The lateral to Harris was there

[kupuna133]

If the pitch was there a TD would have resulted, I certainly would call a play designed for success.

Counting on someone to do something they do not have a skill set to do is not a great design, You can see how that turned out. That has been my point. CL was not put in a position to succeed because he does not have the ability to do so. You can design all the plays you want. You can script plays for any outcome but if the player does not have the skill set to perform he is not being put in a position to succeed.

I do not think CL is a QB that the staff can count on to do many of the thing they asked of him on that goalline stance

 

[RU62]

Not to add fuel to the fire and yes the pitch was there and we had enough other cracks from the 3 and couldn't make it but also keep in mind we let Iowa go 98 yards within two minutes to go until the half for 7 points. Play and situation calling there was very questionable. Yes I am sure the staff was playing for the win there but twice in the first half we get inside the 10 and come away with no points. It kills you as a fan but even more so if you are a player.

 

[Scoutnmayo]

Not to add fuel to the fire and yes the pitch was there and we had enough other cracks from the 3 and couldn't make it but also keep in mind we let Iowa go 98 yards within two minutes to go until the half for 7 points. Play and situation calling there was very questionable. Yes I am sure the staff was playing for the win there but twice in the first half we get inside the 10 and come away with no points. It kills you as a fan but even more so if you are a player.

We are all about What Ifs and We Should Haves. We should have gone for the short field goal and take the first lead at 3-0. What if we scored after the fantastic Grant run? Not sure if Iowa would have gone down to score. But that is a What if. We could have gone into half leading 10-0. The Defense played great. The running game was there. It's the passing game we lacked. I'm definitely not an expert but CL was not working. You put in Rescigno and he scored on a nice 42 yard run and only in two plays. He hasn't been back in. Use him again. (If I was Rescigno, I would be saying WTF?). Oden is showing he can run and had a nice 30 yarder. Use him more. If Rettig has the arm, then try him. Allen should be given a chance. The QB position is not working right now. The green shirt in practice isn't working. Take it off and get into pressure instances.
Someone already stated that the coaching staff knows far too well what CL did last year. Take out catches made by Carroo and Grant and what does CL have?
If we really are 37 point underdogs and everyone thinks we are going to get an ass whoopin, then it may be the perfect time to try something new. Surprises could happen. It may be the spark we need.

 

[Scoutnmayo]

To Clarify:

You put in Rescigno in a past game and he scored on a nice 42 yard run and only in two plays. He hasn't been back in. Use him again. (If I was Rescigno, I would be saying WTF?). Oden is showing he can run and had a nice 30 yarder in a past game. Use him more.
It doesn't matter if it was against Howard or New Mexico, these guys show they have mobility. Now work on their arms.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Counting on someone to do something they do not have a skill set to do is not a great design,

A blind squirrel could have made that pitch. We're not exactly talking 15-yards downfield and finding your tailback still trailing you out of the wishbone, with 2 LB's coming at you in a torrential downpour, here. Laviano was probably making that pitch when he was 5-years old. He simply CHOSE not to make it on that play. End of story IMHO.

 

[MADHAT1]

if i

A blind squirrel could have made that pitch. We're not exactly talking 15-yards downfield and finding your tailback still trailing you out of the wishbone, with 2 LB's coming at you in a torrential downpour, here. Laviano was probably making that pitch when he was 5-years old. He simply CHOSE not to make it on that play. End of story IMHO.

Not end of story because there is a different version that is just as likely!
He could have panicked worrying about if he could do without a problem no matter how many times he did the same in practice and that's why he chose not to .
It was a mistake , but sometimes mistakes happen and it's not because someone put himself ahead of the team.
That's what I believe, I'll others can try to make someone look small because of an error in judgement .
Story ended , but a bad mistake happened and that's the only proven fact, not the reason why that mistake happened.

 

[Scarlet_Monster]

I wish that I could have been close enough on the field to hear if Harris was screaming for the pitch and Laviano didn't follow through.

 

[kupuna133]

A blind squirrel could have made that pitch. We're not exactly talking 15-yards downfield and finding your tailback still trailing you out of the wishbone, with 2 LB's coming at you in a torrential downpour, here. Laviano was probably making that pitch when he was 5-years old. He simply CHOSE not to make it on that play. End of story IMHO.

Ask a QB what one of the most difficult things they have had to do no matter if it's Pop Warner to NFL and most will tell you a weak handed option pitch. I think you take for granted how easy it looks.

