[ad_1]
The Titans eliminated the reigning champions, 26-23 in overtime, with some aggression straight out of the Eagles' playbook. On the winning record, Tennessee ran 75 yards in 16 innings, converting to three quarters of a different run down the road. The third of the three will go to the top of the rookie year signings of head coach Mike Vrabel, who has confused everyone.
Vrabel sent his goal unit to the field with three points in overtime. It would have taken 50 riders to tie the game; not a gimme kick, and a miss would have given the victory to Philadelphia.
Offensive Titan players on the sidelines, including RB Dion Lewis, implored Vrabel to try his luck. "Relax," he told them, "the offense is disappearing.
Indeed, Vrabel later revealed that he knew from the beginning how he would play this. He knew that he was going to call a timeout before the game, so that his attack would not be precipitated or panicked, and he knew that he would initially send the FG unit so as not to alert the Eagles of his intention. for the fourth down.
He did not say that to his FG unit to maintain the likelihood. "I was ready to hit the shot," Ryan Succop said, "and suddenly we called timeout."
Every part of the maneuver worked. When the Tennessee offensive came on the field, Philadelphia was not prepared and had to use its final timeout. Then the game itself, a screen pass for Dion Lewis who ran 17 yards.
Three games later, Marcus Mariota found Corey Davis in the end zone for the win.
Vrabel, speaking to Peter King, acknowledged that he had chosen the brain of Eagles coach Doug Pederson, and one of the things he was excited about was an appreciation of the kind of aggression that has done so well. served Pederson, especially at the Super Bowl.
"I think people are more aware of doing [risky] decisions like this as never before, "said Vrabel. "I have studied Philadelphia a lot during the off season. Doug is the benchmark for bold decisions like this one. We discussed at the owners meetings and I called him several times. I'm lucky he was affordable for some of his activities. I've done a few things. "
Bold decisions like that of Vrabel and that of Colts coach Frank Reich call even more to take advantage over his own country rather than banging and accepting a tie (Reich has also cited the example of Pederson). the NFL, and that's absolutely a good thing. Even if we consider that this is a purely strategic angle, the teams should, statistically, aim for fourth place much more often than they do, it is much more fun.
The teams have been smarter in recent years and have been led by a new coaching guard, including Pederson, Sean McVay, and now Vrabel and Reich. The problem is always the certainty that playing cautiously is good for job security: play and lose, and everyone remembers. But the outcome, good or bad, depends on the players, as Vrabel pointed out yesterday, and the result should not influence the analysis to determine whether the initial decision was good or not. The circumstances were different, but if you like what Vrabel did, you should probably also approve of Reich's appeal.
And what about this fear of failure? It's a matter of ownership to dispel the coaches' fears about the responsibility of making a wise decision that has not worked out, something the NFL might finally have to do. Vrabel said that he did not even think of the critics who would have expected if the Titans had not been converted; it would not have been new. "I get a lot of criticism," he joked.
Source link
