rest of the offense makes no sense and shows they have no idea what they want to accomplish.Just watched it to see the actual times. The first play of the drive was not shown on TV in detail (split screen with no play clock shown), but that first play was run with 15+ seconds on the play clock.
1st down 15+ seconds
2nd down 14 seconds - resulted in a 1st down
1st down 9 seconds
2nd down 4 seconds
3rd down 4 seconds - unadvised long chuck pass that stopped the clock.
If each of those 5 plays were snapped at 3 seconds (a reasonable average although a QB looking at the clock should be able to run it down to 1 or 2 seconds), and then the 3rd down play was a run or a short pass completion which should be the strategy when the game clock is the most important game factor:
31 seconds lost due to not running clock down before snaps
37 seconds due to stopping the clock with the chuck pass (40 second play clock and snapped at 3 seconds for the punt)
1 minute 8 seconds could have been run off additionally.
Pitt started the drive with 1:56 and 1 time out, and with basic strategy to drain the clock Pitt would have instead had just 48 seconds on the game clock when they ran their first play after receiving the punt.
That was my biggest WTF call of the game, 3rd and 4, needing only a 1st down and another series to run out the clock, Clifford throws a low % 40 yd. pass to nobody. Is that Rahne's fault or the QB?
I wonder if the real problem here was not the play call, which seemed horrific, but with Clifford’s decision to throw long. Were there not other receivers running short routes he could have gone to?
Just watched it to see the actual times. The first play of the drive was not shown on TV in detail (split screen with no play clock shown), but that first play was run with 15+ seconds on the play clock.
1st down 15+ seconds
2nd down 14 seconds - resulted in a 1st down
1st down 9 seconds
2nd down 4 seconds
3rd down 4 seconds - unadvised long chuck pass that stopped the clock.
If each of those 5 plays were snapped at 3 seconds (a reasonable average although a QB looking at the clock should be able to run it down to 1 or 2 seconds), and then the 3rd down play was a run or a short pass completion which should be the strategy when the game clock is the most important game factor:
31 seconds lost due to not running clock down before snaps
37 seconds due to stopping the clock with the chuck pass (40 second play clock and snapped at 3 seconds for the punt)
1 minute 8 seconds could have been run off additionally.
Pitt started the drive with 1:56 and 1 time out, and with basic strategy to drain the clock Pitt would have instead had just 48 seconds on the game clock when they ran their first play after receiving the punt. Or has been pointed out below, somewhat more time but without a timeout left to them.....
I have never understood why they don’t let the play clock run down in that situation. Why?"The third down play with 2 minutes left".....
should have been the third down play with 85 seconds left if PSU is smart enough to let the play clock run down and then snap the ball with 1 or 2 seconds left on the play clock..... and then even a running play on that 3rd down play would have used up half of the remaining time and the game would have been over with pitt still deep in their own territory.....
Poorest end of game time management I have ever seen.
EDIT: actually after watching the replay PSU could have run an additional 31 seconds off the game clock on the last PSU drive, before the third down pass play that stopped the clock, just by snapping the ball with 3 seconds left on the play clock on each of those 5 plays. And also forced pitt to use it's last timeout by running on 3rd down or completing a short, safe pass.