It's not a question is if he should have pitched it or not. We all know the answer.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

if i

Not end of story because there is a different version that is just as likely!
He could have panicked worrying about if he could do without a problem no matter how many times he did the same in practice and that's why he chose not to .
It was a mistake , but sometimes mistakes happen and it's not because someone put himself ahead of the team.
That's what I believe, I'll others can try to make someone look small because of an error in judgement .
Story ended , but a bad mistake happened and that's the only proven fact, not the reason why that mistake happened.

"Panicked'??? He's in his 4th year in the program! His 3rd year playing! His 2nd year as starting QB!!! Com'on Mad you're just making excuses. He screwed up - period - that's all.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Ask a QB what one of the most difficult things they have had to do no matter if it's Pop Warner to NFL and most will tell you a weak handed option pitch. I think you take for granted how easy it looks.

It's not a question is if he should have pitched it or not. We all know the answer.

But again we're talking:

- defender coming towards Lavs but not on him yet
- option man wide open
- no other defenders to deal with
- perfect playing conditions

....freakin' JPP could have made that pitch with his bad hand for crying out loud lol! I don't want to hear that was a difficult pitch. Can it be a difficult play 7 of 10 times, of course, but THAT play wasn't. Can't buy it sorry.

 

[kupuna133]

But again we're talking:

- defender coming towards Lavs but not on him yet
- option man wide open
- no other defenders to deal with
- perfect playing conditions

....freakin' JPP could have made that pitch with his bad hand for crying out loud lol! I don't want to hear that was a difficult pitch. Can it be a difficult play 7 of 10 times, of course, but THAT play wasn't. Can't buy it sorry.

Question for you. Have you ever attempted to make that play?

 

[herdof3]

There it is. Wondering if anyone else saw that. Harris needs to Crack back there.

Behind the LOS IT is a pass not a pitch. See shovel pass or the little flip on jet sweep so that if it is dropped it is an incomplete pass not a fumble.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Question for you. Have you ever attempted to make that play?

Absolutely. A thousand times on the playground, street, or backyard. That being said I'm not a 4th year, 2nd year starter, BCS QB, so the question is void. Give me a freakin' break lol!

 

[MADHAT1]

"Panicked'??? He's in his 4th year in the program! His 3rd year playing! His 2nd year as starting QB!!! Com'on Mad you're just making excuses. He screwed up - period - that's all.

He messed up big time I'll agree with, but not the scenario that was posted by SH:
>"Laviano, knowing he is under heat wanted to be the one that scored. He did not care that Harris had the better opportunity. ."<
I won't put that on any player without knowing it for a fact and there are many experienced players that panic when a decision must be made at that moment and they are scared to make a mistake while not sure what to do.
There isn't an excuse for doing that, but it shows someone who didn't handle the pressure right and made a mistake despite his experience.

 

[kupuna133]

Absolutely. A thousand times on the playground, street, or backyard. That being said I'm not a 4th year, 2nd year starter, BCS QB, so the question is void. Give me a freakin' break lol!

I knew that was going to be the answer. Backyard playground street vastly different than Pop Warner.

Saw an interview with Brett Favre who made the exact comment I stated earlier. He became a passing threat because he couldn't make the lefty pitch.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Here we go again with the ridiculous excuses

He messed up big time I'll agree with, but not the scenario that was posted by SH:
>"Laviano, knowing he is under heat wanted to be the one that scored. He did not care that Harris had the better opportunity. ."<
I won't put that on any player without knowing it for a fact and there are many experienced players that panic when a decision must be made at that moment and they are scared to make a mistake while not sure what to do.
There isn't an excuse for doing that, but it shows someone who didn't handle the pressure right and made a mistake despite his experience.

So any way you cut it - mental, experience, being scared, whatever - he messed up. That's the only thing I'm trying to get at here. There's simply no way in hell a 4-year/2-year guy should be getting that play wrong. For ANY reason. So...it makes one think out loud...MAYBE he (wrongly) chose to try to be "the hero" on that play. Now you may not like how that sounds, BUT, it's got to be considered a possibility IMHO.

BTW - I think we've ALL had those "hero" moments in sports. Sometimes it works out your way, sometimes it doesn't, but it happens.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I knew that was going to be the answer. Backyard playground street vastly different than Pop Warner.

Saw an interview with Brett Favre who made the exact comment I stated earlier. He became a passing threat because he couldn't make the lefty pitch.

