Fan Suggestions to Better Play With the Lead

[Coyote Fan]

Obviously this is an ongoing problem that the team hasn't really completed figured out yet, and that is being nice about it. I am serious about this thread. Any suggestion is a good one and should not be looked down upon IMHO.

I guess for me the biggest thing is to do whatever is possible to keep momentum. The easiest way to dishearten and opponent is to never let them get life in a game. Once an opponent has hope and life then the job of holding a lead becomes much more difficult.

Obviously the play calling can get conservative but that happens with almost all teams with the lead and other teams don't seem to have this ongoing problem. When the interior running game is not working I would suggest using the short passing game as a running game. Those flats are open so often especially with an aggressive defense. It would also help if a team is going to run up the middle to have the running back in the game that is best suited to run in traffic which I think is either Henry or Klatt. I believe they both did fumble earlier in the game but unless it is a habit I still have one of them in the game.

I will add more later but what other honest opinions does everyone else have.

[sportschic]

I agree with you that Klett and Henry are way more effective than Fredrick in traffic and between the tackles. Fredrick is not going to wear down a defense but Klett and Henry will for sure. I thought we would see them more in the second half. WIU's defense got rejuvenated in the 4th quarter and ours seemed tired. Who thinks we should of punted instead of have Strevy try to get the short yardage twice and come up short? It was a gutsy call by USD but whew that was too close for comfort.

[obc]

Sept 30, 2017 18:40:23 GMT -6 sportschic said:

I agree with you that Klett and Henry are way more effective than Fredrick in traffic and between the tackles. Fredrick is not going to wear down a defense but Klett and Henry will for sure. I thought we would see them more in the second half. WIU's defense got rejuvenated in the 4th quarter and ours seemed tired. Who thinks we should of punted instead of have Strevy try to get the short yardage twice and come up short? It was a gutsy call by USD but whew that was too close for comfort.

Gutsy call, but I like that they were going for the win there. More often than not I think USD could convert that. Need to be able to pound the rock with Klett and Henry late in the game with a big lead - also work the short pass game - TEs come to mind as obvious targets on play action. These coaches know way more than I do that is for sure. While the clock management and end of the game was not what I would want to see, these are the same coaches that got the team the huge lead. When was the last time USD has been up by over 30 on a very good MVFC level team? We will keep seeing a progression by this program. Could have won big, but won close. Will have to be better next week to beat the YSU team I am watching play SDSU right now.

[sportschic]

I'm watching SDSU game right now...your thoughts on how both teams look right now?

[obc]

Sept 30, 2017 19:14:39 GMT -6 sportschic said:

I'm watching SDSU game right now...your thoughts on how both teams look right now?

YSU is dictating what type of game this is. They are extremely physical. I don't think SDSU is soft by any means, but YSU looks a level above them in that department. Both teams left some points out there they could have put on the board but YSU looks like the better team.

YSU will be an extremely tough match-up for the Yotes. If USD can stop YSU's running game like they did against WIU, it would be an incredible feat.

[Coyote Fan]

Sept 30, 2017 19:22:26 GMT -6 obc said:

Sept 30, 2017 19:14:39 GMT -6 sportschic said:

I'm watching SDSU game right now...your thoughts on how both teams look right now?

YSU is dictating what type of game this is. They are extremely physical. I don't think SDSU is soft by any means, but YSU looks a level above them in that department. Both teams left some points out there they could have put on the board but YSU looks like the better team.

YSU will be an extremely tough match-up for the Yotes. If USD can stop YSU's running game like they did against WIU, it would be an incredible feat.

I think often the Jacks just kind of settle with the fact that they are going to get Goddart or Weineke the ball and maybe don't have to rely on creative play calling. I think the Coyotes rely more on their scheme and spreading the ball around. So far based on everything that has happened year to date the Coyotes deserve the slight hand up when comparing the two teams but much remains to be played. The Coyotes are a plus 1 in road win/home losses and the Jacks are simply even. The Coyotes would really be a step up had they just help on and won by 3 or more touchdowns. Everyone talks about Youngstown and fairly so but Western is not exactly chopped meat.

[yotebewithyou]

I don't know that relying heavy on the short pass game is the best idea but it certainly couldn't hurt. Seemed like every throw was on the outside today and late in the game it wasn't working. The few times they went over the middle they made plays. Don't need home runs on every pass and it felt like that's what they were trying for. We have a great receiving group with good hands. Feed them with short 5-8 yard slants and keep the clock moving. Just felt like they were being predictable with runs on 1st and 2nd down and then throwing to the sidelines on 3rd

[golfingyote]

Sept 30, 2017 21:12:52 GMT -6 yotebewithyou said:

I don't know that relying heavy on the short pass game is the best idea but it certainly couldn't hurt. Seemed like every throw was on the outside today and late in the game it wasn't working. The few times they went over the middle they made plays. Don't need home runs on every pass and it felt like that's what they were trying for. We have a great receiving group with good hands. Feed them with short 5-8 yard slants and keep the clock moving. Just felt like they were being predictable with runs on 1st and 2nd down and then throwing to the sidelines on 3rd

Agree with this 100%.playcalling was abysmal. I also think our defensive play calls are equally to blame. Soft zones every play are asking for trouble. Today was almost a disaster. Fortunate to get the W for as much as we dominated the game for 2.5 quarters.

[Coyote Fan]

I also hate the soft coverage as well. During the comeback Western was getting everything they wanted underneath and was taking advantage of it. The running game wasn't coming as easy today and I expect that to be the case going forward as well. The Yotes are going to have to adjust if the holes aren't open when running.

[thebacksackdad]

Not to be rude but I counted 11 in or close to the box near the end of the game... let me pull a rabbit out of my hat! the only option would habe been to try to throw it deep... but what would that have done? Stop the clock?

