2nd and 3 at the 4 yd line - what happened?

[Vertigo_17]

The two previous plays JJ had gone up the middle for 6 and 8 yards. In fact the exact previous play JJ had gone for 8 off left tackle.

Yes, those were the few times they left the middle of the field open. No team in the NFL is going to leave the middle open from the 4 yd line.

 

[wileedog]

Yes, those were the few times they left the middle of the field open. No team in the NFL is going to leave the middle open from the 4 yd line.

So your point is that no NFL team should ever run from the 4 yard line on 2nd down?

 

[Vertigo_17]

So your point is that no NFL team should ever run from the 4 yard line on 2nd down?

Yeah, that's my point

The fact is we had a very hard time running the ball yesterday. There were a few times we moved it, but alot of that was based on the Oakland D was giving us the middle of the field and when we saw it - we took advantage of it.

 

[Lifetimeboyzfan]

Putting Spears in there that far out from the goalline was a foolish move.

Coach Parcells is talking about rookies, why put one in a blocking situation like that? I usually don't question what he does sometimes, but that is one that makes me scratch my head.

Only reason is because we don't have a fullback that can lead block. That is also the reason our running game is so terrible. Do think San Diego puts in a DLineman at fullback on goal line? I very much doubt it.

 

[AbeBeta]

It looked to my amateur eyes that both Adams and Allen stunk yesterday. Allen got pretty much abused by a washed up Warren Sapp. Of course, Allen is also an over-the-hill player who used to be great, but on most Sunday's, is average at best. For all the money, Jerry spends on the offensive line, he deserves better, but it looks like yet another year of subpar offensive line play. Probably time to get rid of Allen this offseason and Big Bill might want to re-think that statement that Adams can be one of the best players in the NFL.

Let's give Sapp a little credit -- there was a lot of talk of him being done last year -- but the Raiders had moved him to DE and he's just too fat to be a solid DE. Sapp didn't have a good game because our OL sucks -- Sapp had a good game because he's still got something left in the tank and he's got that 400lb'er lined up next to him so he ends up 1 on 1 against OLs. I really thought the ends -- Hamilton and Kelly were the one's we were having trouble with -- that seems to go on Flo and Petitti.

 

[TheHustler]

Only reason is because we don't have a fullback that can lead block. That is also the reason our running game is so terrible. Do think San Diego puts in a DLineman at fullback on goal line? I very much doubt it.

That wasn't the problem on that play. Spears blocked his man just fine.

 

[wileedog]

Yeah, that's my point

The fact is we had a very hard time running the ball yesterday. There were a few times we moved it, but alot of that was based on the Oakland D was giving us the middle of the field and when we saw it - we took advantage of it.

We had just gashed them twice up the middle. There no reason not go back to that well. Even if the middle is open LA and Flo still have to beat their man for JJ to get through, and they had just done it twice.

Plus Bledsoe had hardly been lighting up the Raiders secondary either all day. He was 11 for 26 (a 43% completion rate for those keeping score at home), so its not like he was doing his Joe Montana impersonation out there.

JJ is our most talented offensive player, Larry and Flo supposedly out two best lineman. With the game on the line I have trouble faulting a coach for putting the game into your best players hands.

Let me put this another way.

If we had called a play action, and Flozell again completely whiffed on his block and Kelly comes basically untouched into the backfield, how would that have worked out better? In all probability Bledsoe is sacked, opening up the possibility for one of Bledsoe trademark fumbles, or Drew rushes the throw and possibly gets picked.

There isn't a coach in the world who has a play in their book called "Run This When Your Left Tackle Completely Blows His Assignment."

Again, the play would have worked and its looked to me like JJ would have basically walked into the end zone if Flo takes out Kelly. I'm not really sure what more you can ask for from your playcalling.

 

[NorTex]

If we didn't give Julius the ball in that situation, people would be saying what they said about San Diego not giving LT the ball when we held them out of the endzone.

You just can't please all of the people all of the time.

 

[Gordon]

Jimmy Johnson would have run Emmit 3 times in that situation.

Its not about being predictable, its about executing. Our two 'star' offensive linemen on the left side blocked nothing but air.

It was 2nd and 2 from the 3 yard line, and I bet the plan was to run it 3 times, but that idea got much worse after we lost 2 yards on the first try. Can't really blame Parcells for giving it two pass attempts from the 5 rather than 2 run attempts after not being able to run all game. I guess you can blame him for not going to Witten atleast once though.

 

[BigWillie]

No one seems to know -- late in the game Flozell went down with a bum ankle. He was about to be taken out but refused to give up his spot to Torrin Tucker and stayed in. Flozell wasn't exactly playing full tilt on the last few plays, so that's alot of the reason why he whiffed on the block.

Not saying it is an excuse, but it certainly didn't help things.

 

[Danny White]

Should have given the damn ball to Spears instead of JJ !!!!!!! No one would have expected that!

I was thinking the same thing... but then he'd probably fumble and everyone would be after Parcells' head for handing the ball to a D-lineman on the most important play of the game!

 

[pancakeman]

Back in the day, they would have most likely scored on the first run.

:cry: