Shanahan is no Belichek

[i_am_the_swammi]

Not sure if anyone else was noticing this as time was winding down last night, but:

 

The Broncos used their final time-out with about 2:50 left in the game, Chargers on their 9-yard line. Chargers run a play, and LT gets to the 5-yard line. Clock keeps ticking. Chargers run their 2nd-down play, and LT gets to the 1-yard line. Two-minute warning. Chargers run another play, Bronco defense holds. Clock still ticking. LT punches it in with about 1:20 left.

 

Now anyone with half a clue would realize that Denver had not stopped LT all day. So rather than let him score, and get the ball back with two and a half minutes, Shanny elects to let the Charger offense use up the clock, and (inevitably) score a TD.

 

Now Plummer gets the ball back with no timeouts, and just over a minute left to play. And he actually drives them down the field, but time runs out.

 

I know hindsight is 20-20, but it seems he gave his team little chance to win. I wonder if Jake could have gotten them into the endzone if he had another minute to work with?

 

Too bad Shanny never gave his team a chance to find out. I guess he took a page from the "Andy Reid School of Time Management"....it certainly wasn't from Belichek's,

[peepinmofo]

Not sure if anyone else was noticing this as time was winding down last night, but:

 

The Broncos used their final time-out with about 2:50 left in the game, Chargers on their 9-yard line. Chargers run a play, and LT gets to the 5-yard line. Clock keeps ticking. Chargers run their 2nd-down play, and LT gets to the 1-yard line. Two-minute warning. Chargers run another play, Bronco defense holds. Clock still ticking. LT punches it in with about 1:20 left.

 

Now anyone with half a clue would realize that Denver had not stopped LT all day. So rather than let him score, and get the ball back with two and a half minutes, Shanny elects to let the Charger offense use up the clock, and (inevitably) score a TD.

 

Now Plummer gets the ball back with no timeouts, and just over a minute left to play. And he actually drives them down the field, but time runs out.

 

I know hindsight is 20-20, but it seems he gave his team little chance to win. I wonder if Jake could have gotten them into the endzone if he had another minute to work with?

 

Too bad Shanny never gave his team a chance to find out. I guess he took a page from the "Andy Reid School of Time Management"....it certainly wasn't from Belichek's,

 

 

So THATS why BB is all pissy this morning. And he doesnt see through orange and blue... Pff

[Big John]

On 2nd and goal, the Chargers intentionally did not go in the end zone by having Rivers dive just short of it in order to wind the clock more. Then the Chargers needed the score, so LT went in for the score on 3rd down.

[Randall]

Sounds like what the Packers did in their final superbowl.

[Easy n Dirty]

I had the thought as I was watching that the Broncos might have been best served by just letting the Chargers score at the end there to give themselves the most time to come back and try to tie it up with the TD/2-point conversion.

 

On the play after the two-minute warning, Rivers was clearly not attempting to score. He took the ball and fell to the ground, not losing yardage but not trying to get into the endzone either, just looking to use up some clock before scoring on third down. Good play call there, I thought, and nothing Shanahan could have done differently at that point.

 

I think an argument could be made about the previous play, however. Chargers had it 1st and goal from the 5, with 2:45 left to play when the ball was snapped. LT2 ends up running it down to the 1-yard line. if you look at the situation prior to the play - the Chargers were gonna' come away with a FG at a minimum, and if that happened, then the Broncos would be looking at a 4-point deficit with, by definition, almost no time left on the clock (assuming the Chargers ran the ball 3 times prior to kicking the FG, which I think is a given). So I do think the Bronocs would have been better off allowing Tomlinson to score on that play, and then have an 8-point deficit, but with about 2-1/2 minutes to work with.

[hooknladder]

I can see it...Your a head coach in the NFL, -so your not in the business of just "giving" up TD's. I would say that the logic is - you stiffen your DEF and hope for a rare turnover, getting the ball back and your opponents score the same.

[Bronco Billy]

Shanahan is getting noticeably dumber? Noooooooooooo....

 

So, DEN scores on an INT return and SD counters the next series. The DEN running game is overwhelming the SD D, with M Bell rushing at 4.5 ypc & Nash also running well. In the meantime, Plummer is obviously having one of his out-of-the-zone games. What does the Mastermind do? Have Plummer throw 3 times - and its 3 & out for DEN.

 

SD responds with a score to make it 24-21. DEN goes back to the run until they get the ball in the red zone. Then Shanahan again goes to Plummer, who misfires on 1st down, runs for moderate yardage on 2nd down, and fumbles the snap on 3rd down. So a drive that went right down the field & could have driven some nails in SD ends in a FG.

 

SD then scores again to go ahead. Shanahan then goes with M Bell between the tackles & DEN starts moving the ball again, but then The Mastermind tries that cute flip play again & loses 7 yards, then is forced to go with Plummer & the pass. Game over.