I'm sure there are a lot of colleges looking for head coaches or offensive
coordinators so dust your resume off!

This team is 4n0 gents... somebody knows what there

Personally, I was at the game and it was one of those slug fests that each team had their successes...

Way to go Coyotes!!! We're all very proud of the job all you are doing!

[thebacksackdad]

Btw...imho... any shortcomings tonight... and considering we got a W I would call them minor details... had nothing to do with play calling and all to do with a young team playing a mature team.

[sdyotefan]

I agree backsack. Their O line (which is part of their SR laden team) gave their QB a lot of time pretty much the whole game which enabled the catches by 17 etc. Yotes could have run more play clock on numerous occasions when up by 30+. Don't disagree with the play calling otherwise. If you stay full throttle you risk a couple of turnovers and give them a short field. Crazy last quarter and half so give them credit once they got rolling. The Valley is just so tough you need to win some close games! GO YOTES!!!

[Coyote Fan]

This is anything but a minor problem. Last season this problem cost the Coyotes 2 games and could have cost them another against Illinois State. Of course we are happy for the win but when you have a 32 point lead and don't secure the victory until a late interception that is not an acceptable trend to continue to have happen. If this was a one instance/game issue there would be no need for this thread but this is a continuous problem for the team. This exact problem ended up derailing the whole season last year so it is anything but a minor issue. We all know the good things that this teams is doing but great teams don't leave any stone not turned. If this problem doesn't get resolved it will eventually cost this team a very important game. I also don't think this is a player problem. These players are good enough to dominate a very good team. They don't suddenly turn into worthless players in the same game. As good as Nielson has been I would like him to address this issue in his interviews more often, or have the interviewer bring up this topic because I think it needs to be discussed.

If the defense is stacking most of their players in the box there are things that can be done to counter it. Instead of running a tight formation one of my favorite personal play calls is to spread the field with 4 receivers and run from that formation. It will open up the middle of the field more. If the defense doesn't respect the formation there are a lot of short to intermediate routes that can be run that don't have to involve high risk. The play calling isn't limited to a run up the middle on first down and then on 3rd down throw a deep pass down the side line. The best part of play calling is that being unpredictable can cause complete nightmares for a defense. If it wasn't for Streveler getting the tough yards that he did this very well could have had a different result.

I am not panicking because this team is doing a great job this year. I just don't want something crazy like the blown leads to be something that brings down such a good thing that we have going.

[obc]

Oct 1, 2017 12:04:44 GMT -6 Coyote Fan said:

This is anything but a minor problem. Last season this problem cost the Coyotes 2 games and could have cost them another against Illinois State. Of course we are happy for the win but when you have a 32 point lead and don't secure the victory until a late interception that is not an acceptable trend to continue to have happen. If this was a one instance/game issue there would be no need for this thread but this is a continuous problem for the team. This exact problem ended up derailing the whole season last year so it is anything but a minor issue. We all know the good things that this teams is doing but great teams don't leave any stone not turned. If this problem doesn't get resolved it will eventually cost this team a very important game. I also don't think this is a player problem. These players are good enough to dominate a very good team. They don't suddenly turn into worthless players in the same game. As good as Nielson has been I would like him to address this issue in his interviews more often, or have the interviewer bring up this topic because I think it needs to be discussed.

If the defense is stacking most of their players in the box there are things that can be done to counter it. Instead of running a tight formation one of my favorite personal play calls is to spread the field with 4 receivers and run from that formation. It will open up the middle of the field more. If the defense doesn't respect the formation there are a lot of short to intermediate routes that can be run that don't have to involve high risk. The play calling isn't limited to a run up the middle on first down and then on 3rd down throw a deep pass down the side line. The best part of play calling is that being unpredictable can cause complete nightmares for a defense. If it wasn't for Streveler getting the tough yards that he did this very well could have had a different result.

I am not panicking because this team is doing a great job this year. I just don't want something crazy like the blown leads to be something that brings down such a good thing that we have going.

If you go back and rewatch the game you will see several times USD went empty backfield and ran with Streveler or went with a spread one back formation and ran. That wasn't working either.
I am very impressed this staff has gotten the Yotes to a point they can be up 32 points against a top 20 level FCS opponent on the road. Stop and think about that for a second. We all remember a stretch in early D1 days when USD went very long stretches without a road victory period. USD has three road victories so far (two high quality road victories).

I understand not continuing with the vertical passing game so heavily once a four score lead is secured. I would like to hear philosophically why USD would not run the play clock down to low single digits though before every snap (assuming the game clock is also running). I am sure the staff has a reason for it - they don't seem to be the type that does not have a reason for everything they do. And I would say Bob and Co have forgotten more about football strategy than most on this board have ever known. His reasoning may be interesting.

I also would like to see Simmons used more in situations like that. How many games will USD be able to keep Strev healthy with 25 carries? The young RBs will keep developing as will the OL. With a more experienced and stronger OL (I believe the OL will just keep getting better and better over the next several years) these games will get closed out with some hard power fb. Even with that though, I would like to see them run the play clock down.

YSU looked really physical and skilled. This is going to be a BATTLE from start to finish. Lets pack the Dome and get a little DakotaDome magic going. Also a serious question - for YSU and their felon player - do they have to register with local authorities when they travel for away games?

[obc]

I forgot to add, perhaps two of the best long-term things to happen yesterday might be that both Kai Henry and Ben Klett fumbled. USD was extremely fortunate to recover each fumble. I have always believed that young players have one bad fumble in them before they really understand ball security. Hopefully they will be even more secure with the ball going forward and it will prevent a fumble that ends up in a turnover during a crucial game.