Oh geeze really? lol...Again....look at all the variables on that play...it was a simple, easy pitch to make. Sorry if you don't agree I'm not gonna argue about it anymore.

 

[kupuna133]

Oh geeze really? lol...Again....look at all the variables on that play...it was a simple, easy pitch to make. Sorry if you don't agree I'm not gonna argue about it anymore.

I have looked at the variables.
1)Short side of field
2) lefty pitch
3) QB that can't make the play because he does not have the skill set.

That's why we have the result we do.

 

[MADHAT1]

Here we go again with the ridiculous excuses


So any way you cut it - mental, experience, being scared, whatever - he messed up. That's the only thing I'm trying to get at here. There's simply no way in hell a 4-year/2-year guy should be getting that play wrong. For ANY reason. So...it makes one think out loud...MAYBE he (wrongly) chose to try to be "the hero" on that play. Now you may not like how that sounds, BUT, it's got to be considered a possibility IMHO.

BTW - I think we've ALL had those "hero" moments in sports. Sometimes it works out your way, sometimes it doesn't, but it happens.

Might have thought that and also mistakenly thought he could beat the defender and that's why he took it himself. That is another hero version that's possible.
On experience, sometimes that's forgotten when the pressure is on.
Though he was only a true soph at the time another Chris made a terrible mistake.
Michigan's Chris Weber called a time out during an NCAA Championship game when there was none to take.
The technical foul resulted in a free throw that clinched the game for North Carolina
and I'd bet that there are stupid mistakes made by 5th year seniors and pro players that have enough experience to know better than to do what they did.

The mistake CL made isn't a self serving one in my opinion but just a stupid mistake that he should have known better to try to do.
That's all I'll say about it because I doubt I convince youu and some others to come around to my way of thinking and I hope you know it will be hard to convince me the reason why CL tried to score based on someone's opinion on what Laviano was thinking at the time.
I'll give him the benefit of doubt, not claim selfish motive.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I have looked at the variables.
1)Short side of field
2) lefty pitch
3) QB that can't make the play because he does not have the skill set.

That's why we have the result we do.

Like I said: JPP could have made that pitch. [thumb2]

 

[ScarletNut]

Ask a QB what one of the most difficult things they have had to do no matter if it's Pop Warner to NFL and most will tell you a weak handed option pitch. I think you take for granted how easy it looks.

It's not a question is if he should have pitched it or not. We all know the answer.

You don't think they practiced that "weak handed pitch" over and over in practice? That's a "weak" excuse.

 

[kupuna133]

You don't think they practiced that "weak handed pitch" over and over in practice? That's a "weak" excuse.

Never made an excuse. Just pointed out that the staff didn't put CL in the best situation to succeed.

And no I do not think they practice weak handed pitches over and over in practice. How many times have you seen the play that they ran in that goal line stance this season? That was the first for me. That is my point. They called a play that is not something they normally do in the most inopportune time.

 

[ScarletNut]

Never made an excuse. Just pointed out that the staff didn't put CL in the best situation to succeed.

And no I do not think they practice weak handed pitches over and over in practice. How many times have you seen the play that they ran in that goal line stance this season? That was the first for me. That is my point. They called a play that is not something they normally do in the most inopportune time.

Any play that is used in a game is practiced repeatedly during the week. There are plays being practiced since camp that we haven't yet seen in a game. That's what all good coaches do, even if it was the first time you or I saw that play.

 

[kupuna133]

Any play that is used in a game is practiced repeatedly during the week. There are plays being practiced since camp that we haven't yet seen in a game. That's what all good coaches do, even if it was the first time you or I saw that play.

I am sure they practiced play. Just do not think they practice the skills needed in that play with any regularity.

 

[ScarletNut]

I am sure they practiced play. Just do not think they practice the skills needed in that play with any regularity.

We can go back and forth on this but in practice, CL must have shown that he was capable of running this play. I'm sure he pitched it in practice but IMO, he's different mentally during a game.

 

[kupuna133]

We can go back and forth on this but in practice, CL must have shown that he was capable of running this play. I'm sure he pitched it in practice but IMO, he's different mentally during a game.

Agreed.


Had a conversation with a guy in my section on Saturday. This guy is a soccer fan. He downplayed the difficulty of a weak handed pitch. I equated the play to penalty kicks in soccer. Something you practice on occasion. Looks easy in theory. Now do it in front of a crowd with your non dominant foot. The light bulb went off.