I cannot understand what it is about coaches in this league sometimes, how they figure to surprise their opposition by playing away from the defined strengths and
weaknesses of the two teams on the field, making haste with calls that need not be made, and ultimately directing a team that could run the ball for most of the second half (being down by no more than 6-9 points throughout most of it) to instead take to the air like their namesake and attempt to peck out the eyes of the hayseed stampede down below, rather than simply punching out their teeth the old fashioned way. Billick comes out of halftime and on the first posession it’s three and out, all three plays are passes. They get the ball back and again he’s telling McNair and the offense to do what they’re not good at doing, and for some reason not realizing that every time you drop back to pass, you voluntarily play to the Colts strength on defense.
The stupidity of going about the second half of that game as if there was only one option is what caused the ship to capsize. You figure to have at least six possessions, and understand that scoring on the first one might not happen, though the ground you lay could eventually pay dividends on subsequent plays. Eventually Billick does give the ball to his running backs, but it still gets undercut at some point when a first and second down are both passing plays, Ogden is flagged for holding, and instead of momentum and the ground game doing it for him, he’s got Stover out there hitting a 51 yarder. McNair gets the ball back and instead of the situation at the start of the 3rd quarter, at this moment he actually does have to pick up big chunks, and of course the offensive unit isn’t built to do that. This is easy to see with all the swing passes to backs…
This Colt team is built for shootouts, with their strength on defense being their speed and ability to rush the passer. You have to wear those guys out by keeping them on the field and NEVER giving up on your running game. When you pass on 1st and 2nd down, you’re playing into their hands. And so, it’s a sad night in Baltimore, where plenty will point the finger at McNair, but should really be asking why Brian Billick was channeling Dave Wandstat in the second half.
Posted by Al Swearengen in sports