Hey Mario...great call!

[Cylo]

Might as well bring it up now. What did everyone think of Mario not calling timeout before the 2 minute warning. At first it seemed really bad. But Mario actually played it perfectly. He was fine letting some of the clock go because he knew we would score and score quickly. So he did not want to leave time on the clock for Cal to kick a winning FG. If that is what was truly going through his head, then simply brilliant. How many times have we seen teams score so quickly that the other team has plenty of time for a FG.

People were having a heart attack over that on the gameday thread lol

 

[Cylo]

I thought Mario has been good this year. I think his coordinators have let him down some (Guidry more than Dawson)

Guidry seems to make some good adjustments at halftime in the last 3 games but these slow starts is killing us

 

[112_cane]

I believe it’s a mistaken strategy. You utilize a timeout after the SECOND down stop to control 40 seconds off the clock and, ideally, force them into an incompletion on 3rd. 40 seconds are more valuable. You can better control the clock when you’re on offense at the end of a game - spikes, for example, are an alternative strategy. But, you have no control over the 40 seconds that tick off when you’re on defense. I’m not advocating for using ALL the timeouts while on defense. But, just because the result turned out ok doesn’t mean it’s an optimal or sustainable strategy going forward.

This is the correct answer. Although it did workout for us. Thankful for the 77 yard pass.

 

[hoops156]

Guidry seems to make some good adjustments at halftime in the last 3 games but these slow starts is killing us

we haven't played good teams or even good offenses. we wont be so lucky against Lville. we need to make some personnel changes post bye

 

[hoops156]

Man stop Guidry ain’t out there missing tackles

who's the coach? who's responsible for getting it corrected in practice. third straight week of missed tackles, getting fooled on misdirections, and blown coverages

 

[skyman]

Also the decision to waste 15 seconds and let it run to the 2 minute warning and not call a timeout worked perfectly. Got the extra regroup with the offense and ended up in Cam taking Dawson’s playsheet and picking the game winning TD playcall.

Wouldn’t have happened if you take that timeout

Crazy because Cal was snuffing out those plays all game

 

[Empirical Cane]

Everyone was freaking out in the chat about him not using defensive timeouts on their last drive. It all worked out perfectly.

 

[Cylo]

we haven't played good teams or even good offenses. we wont be so lucky against Lville. we need to make some personnel changes post bye

If Cal was a tough match up then @louisville, @Ga Tech and @Syracuse are going to be really scary. All 3 have solid to good offenses. Ga Tech been just okay on offense but they have guys that can really hurt our defense.

 

[ristwasdown]

I believe it’s a mistaken strategy. You utilize a timeout after the SECOND down stop to control 40 seconds off the clock and, ideally, force them into an incompletion on 3rd. 40 seconds are more valuable. You can better control the clock when you’re on offense at the end of a game - spikes, for example, are an alternative strategy. But, you have no control over the 40 seconds that tick off when you’re on defense. I’m not advocating for using ALL the timeouts while on defense. But, just because the result turned out ok doesn’t mean it’s an optimal or sustainable strategy going forward.

"Throw an incompletion". We'll they didnt. So we're back to my first sentence. You either take 2 timeouts before the 2 or none at all. Allowing them time to scheme things up as well. In your scenario, you'd have to take 1 on 2nd and another on 3rd.

We can argue optimal all day, sure. He played it fine and is sustainable. We would have had the chance for another 3 downs on d with 2 time outs to stop the clock. 40+ seconds left.

Edit: to be clear, I think your point is optimal. I just don't think what he did was "poor"

 

[clg003]

also not calling the TO was the right move considering we weren't gonna get good field position would have needed it

It was the right move… if they converted we still had 3 timeouts to force them 3 and out again.

 

[JustAFanHTX]

who's the coach? who's responsible for getting it corrected in practice. third straight week of missed tackles, getting fooled on misdirections, and blown coverages

Nope. Not letting yall do it. Those kids have to perform. It’s embarrassing from them so far in first halves. Those calls that are being made are GREAT if you execute

 

[ST26]

He did not use his TOs well and got lucky.

It would have given Cal an extra 20-30 seconds on that last drive. Their approach would have been significantly different if they had a minute to score a field goal. Mario had confidence that the offense could score quickly, and they did

 

[bobbydigius]

This is the correct answer. Although it did workout for us. Thankful for the 77 yard pass.

Yeah, can’t count on a 77 yard pass to bail you out when making that decision. Fortunately for us X did make that play and it worked out though. We scored with only 16 seconds left with that big play. It was the wrong call that worked out for us regardless.

 

[LuCane]

"Throw an incompletion". We'll they didnt. So we're back to my first sentence. You either take 2 timeouts before the 2 or none at all. Allowing them time to scheme things up as well. In your scenario, you'd have to take 1 on 2nd and another on 3rd.

We can argue optimal all day, sure. He played it fine and is sustainable. We would have had the chance for another 3 downs on d with 2 time outs to stop the clock. 40+ seconds left.

