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Clarity in a world of chaos

by Herschel from You don't know, do you?

Last Post 234 days, 5 hours Ago


So, you're the head coach...
Dec 4, 2007 | 1:01 PM
Category: Sports
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Scenario: (Hypothetically, of course...)

 

You're New England's head coach.  You're 15 - 0 going into the last game of the season. 

 

Playoffs are locked, you got a 1st round bye, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

 

Do you play your starters in that meaningless game at a chance to go 16 - 0, or do you rest them for the playoff run?

 

  • Why would you play your starters?

     

  • Why wouldn't you play your starters?

     

  • Would you let your starters play the whole game?

     

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Depending on whom we're playing- I'd start the game with the starting players, and right out the gate, for my first 2 - 3 possessions, I'd go into hurry-up offense.  If I can strike them quickly, and put 14 - 21 points on the board before they have a chance to blink (See 1994-1995 NFC Championship game between 49ers and Cowboys for example), then I'd pull my offensive key players (Brady, Moss, etc..) and save them for the playoffs.

 

If that plan didn't work, and I had to grind out the scores, I'd only play them the first half. 3 quarters at the maximum.

 

What would you do, Coach? 

 

 

 

7 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 7
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Marks read my blog view my photos
Dec 4, 2007 | 3:06 PM

For me, the goal is to win the Superbowl. I would start any starter who wanted to and had no recent injury history, but only until halftime. After that, it is up to the bench. I would be doing some serious evaluating of my benchers as well, to see if a real game setting causes better or worse play.

Good to see you, Herschel.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Dec 4, 2007 | 4:41 PM

I agree with Herschel. I'd tell them pregame they had 2 quarters to pile up the points. In the back of my mind I'd allow them 3. But IF they got off to a rough start and fell behind, I'd pull them after 2 quarters.
KellerKowboy read my blog view my photos
Dec 4, 2007 | 4:54 PM

Knowing the consensus of the team players as to the importance of going undefeated would factor in, at least some. If they want to go for it, I'd have a hard time holding them back.

Other than that, I'd agree with Herchel 100%.

Great to see your smiling face, Herschel....
PACKERBACKER read my blog view my photos
Dec 4, 2007 | 6:03 PM

By the way the Pats have been trying to win games, it seems to me that going undefeated is goal they'd do anything to achive. Everyone always speaks of the undefeated Dolphins. The Pats want to make that record obsolete. By not only going undefeated but by blowing their opponents out of the water.

If this does happen, it will go down in history that the Dolphins and the Pats are the only two teams that went undefeated but unlike the Dolphins, the Pats won convinceingly by a large margin of points and were truely the most potent team in NFL history.

If it comes down to being a close game, I think coach will leave his starters in the game.
moankie82 read my blog
Dec 5, 2007 | 6:26 AM

I think they are so confident about winning the Super Bowl that their first goal is to go undefeated. It would be an amazing record. Miami didn't have to win so many games. I think you have a good plan Herschel.
MartinR read my blog view my photos
Dec 5, 2007 | 7:42 AM

You handled that situation nicely, I would do the same. Start the starters for the first half, and of course you would want to win because you don't want to go into the play-offs with a loss just before it really counts.
putonyourbigpants read my blog view my photos
Dec 9, 2007 | 4:20 AM

Its NFL...no guts no glory. Got a chance to blow a record out of the water, and play a conservative game against and mediocre team at best? Go for it, and run the score up comfortably, and then go ahead and pull your starters, give your stringer and bench warmers some play time, and coast it out.
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Herschel

Dallas, (75287) by way of Waterproof, LA (71375). 10-year Army vet. 10 years in corporate America. Husband, Father, Son, Christian, Part-Time Comedian.

Member Since: 10/9/2006