Now I am not Bold. I am not bold by any stretch of the imagination, but this is a true cliche. It has genius power and magic. Those who were watching the classic Kentucky-Tennessee tilt know what I mean.
Trailing 24-7 at the half, the Wildcats adjust to a quick passing game, attacking Tennessee in the flats and short zones. This worked to perfection, extending the game to a point where they could run an 18-play, 90-yard drive to kick the overtime inducing field goal.
Phillip Fullmer was hornswoggled and bamboozled. I mean, it was a repeat of the South Carolina game all over again. And while Erik Ainge was as masterful as Andre Woodson, this game looked like it was Kentuckys to lose.
A Sam Maxwell interception in the second overtime was the break they needed. Now, how about a you make the call break.
Coming back from down 17 to tie, your defense comes up with a massive stop in the second overtime to give you a golden opportunity. Score, and the futility of 22 seasons disappears. That’s it. That’s all you have to do. So what’s the plan.
A) Keep working the short and quick passes? (a.k.a. Dance with that brung you?)
B) Run the ball three times to set up for a field goal? (a.k.a. Oh shit, hurry up and win this thing?)
YOU MAKE THE CALL.
Now, I must be fair. It is a bit of a straw man argument. Three incomplete passes equals a 42 yard field goal attempt. It would be the same as B. And if the field goal was good? Yeah. This post doesn’t happen.
However, it was working. Tennessee struggles to stop the pass. Kentucky’s star is a quarterback. And Rafael Little was averaging less than 3 yards per carry at that point.
Rich Brooks will probably “retire” after the bowl season. Shame he didn’t keep with the facts of what was working.
BYE!
You know, I was watching this last night, and as it was happening I was thinking to myself: “hasn’t this a-hole ever heard of a rollout?” Not hard.
Comment by Christopher Bormann — November 25, 2007 @ 9:29 am |