Why did we call “THAT PLAY”?

[BigOrangeTrain]

Stupidity, plain and simple

People who know much more about football than you disagree.

 

[SmokeyLives]

Shovel pass would've been a much better option.

 

[Eastknox865]

High and outside throw to the big TE. Either a touchdown or miss. Highly doubt a pick six ensues.

Clock management kinda sucked….but I don’t hate the call.

Players have to execute to a high level. Especially againt against a very good team…on their home field…at night.

That was the worst call to make in that situation. A little league coach wouldn't call that

 

[LordBolton]

High and outside throw to the big TE. Either a touchdown or miss. Highly doubt a pick six ensues.

Clock management kinda sucked….but I don’t hate the call.

Players have to execute to a high level. Especially againt against a very good team…on their home field…at night.

Considering how many passes Kitselman has dropped in the last few games, I questioned why he's the go to there instead of Brazzell. He's been eating way too much popcorn, there's some butter on those fingers still.

 

[Jimmyandjoes]

That call, as well as the call before, were two of the worst calls of the season. For you to not hate that call is mind blowing. You were probably all good with the Shanahan's call in Super Bowl 51!!! I mean, seriously thoagugh, rewatch the play. THE DEFENSE WAS ABSOLUTELY ALL OVER IT! Why? Because it was a terrible call...I mean when the defense completely all ins against exactly what you're doing it's most likely a bad call.

I disagree. The defender is not "all over it." Hes a yard or 2 away in trail. If you throw that ball down the line,how is he going to make the play?
This is one of those plays that will live forever,fans will disagree about,etc.
Again,don't love the call but he was open. Not wide open but open. We could argue lots of other plays that could have been called.
My problem.is execution. It was extremely poorly thrown,in the exact place he's coached not to throw it. One pic shows the defender jumping so the ball is close or almost halfway to Kitz. It's just an absolute terrible throw. That's the problem for me
Can't under throw the ball. That's it

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

I disagree. The defender is not "all over it." Hes a yard or 2 away in trail. If you throw that ball down the line,how is he going to make the play?
This is one of those plays that will live forever,fans will disagree about,etc.
Again,don't love the call but he was open. Not wide open but open. We could argue lots of other plays that could have been called.
My problem.is execution. It was extremely poorly thrown,in the exact place he's coached not to throw it. One pic shows the defender jumping so the ball is close or almost halfway to Kitz. It's just an absolute terrible throw. That's the problem for me
Can't under throw the ball. That's it

Bama's defense was in perfect position. The guy jumping made JA have to put a little air under. Both options were covered underneath and over the top. Even with a perfect throw and catch, the Bama DB would have been in position (had he chosen not to jump the route) to make tackle in bounds...

Should have been thrown away

 

[volfan2024]

Algorithm

 

[sami]

Ok, so you and everyone else knew a pass was the smart play. Wouldn’t that be the perfect time to run?

Also, if you agree that a pass was the correct call then why the problem with the coach for calling what you obviously knew was coming?

I think we can all agree if the play was executed better (outside throw) we either score or the pass is incomplete and we get a field goal.

It didn’t work, what ever they would have called, you would have a problem with if it didn’t work. Hindsight is 20/20.

You're missing the point. It's not simply calling a pass play, it was calling the only pass play we've ever run out of that heavy package. Alabama called timeout because they had scouted the play and wanted to alert the defense.

I'm no genius, but I literally said to my wife during the timeout "come out in a spread and get Joey on the move off the snap", which would have provided him with multiple receivers, the chance to tuck it and run if he had an opening, or just throw it away and live to play another down.

It was a bad throw, but the coaches did not put Joey in a position to succeed as well as they could with such a predictable call.

 

[OmahaOmaha]

"Learning experience" These Coaches are SUPPOSED to be past a learning experience. Did anyone see what Indiana did to Oregon at Oregon? That; my friend is Coaching. Dan Lanning thought he was sooooooo good. Cignetti handed his azz to him. Whenever UT gets a Coach (and staff) of that caliber, I'll be a happy camper. We are talking about INDIANA folks. Hasn't had a team since the 60.s.

 

[UT97Vol]

This play call really blew my mind. They would have been better off just handing off it since no one on Bama's defense was playing a run play.

It's really not that hard to score there. First and foremost the playcall should have been some form of a rollout. With no timeouts, that gives Joey a chance to throw it away if nothing is there, because he's already out of the pocket.

Second, a play I like in that situation is trips right. The X motions back toward the center, the two inside receivers run a hook and a slant respectively, and X reverses direction from his motion on snap. The slant becomes a double move pattern as a slant/corner to the back of the end zone as the QB rolls out. Lots of options there regardless of man or zone, but you're going to get a good rub/legal pick with the motion and routes by the inside receivers probably allowing your first read at the X to be open at the goal line near the pylon.

I just don't understand the formation or the play call in that situation. No one was buying the play fake. Bottom line is the error was made before in not calling the timeout with 20+ seconds left. As I said earlier (maybe in a different thread) letting the clock get under 10 seconds was dumb given our penalty prone team (and likelihood of a 10-second runoff penalty).

 

[UT97Vol]

Yep… It wasn’t the play call. It was throwing slightly late, and floating it behind the receiver.
That throw has to be out front or in the stands. Probably got affected by the pass rush getting into his throwing lane a little.

I've watched it a 100 times. It was definitely thrown behind. And you can argue that Kitselman had a step but I don't think there was anyway to complete that pass. Zabien Brown was literally just standing there waiting for the throw to happen. Maybe if it had been the most perfect throw nestled out over Kitselman's fingertips, but in reality that pass was never going to be completed. But it becoming a TD for Bama was definitely because it was poorly thrown.

 

[sami]

I've watched it a 100 times. It was definitely thrown behind. And you can argue that Kitselman had a step but I don't think there was anyway to complete that pass. Zabien Brown was literally just standing there waiting for the throw to happen. Maybe if it had been the most perfect throw nestled out over Kitselman's fingertips, but in reality that pass was never going to be completed. But it becoming a TD for Bama was definitely because it was poorly thrown.

Bad throw, but the defense had been coached up on the play, which was the reason for the timeout. I was begging for Josh to come back in a spread formation and getting Joey on the move off the snap, giving us a zillion options. I love Josh, but staying with that play after the TO was pure arrogance IMO.

 

[Volinnooga]

How long we gonna beat this dead horse?

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

No it’s not. You can call it a horrible play call all you want but you are wrong.

Once again bruin, you are wrong.

If I said the sky is blue, you guys would get pissed and say it’s PMS 151, but you don’t have to take my word for it. Anyone and everyone who has commented on it from an analysis perspective has said it was a dumb call. There is no way around it, and arguing that it was not a dumb call just exposes that you don’t have the slightest clue of what you are talking about

 

[90 Vol]

We play Kentucky this Saturday. Can we move on? I believe we win, but you can rest assured that there will still be plenty of opportunities to bitch about play calling and lack of defense. This particular horse has been beaten to a bloody pulp.

 

[Rocky Top T]

People who know much more about football than you disagree.

I seen and heard many agree too

 

[Cartervol]

It was a bad play but a worse throw. You're never going to call a perfect game no matter how good a play caller you are..

 

[Oldvoldad]

I understand why we would call it in any other situation. My guess is that we have 3 “money plays” at the goal line.
But my question is why the play action play? We should’ve been creative and at least made the RB move or something? I can’t get that play out of my head . Everyone knew it was a pass. The play action was stupid

I would've had Lewis in the game on the previous play and shoved it down their throat. Then that next play would have been the kickoff.