Edit: to be clear, I think your point is optimal. I just don't think what he did was "poor"

You still control about 40 seconds (by calling it after second down) if they decide to run or play it safe on 3rd, which actually is not negative because they're basically giving up the series. Even if you choose not to take a timeout on 3rd because it will only save 20-30 seconds. You optimize what you can control. That's the whole point of coaching and strategy. I'm glad it worked out, though, obviously.

 

[ristwasdown]

You still control about 40 seconds (by calling it after second down) if they decide to run or play it safe on 3rd, which actually is not negative because they're basically giving up the series. Even if you choose not to take a timeout on 3rd because it will only save 20-30 seconds. You optimize what you can control. That's the whole point of coaching and strategy. I'm glad it worked out, though, obviously.

No doubt. I just don't think what he did was egregious like i felt it was at first.

Could you imagine optimizing, scoring in 1 minute like we did due to the 77 catch and run and giving them a minute back. Shades of GT.

It worked out.

 

[LuCane]

No doubt. I just don't think what he did was egregious like i felt it was at first.

Could you imagine optimizing, scoring in 1 minute like we did due to the 77 catch and run and giving them a minute back. Shades of GT.

It worked out.

No, maybe not egregious. It's actually seemingly gotten better, honestly. I watch a lot of games. It's crazy to me how it seems most coaches just don't have a grasp of how to navigate complex end of game scenarios. They do it better in the NFL, though.

And, yeah, leaving too much time would definitely be a thing. But, I rather that thing be a choice on my end where I have the ball and can choose.

 

[Jedi Master Cane]

Mario did two things correctly that SHOCKED ME. Either he has assigned someone on the team to make these in game strategic decisions or he has just flat out improved significantly as a gameday coach.

1. He went for two with the aim of cutting it to 17. I saw some people saying we "need to go for two from this point forward" when we were down by 25 which was incorrect and low IQ ****. You either go for two right away (and chase if you miss) or wait til the theoretical last TD you need to go for two....but you don't go every time because no matter what it was going to be a 4 score game at that point.

2. He DIDN'T make the easy, simple, and apparent mistake ( in the eyes of the casual fan) of using any of his timeouts on the north side of the two minute warning. Forcing a 3rd down before the 2 minute warning you ABSOLUTELY hold those 3 timeouts to give you another out (in case they convert the first) and also....you force the other coaching into a tough passing/running decision on the third and long.

We , myself included, all gave the man $ H I T over his in game decisions last year....but he deserves flowers in this one.

 

[hiphopanimal]

Mario did two things correctly that SHOCKED ME. Either he has assigned someone on the team to make these in game strategic decisions or he has just flat out improved significantly as a gameday coach.

1. He went for two with the aim of cutting it to 17. I saw some people saying we "need to go for two from this point forward" when we were down by 25 which was incorrect and low IQ ****. You either go for two right away (and chase if you miss) or wait til the theoretical last TD you need to go for two....but you don't go every time because no matter what it was going to be a 4 score game at that point.

2. He DIDN'T make the easy, simple, and apparent mistake ( in the eyes of the casual fan) of using any of his timeouts on the north side of the two minute warning. Forcing a 3rd down before the 2 minute warning you ABSOLUTELY hold those 3 timeouts to give you another out (in case they convert the first) and also....you force the other coaching into a tough passing/running decision on the third and long.

We , myself included, all gave the man $ H I T over his in game decisions last year....but he deserves flowers in this one.

100

 

[gabednconfused]

not gonna lie I was like why not take a TO before the 2 min warning? Honestly they made it seem smart.

 

[LuCane]

Mario did two things correctly that SHOCKED ME. Either he has assigned someone on the team to make these in game strategic decisions or he has just flat out improved significantly as a gameday coach.

1. He went for two with the aim of cutting it to 17. I saw some people saying we "need to go for two from this point forward" when we were down by 25 which was incorrect and low IQ ****. You either go for two right away (and chase if you miss) or wait til the theoretical last TD you need to go for two....but you don't go every time because no matter what it was going to be a 4 score game at that point.

2. He DIDN'T make the easy, simple, and apparent mistake ( in the eyes of the casual fan) of using any of his timeouts on the north side of the two minute warning. Forcing a 3rd down before the 2 minute warning you ABSOLUTELY hold those 3 timeouts to give you another out (in case they convert the first) and also....you force the other coaching into a tough passing/running decision on the third and long.

We , myself included, all gave the man $ H I T over his in game decisions last year....but he deserves flowers in this one.

With three TOs, you can still call a timeout after 2nd down (I believe there were approx 3 minutes left) and have three stoppages at your disposal (2 timeouts and the 2 min). The Math for the "out" (in case they convert 3rd) is the same, except you just controlled 40 seconds - and potentially increased the amount of plays you give your offense (by at anywhere from 5-7 plays).

As for calling that timeout with like 2:20 something or whatever, I tend to agree it's not a big issue. Having the extra timeout may or may not be worth the 20 something seconds, IIRC. But, 40? I'm gaining that control.

Really, north of 2 minutes, you need 2 stoppages at your disposal and that's how many NFL teams play it. They also move the ball downfield more efficiently, though they don't have the 1st down "pause."