 

DEN was in control of the game & running the ball between the tackles very effectively. Why would any HC in their right mind decide at that point to let Plummer take over the game? DEN deserved to lose, and it starts right at the top. I'm sure Shanahan will find some players besides Plummer to throw under the bus this morning to deflect the blame.

 

With SD & KC road games coming up in the next 3 weeks, this season is starting to slowly slip away into a wildcard entry & an early loss in the playoffs. Great.

Edited November 20, 2006 by Bronco Billy

[Azazello1313]

Not sure if anyone else was noticing this as time was winding down last night, but:

 

The Broncos used their final time-out with about 2:50 left in the game, Chargers on their 9-yard line. Chargers run a play, and LT gets to the 5-yard line. Clock keeps ticking. Chargers run their 2nd-down play, and LT gets to the 1-yard line. Two-minute warning. Chargers run another play, Bronco defense holds. Clock still ticking. LT punches it in with about 1:20 left.

 

Now anyone with half a clue would realize that Denver had not stopped LT all day. So rather than let him score, and get the ball back with two and a half minutes, Shanny elects to let the Charger offense use up the clock, and (inevitably) score a TD.

 

Now Plummer gets the ball back with no timeouts, and just over a minute left to play. And he actually drives them down the field, but time runs out.

 

I know hindsight is 20-20, but it seems he gave his team little chance to win. I wonder if Jake could have gotten them into the endzone if he had another minute to work with?

 

Too bad Shanny never gave his team a chance to find out. I guess he took a page from the "Andy Reid School of Time Management"....it certainly wasn't from Belichek's,

 

 

sounds like you weren't even watching the game, moran.

[i_am_the_swammi]

I had the thought as I was watching that the Broncos might have been best served by just letting the Chargers score at the end there to give themselves the most time to come back and try to tie it up with the TD/2-point conversion.

 

On the play after the two-minute warning, Rivers was clearly not attempting to score. He took the ball and fell to the ground, not losing yardage but not trying to get into the endzone either, just looking to use up some clock before scoring on third down. Good play call there, I thought, and nothing Shanahan could have done differently at that point.

 

I think an argument could be made about the previous play, however. Chargers had it 1st and goal from the 5, with 2:45 left to play when the ball was snapped. LT2 ends up running it down to the 1-yard line. if you look at the situation prior to the play - the Chargers were gonna' come away with a FG at a minimum, and if that happened, then the Broncos would be looking at a 4-point deficit with, by definition, almost no time left on the clock (assuming the Chargers ran the ball 3 times prior to kicking the FG, which I think is a given). So I do think the Bronocs would have been better off allowing Tomlinson to score on that play, and then have an 8-point deficit, but with about 2-1/2 minutes to work with.

 

 

That's my point...and to go further, I might have even let LT in on the play before that, when he ran from the 9-yard line to the 5-yard line. Then you might not have even had to burn the timeout! The Broncos would have had the ball back with about 2:50 left, and a timeout, down by 8.

 

I know, there is no gurantee that LT was getting in...but look at the Bronco's "best-case scenario" : if the strategy they were employing had worked, they would have gotten the ball back with about 40 seconds, no timeouts, down by 4 (assuming the Chargers kicked the FG, and used as much clock as they could). Or, if they had used the strategy to let them score, they would have goten the ball back with almost 3-minutes to play, a timeout, and down by 8.

 

It's not rocket science, Shanny.

[i_am_the_swammi]

sounds like you weren't even watching the game, moran .

 

 

 

if your gonna call someone a moron, perhaps you could spell it right, idiot.

 

and if you read the above posts, most posters agree with my post.

 

MORON!

[Jimmy Neutron]

Sounds like what the Packers did in their final superbowl.

 

 

...and that worked out well.

 

Denver was exposed last night, just like Indy was. I'm a hugh Denver fan, but that #1 defense is so much fluff. The few times they've played a decent offensive team this year, they've been steam-rolled.

 

Jake is not great, but he is an OK starter. If Shanny would run the ball more (they were running great against SD last night), they'd win more games.

[Jimmy Neutron]

 

if your gonna call someone a moron, perhaps you could spell it right, idiot.

 

and if you read the above posts, most posters agree with my post.

 

MORON!

 

 

A clue for the clueless:

 

Moran is a beloved Huddlism. Learn to use it or leave.

 

Ya Hugh Moran!

[i_am_the_swammi]

A clue for the clueless:

 

Moran is a beloved Huddlism. Learn to use it or leave.

 

Ya Hugh Moran!

 

 

thanks for the insight...

 

Ya momo fektard!

[Furd]

if your gonna call someone a moron, perhaps you could spell it right, idiot.

 

 

 

you sure told him, moran

[Bronco Billy]

This will not end well....

[i_am_the_swammi]

you sure told him, moran

 

 

nothing like being a little late to the party, furdball.

