I am always pleased to get submissions from Confessors suitable for running as a post. Frequent commenter James sent me this a couple of weeks ago. I regret I didn't get it up before now, because he obviously wrote it after a Cowboys loss, while we're all basking in the evanescent glow of a Cowboys win. Apologies, James
He makes a point you hear from time to time on The Ticket, so I thought it would be appropriate to run here.
Thank you, James. And enjoy the G-rated red you requested to accompany.
-- Plainsman
A few years ago, I heard the manager of a baseball team explain why he didn't bring his closer in with a 4-run lead: because it wasn't a save situation. In other words, he was letting a stat, not what's best for his team, influence a coaching decision.
If I'm allowed to switch sports, I'd like to share my theory that football coaches often have a tendency to let their coaching decisions be influenced, not by what's best for the team, but by fear of public opinion. Specifically, if a coach decides to punt on 4th-and-short, rather than basing that decision on any statistical probability of success, he's basing it on a fear of criticism. His thinking goes like this: if he goes for it on 4th and fails to get the 1st down, he'll get raked over the coals in the court of public opinion and on stations like The Ticket. But if he punts, and his team loses, then he isn't as likely to get criticism, because he did the conventional thing.
Obviously, this theory looks way off in light of the aftermath of the Cowboys' overtime loss the other night. Everyone's 2nd-guessing Garrett now. But historically, the fans, pundits and show hosts have acted differently than they did this week. In fact, I can remember a time or two when Wade Phillips took a lot of heat for going for it on 4th down.
Please note that this post is not intended to spark a lot of Garrett-bashing. That's low-hanging fruit. Nor is it an attempt to incite comments about last Sunday night's game. My theory is bigger than one game, or even one team. The question is simply this: do you agree that coaches who "play it safe" on 4th down are letting fear enter their thought process? Specifically, fear of being bashed by BAD Radio, the Musers, or local columnists? Follow-up question: Is there no longer a consensus about punting being the safe thing to do? Are we seeing a change?
Please note that this post is not intended to spark a lot of Garrett-bashing. That's low-hanging fruit. Nor is it an attempt to incite comments about last Sunday night's game. My theory is bigger than one game, or even one team. The question is simply this: do you agree that coaches who "play it safe" on 4th down are letting fear enter their thought process? Specifically, fear of being bashed by BAD Radio, the Musers, or local columnists? Follow-up question: Is there no longer a consensus about punting being the safe thing to do? Are we seeing a change?
