September 11, 2004
Flag on the Play - Miami/FSU
Last night's Miami win over FSU has me so worked up that I had to interruprt the regular Flag on the Play schedule to break into this very special edition. If you watched the game as an FSU or Miami fan, I think you should be really upset, too. Let's break it down:
Larry Coker:
After losing the coin toss, Coker elects to go with the wind in the first quarter, or against the wind in the fourth quarter. With a 15+ mph "breeze" on the field, the 'Canes basically gave FSU an extra 5-6 yards for kicks at the end of the game. The wind really hurt the first half field position battle for Miami, as their punts into the wind gave FSU outstanding starting position.
Then, early in the game with his team trailing, Coker elects to go for a fourth and four rather than kick a field goal. At this point, his team really had no offensive production whatsoever, especially through the air. With the wind at their backs, the field goal was almost a gimmie. It would have put Miami on the board 3-10. Remember this decision, because it almost cost them the entire ballgame. Had they kicked the field goal, they never would have needed OT.
In the fourth quarter with ~12:00 minutes to go, Coker decides to kick a field goal from fourth and goal at about the two yard line. Down 0-10, the 'Canes can only count on getting the ball back one time, maybe twice. Now granted, the score should have been 3-10 (see above), but kicking in this situation seems absurd. If they go for the TD & don't make it, they leave FSU 98+ yards away from scoring. Miami had three TOs, but had already shown that FSU wasn't going to sustain a drive. Had the Hurricanes scored a touchdown, the 7-10 score means that UM (who gets the ball on a couple more touches) might have had a shot for at least two more field goals and won the game in regulation. Two poor decisions by Coker leave the 'Canes trailing 3-10 instead of being tied 10-10 (see above). Had the rest of the game played out, the Hurricanes win this one in regulation by a score of 17-10.
Mickey Andrews:
I've always been a Mickey Andrews fan. He is the man behind the curtain down FSU's yellow brick road and --by far-- one of the top assistant coaches in college football. Given that he's a de facto genius, why in the hell would Andrews decide to change his defense late in the game, shifting from his base 4-3 & cover two schemes, to a flat 3-4 with the LBs dropping. Moving to the prevent defense prevented FSU from winning. I've heard it said so many times it makes me puke, but the prevent defense only prevents you from winning. Case in point, FSU gave up almost nothing in the first three quarters, yet surrendered 10 points in the final minutes of that game. The deep safety drops made Berlin (a guy who's very average) look like the second coming of Johnny Unitas. FSU's defense kept them in a game that they should have lost big. Despite their success last night, Mickey Andrew's defensive switch cost FSU the game.
FSU's Trainers:
Do you temember seeing a Miami trainer out on the field treating a guy for cramps? Me neither. Meanwhile, FSU had half a dozen guys goi down with cramps in the second half. It's no more humid in Miami than it is in Tallahassee. (In fact, it may be worse in Tally.) So that tells me that the Hurricane trainers kept their guys hydrated throughout the game & at halftime. FSU got "out-trained" and failed to protect it's athletes during the ballgame. The Seminoles managed to lose just about everywhere on the field last night, trainers included.
Bobby Bowden:
God bless ya, Bobby, 'cause I know it was an awful week for you. You lost the grandson named after you and an ex son-in-law that you were close to, just hours after you were all together. But still, you were on the sidelines barking into the headset. I give a standing ovation to Bowden.
Chris Rix:
I don't want to come off like a typical FSU fan with my 'BCS or Bust' attitude, but it's time for Chris Rix to sit down. Everyone's entitled to a bad game and Rix's 12-28 passing, 108 yards and 2 INTs and 2 fumbles definitely qualifies. The trouble with the senior QB is that he hasn't learned anything in four years. Rix, who's been blasted for four years for throwing off his back foot, continued to make crazy throws off his back foot last night, one of which resulted in an interception. Rix, who's been warned to take care of the ball, fumbled twice in the game to end FSU drives.
I honestly don't care how poor Wayne Sexton or Xavier Lee might play right now, FSU needs to pull Rix and play the young guys. Even if it costs FSU two-three more losses, at least they'll have something to show for it at the end of the year. At this point, the 'Noles are no longer in the driver's seat for the ACC and looked more like a top 15 team than a top 5 team. What's the harm? Bench Chris Rix and give the team a shot at several years of success. Otherwise, the rest of the season is just another Rix heave - undoubtedly thrown off his back foot.
Comments:
posted on September 11, 2004 11:37 AM — link — abuse?Kevin Donahue said:
I honestly don't think FSU was poorly conditioned in the off-season. I think they've worked pretty hard and everyone looked to be in great shape.
I do fault the trainers in game - you've got to keep those kids drinking. If they won't, you give them an IV at halftime. What it shows me is that --during halftime-- the trainers weren't doing their job. They weren't standing in front of benches of kids and making them drink water/gatorade. All the cramps happened after halftime, that's completely on the trainers.
