Harbaugh made three huge mistakes in each of our three losses...

[maelfan]

It would not have made a difference today but it was still a major strategic mistake.

1) Utah - missed a long FG on a fourth and short from about the 30 in Allen's first game. Admitted later he should have gone for it. He was right.

2) MSU - Several in that last sequence. The second biggest being the punt strategy. Catch it and punt it. The biggest, not coaching O'Neill to fall on ball if something went wrong.

3) Today. We were getting smoked anyway but on our first drive Rudock already looked in rhythm. We had 4th and short on the 36. Probably a 50-50 chance you are going to pin them. We almost did. Should have gone for it to send an early message. We miss? Big deal. You give up 16 yards of field position. That was two running plays for OSU. You make it? Maybe you go up 7-0 and produce a slight change in win probability.

 

[Ed1795]

It would not have made a difference today but it was still a major strategic mistake.

1) Utah - missed a long FG on a fourth and short from about the 30 in Allen's first game. Admitted later he should have gone for it. He was right.

2) MSU - Several in that last sequence. The second biggest being the punt strategy. Catch it and punt it. The biggest, not coaching O'Neill to fall on ball if something went wrong.

3) Today. We were getting smoked anyway but on our first drive Rudock already looked in rhythm. We had 4th and short on the 36. Probably a 50-50 chance you are going to pin them. We almost did. Should have gone for it to send an early message. We miss? Big deal. You give up 16 yards of field position. That was two running plays for OSU. You make it? Maybe you go up 7-0 and produce a slight change in win probability.

hindsight is easy, isn't it?

 

[Reality Man]

I'll give you the MSU loss but do you really coach the punter on a regular basis to fall on a ball. Aren't you putting in a negative power of suggestion?

Sometimes it's not the coaching and sometimes the other team wins.


RM

 

[JP2Blue]

I don't blame Harbaugh for any of the losses...

Utah - Rudock hurt us the most with the pick six and the missed deep balls.
MSU - The long snapper and the punter - followed by special teams coach
OSU - Our atrocious LB play was too much to overcome - Durkin with the assist.

 

[24to12]

It would not have made a difference today but it was still a major strategic mistake.

1) Utah - missed a long FG on a fourth and short from about the 30 in Allen's first game. Admitted later he should have gone for it. He was right.

2) MSU - Several in that last sequence. The second biggest being the punt strategy. Catch it and punt it. The biggest, not coaching O'Neill to fall on ball if something went wrong.

3) Today. We were getting smoked anyway but on our first drive Rudock already looked in rhythm. We had 4th and short on the 36. Probably a 50-50 chance you are going to pin them. We almost did. Should have gone for it to send an early message. We miss? Big deal. You give up 16 yards of field position. That was two running plays for OSU. You make it? Maybe you go up 7-0 and produce a slight change in win probability.

Only valid point is the MSU game because safest course was to try to run the ball for a first down, and if it was short make Sparty make a hail mary from midfield. Punts and field goals involve a lot of risks for disaster, e.g.: Alabama vs Auburn; Georgia Tech vs Florida State, etc.

 

[Reality Man]

Only valid point is the MSU game because safest course was to try to run the ball for a first down, and if it was short make Sparty make a hail mary from midfield. Punts and field goals involve a lot of risks for disaster, e.g.: Alabama vs Auburn; Georgia Tech vs Florida State, etc.

No. I would definitely have punted. I wouldn't give the other team a hail mary chance when all you have to do is catch the ball quick kick.

If you offered me the same scenario for every game here on out I would take it. Every time. UM would win 98 out of 100 times.


RM

 

[DrCorona]

No. I would definitely have punted. I wouldn't give the other team a hail mary chance when all you have to do is catch the ball quick kick.

If you offered me the same scenario for every game here on out I would take it. Every time. UM would win 98 out of 100 times.


RM

Win probably 99 out of 100...............NO way do you go for it there.

The "coaching what to do if disaster strikes" is the toughest one in my mind. Originally, I said the exact same thing. Should have coached him to fall on the ball in case of fumble. But can you imagine the backlash if he fumbled the snap, then fell on it with nobody around.
It most likely wouldn't have made a difference but it WAS poor coaching strategy that the gunner on the wide side of the field didn't come inside to help with blocking.

In the other 2 games, coaching strategy didn't lose the games.