2 minute drill

[Kellsbells]

One thing that has always driven me crazy about football is the end of games. How is it that a team that only managed one touchdown through 58 minutes can march down the field with a minute forty seconds with no timeouts and score a touchdown? What is the offense doing differently that they couldn’t do the entire game? What is the defense doing to allow it to happen? What is the line of thinking on either side (why didn’t the offense have more urgency the entire game, why did the defense go away from what worked for them the entire game)? One thing my dad always said was “the prevent defense only prevents you from winning”. Can someone enlighten me?

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

I don't know the answer but I believe it's more about a change in the mentality rather than a sudden up or downturn in ability. I would tend to think offenses would probably score more points in general if they played every drive under the impression that it had to score immediately or they would lose.

 

[noshame]

Defensive coordinators build their game plan around tendencies. In the last 2 minutes, tendencies go out the window and everything changes.

 

[Blackrain]

As the clock winds down the sense of urgency escalates. When you are behind.

Unfortunately in the case of our Cowboys when we're leading as the clock winds down our coach seems to forget that the clock is now our enemy and we don't want it to stop for any reason.

We making art form out of getting sacked or throwing the ball and stopping the clock at the absolute worst times to extend the games that should be over.
It's beyond frustrating to watch especially as you listen to one of our great alumni in the booth describing exactly what we should do and we're doing the exact opposite.

 

[Kellsbells]

Defensive coordinators build their game plan around tendencies. In the last 2 minutes, tendencies go out the window and everything changes.

Still doesn’t make sense to me. Playing tendencies is a lot like gambling - sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But what they do under 2 minutes should be much more predictable. By playing soft in an effort to prevent a big play and keep them from getting out of bounds, you end up giving up 15-20 yards big chunk plays. 3-4 of them and you’re done. Why not play tight and force them to do something they had been unable to do the entire game?

 

[Runwildboys]

When a team is down, and time's running out, they take chances they wouldn't ordinarily take. That's why defenses are more willing to allow shorter passes, rather than risk a big play. Sometimes it's the right call, but the prevent defense usually costs a lot of yardage.

 

[TexasBoys2288]

One thing that has always driven me crazy about football is the end of games. How is it that a team that only managed one touchdown through 58 minutes can march down the field with a minute forty seconds with no timeouts and score a touchdown? What is the offense doing differently that they couldn’t do the entire game? What is the defense doing to allow it to happen? What is the line of thinking on either side (why didn’t the offense have more urgency the entire game, why did the defense go away from what worked for them the entire game)? One thing my dad always said was “the prevent defense only prevents you from winning”. Can someone enlighten me?

You Dad is correct.

“the prevent defense only prevents you from winning”

 

[Whirlwin]

The defense panics, and they play band don’t break. I don’t know why they just don’t play the game like they did for the first 50 minutes prevent defense prevents nothing.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

The prevent defense has been the downfall of many teams in the history of the NFL

 

[Coogiguy03]

One thing that has always driven me crazy about football is the end of games. How is it that a team that only managed one touchdown through 58 minutes can march down the field with a minute forty seconds with no timeouts and score a touchdown? What is the offense doing differently that they couldn’t do the entire game? What is the defense doing to allow it to happen? What is the line of thinking on either side (why didn’t the offense have more urgency the entire game, why did the defense go away from what worked for them the entire game)? One thing my dad always said was “the prevent defense only prevents you from winning”. Can someone enlighten me?

This is by far one of the greatest posts I've seen in a while!!! I don't understand it either, or how we some times score right after a team scores. You'll see this team struggle and struggle, but as soon as the other team scores, it somehow gives us the lift that we need to get things back together, and we somehow go on this great long sustaining drive.


Sorry I went on a rant, but what also about scoring before the half

 

[Coogiguy03]

Defensive coordinators build their game plan around tendencies. In the last 2 minutes, tendencies go out the window and everything changes.

yes but where was the urgency from the offense all game , the defense just magically has no tendencies all of a sudden that they worked on for weeks and months

 

[Coogiguy03]

Guys are wide open, I think coordinators want to blitz and bring pressure but they don't want to give up a big play so they play soft

 

[Kellsbells]

Guys are wide open, I think coordinators want to blitz and bring pressure but they don't want to give up a big play so they play soft

I still say make them beat you.

 

[Flamma]

One thing that has always driven me crazy about football is the end of games. How is it that a team that only managed one touchdown through 58 minutes can march down the field with a minute forty seconds with no timeouts and score a touchdown? What is the offense doing differently that they couldn’t do the entire game? What is the defense doing to allow it to happen? What is the line of thinking on either side (why didn’t the offense have more urgency the entire game, why did the defense go away from what worked for them the entire game)? One thing my dad always said was “the prevent defense only prevents you from winning”. Can someone enlighten me?

It's stupid defensive play calling. The Cowboys embarrassed themselves against the Dolphins last week at the end of the first half, and end of game. They simply play off the WRs and allow catches underneath. All the way into the endzone. Or all the way into FG range. When they should just be playing a 2 or 3 deep defense and close coverage. But they are afraid of a big play.

There is a time and place for that kind of defense. But it all depends on how much time the offense has.

 

[HeavyBarrel]

I don't understand Prevent D when the offense still has 1:30 left or so, the D plays soft and allows the offense to march right down the field seemingly every time.....

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Well the drill itself challenges the defense coz players are human, they get tired and when that happens OC can find some plays working that may not if they are full strength or allowed to substitute. Ever wonder why some teams go no-huddle after a big play? Who was it, Chip Kelly I think tried to design his playbook using no huddle but the problem was HIS players got tired. (lol)

 

[Flamma]

I don't understand Prevent D when the offense still has 1:30 left or so, the D plays soft and allows the offense to march right down the field seemingly every time.....

I think coaches just see a small amount of time and go from there. In the heat of the moment, they don't see just how much time the offense has. If you got a buck 30 left with some timeouts, that's an eternity. Tom Brady, Rodgers, hell, even Romo torched teams under these situations. But they never learn, and still don't. We still see these dopes making the same mistakes. Even our DC is guilty. A perfect example of this failure was Buffalo losing to the Chiefs a few years ago in the playoffs. With 13 seconds left from their own 25, no way should the Chiefs get into FG range. Just 2 deep coverage and M2M up close would have sealed the game. But they tried to reinvent the wheel. The Bills deserved that loss.

 

[fivetwos]

If you go up tempo when not in a must four-down situation you risk having to punt very quickly and sending your very unrested defense back out there nearly immediately.

Even a typical three and out is problematic that way. Maybe not the largest reason but there are probably another few reasons why you don’t play as if you’re in a dire situation when you aren’t.

I get what you’re saying though. Don’t recall which game but a couple of years ago I saw three FG and lead changes in the final minute. Shouldn’t be that easy.

 

[Coogiguy03]

I still say make them beat you.

agreed

 

[JoeKing]

One thing that has always driven me crazy about football is the end of games. How is it that a team that only managed one touchdown through 58 minutes can march down the field with a minute forty seconds with no timeouts and score a touchdown? What is the offense doing differently that they couldn’t do the entire game? What is the defense doing to allow it to happen? What is the line of thinking on either side (why didn’t the offense have more urgency the entire game, why did the defense go away from what worked for them the entire game)? One thing my dad always said was “the prevent defense only prevents you from winning”. Can someone enlighten me?

Time can be a real motivator. There is something about having a fire lit to you that gets you going. But I love the question. Thank you for posting.