[hooknladder]

That's my point...and to go further, I might have even let LT in on the play before that, when he ran from the 9-yard line to the 5-yard line. Then you might not have even had to burn the timeout! The Broncos would have had the ball back with about 2:50 left, and a timeout, down by 8.

 

I know, there is no gurantee that LT was getting in...but look at the Bronco's "best-case scenario" : if the strategy they were employing had worked, they would have gotten the ball back with about 40 seconds, no timeouts, down by 4 (assuming the Chargers kicked the FG, and used as much clock as they could). Or, if they had used the strategy to let them score, they would have goten the ball back with almost 3-minutes to play, a timeout, and down by 8.

 

It's not rocket science, Shanny.

 

As I stated above... -Unless you force a TURNOVER!

[i_am_the_swammi]

As I stated above... -Unless you force a TURNOVER!

 

 

Other than the Bettis fumble last year (as the Steelers were essentailly running out the clock against the Colts), and the "Miracle in the Meadowlands", can you recall any other times when a team running out the clock fumbled the ball? Perhaps it happens more than I remember, but it seems like a needle-in-a-haystack scenario.

 

If that was really Shanahan's strategy (to use all his timeouts and waste the clock in trying to force a turnover), he's even sillier than I imagined.

[Easy n Dirty]

That's my point...and to go further, I might have even let LT in on the play before that, when he ran from the 9-yard line to the 5-yard line. Then you might not have even had to burn the timeout! The Broncos would have had the ball back with about 2:50 left, and a timeout, down by 8.

 

 

 

The play prior to that was run from the 18-yard line, not the 9-yard line. It was the play where Tomlinson appeared to have been stopped for no gain, but then he staggered through and around a couple Broncos and was eventually pushed out of bounds at the 5.

 

To me, it's kinda' hard to argue that the Broncos would have been better off letting LT score on the run from the 5, and I think you can probabbly make a decent case for letting him score the play before that, even from the 18.

[Furd]

nothing like being a little late to the party, furdball.

 

 

It has something to do with the topic starter I think.

 

While wasting my time responding to you, I found it ironic that someone with your user name would be crictical of another's spelling.

[Azazello1313]

i don't think any coach in the league would lay down on first and goal from the 5, down 1 point, with 3 minutes to go. second and 1 at the 2 minute warning? yeah you let them score there, but obviously rivers laid down at the half yardline intending NOT to score.

[kingfish247]

Shanahan is getting noticeably dumber? Noooooooooooo....

 

So, DEN scores on an INT return and SD counters the next series. The DEN running game is overwhelming the SD D, with M Bell rushing at 4.5 ypc & Nash also running well. In the meantime, Plummer is obviously having one of his out-of-the-zone games. What does the Mastermind do? Have Plummer throw 3 times - and its 3 & out for DEN.

 

SD responds with a score to make it 24-21. DEN goes back to the run until they get the ball in the red zone. Then Shanahan again goes to Plummer, who misfires on 1st down, runs for moderate yardage on 2nd down, and fumbles the snap on 3rd down. So a drive that went right down the field & could have driven some nails in SD ends in a FG.

 

SD then scores again to go ahead. Shanahan then goes with M Bell between the tackles & DEN starts moving the ball again, but then The Mastermind tries that cute flip play again & loses 7 yards, then is forced to go with Plummer & the pass. Game over.

 

DEN was in control of the game & running the ball between the tackles very effectively. Why would any HC in their right mind decide at that point to let Plummer take over the game? DEN deserved to lose, and it starts right at the top. I'm sure Shanahan will find some players besides Plummer to throw under the bus this morning to deflect the blame.

 

With SD & KC road games coming up in the next 3 weeks, this season is starting to slowly slip away into a wildcard entry & an early loss in the playoffs. Great.

 

+1

his play calling was abysmal.

 

with a 17pt lead and a running game that was very successful all game, your opponent becomes the game clock. it's beyond me why Shanahan insisted on so many low percentage passes with Plummer.

[Azazello1313]

yeah, there's plenty to criticize with the second half play calling. first half play calling was right in the sweet spot, but once they got that 17 point lead

 

still woulda won the game if not for:

1) TERRIBLE kickoff coverage

2) jake

[Savage Beatings]

Any coach that would intentionally let the opposing team score a TD should be fired immediately. Too many things can (and often do) happen in one play... you can never just assume that the opposing team will score, and so lay down and let them in order to preserve time on the clock. Horrible horrible idea. Horrible.

[hooknladder]

Other than the Bettis fumble last year (as the Steelers were essentailly running out the clock against the Colts), and the "Miracle in the Meadowlands", can you recall any other times when a team running out the clock fumbled the ball? Perhaps it happens more than I remember, but it seems like a needle-in-a-haystack scenario.

 

If that was really Shanahan's strategy (to use all his timeouts and waste the clock in trying to force a turnover), he's even sillier than I imagined.

 

they were not just running out the clock, they were attempting to score.