Jeff said:
posted on September 11, 2004 11:39 AM — 24.197.122.162 — link — abuse?
Yeah forced hydration is the key, even in the wintertime, when you're active.
You don't realize you need it until it's too late (speaking as someone who has had to get an IV before when my unit was training in the desert one time.) Maybe Kellen Winslow really was a "soldier" and they have drill sergeants making Miami players drink and hold the canteens over their heads to prove they're empty (if you ever went to basic training you'll get it.)
Terence said:
posted on September 11, 2004 2:15 PM — 68.201.171.211 — link — abuse?
I can't believe you'd do a recap of the game and not mention Cromartie. He was the one standout player of the night.
Neither offense looked particularly good. There were a lot of very poorly thrown balls from both quarterbacks, even when there wasn't a lot of pressure from the defense (although both defenses were excellent). The worst part was that both offenses were returning experienced players, not like USC with young receivers or LSU/Michigan with a young quarterback.
And Berlin *never* looked like Unitas. He looked lucky to complete a pass, at which point his receivers made plays (the late touchdown in particular).
Considering the polls dropped LSU last week for a scare against OSU, I wouldn't be surprised to see both of these teams drop based on their performance.
posted on September 11, 2004 2:33 PM — link — abuse?
Well, this isn't really a recap - I just wanted to point out who needs to get jacked up. Andrews needs to be ripped for going to the prevent, which did help Berlin compelte passes. Plain & simple.
Cromartie was a stud horse. No doubt. Gore was awesome. Booker looked good in some of his cuts, but never had space. Maybe I'll do a recap if I get a minute, but I couldn't let these mistakes go without noting.
Terence said:
posted on September 11, 2004 2:39 PM — 68.201.171.211 — link — abuse?
Understood. And I agree with you on Chris Rix. I don't know if he always looks so bad, but for a 5th year senior, he looked really really bad. I agree that it's wiser to get experience with a different quarterback. I think Bowden nearly said as much after the game.
posted on September 11, 2004 5:45 PM — 130.13.111.244 — link — abuse?
I saw two horrible offenses on the field last night, save for one quality, last drive by Berlin against a prevent style defense. (Hint to Miami, see how comfy Berlin looked in the shotgun?)
Certainly didn't see how either team could be considered a national championship contender or even an ACC conference contender.
I'm sure Virginia, Maryland, NC State, Va Tech and maybe even Georgia Tech watched that game, licking their chops at the bad football being played.
posted on September 11, 2004 8:07 PM — 4.239.78.60 — link — abuse?
Call me dumb, but I finally figured out Chris Rix: he's exactly the same quarterback he was four years ago. The same athleticism, the same decision-making, the same results. He might be the first four-year quarterback starter I've seen who has made almost no progress as a player.
TnGator said:
posted on September 11, 2004 11:27 PM — 207.203.147.20 — link — abuse?
I can't remember the exact particulars, but didn't FSU throw the ball (incomplete) on 3rd down with only a couple of minutes on the clock? This prevented Miami from burning their last time out. I still can't believe Miami's lack of management on their timeouts. Both teams have good 'D', but both quarterbacks looked atrocious.
Mike said:
posted on September 12, 2004 8:19 AM — 68.35.228.191 — link — abuse?
It is completely absurd that as a 5th-year Senior Rix still can't learn from his past screw-ups. The fact that the Bowden's can't get anything done on offense is directly attributable to Chris Rix's struggles to acurately read defenses and be realistic about his ability to complete certain throws.
Gina said:
posted on September 13, 2004 3:21 PM — 192.247.64.43 — link — abuse?
I flew 3,000 miles to see the game. Rix still plays like a freshman thrown on the field after the starter and backup go down. Totally deer in the headlights.
No more excuses for this guy. Bench him.
I read a good comment elsewhere: Rix might be the best quarterback who isn't any good.
Sean Faircloth said:
posted on September 14, 2004 11:43 AM — 209.82.168.215 — link — abuse?
Wait a minute...aren't we all forgetting how outstanding both Defenses played? Poor decision making? Yup. Average QB performance? Yup. But when someone says the other ACC teams are licking their chops, they better be thinkin' how they're gonna move the ball against those Defenses.
Martin Pinckney said:
posted on September 17, 2004 2:33 AM — 146.201.140.108 — link — abuse?
Okay, so I hate to dwell on FSU-Miami any longer. But did anyone notice an illegal subsitution that wasn't called on FSU's missed FG attempt? It looked like Miami had 12 men on the field (extra guy to block the kick). I have been hearing rumors that the LB ref was on the sidelines getting taped up or something. Not to Whine or cast a woulda-coulda-shoulda. Just curious if anyone could second that.
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Jeff said:
posted on September 11, 2004 11:30 AM — 24.197.122.162 — link — abuse?Could the cramps be a result of better conditioning staff preseason as well as better training staff in-game?