If you were watching yesterday's Fins game, I am sure you wanted to throw whatever you had in your hand (pizza, burger, beer, cell phone) at your television set at several points throughout the game. My boiling point? Running the wildcat, not once, but twice in the 4th quarter. The wildcat has averaged around 1.6 yards per carry this season. It has clearly lost its element of surprise. Why Dan Henning is taking Chad Henne out of the offense to run two throw away plays in the 4th quarter is a question that causes me to suffer from a temporary bout of Tourette's Syndrome (apologies to anyone who really does suffer from this disease, I do not intend this to be offensive or disparaging in any light whatsoever). I believe Dan Henning was doing his very best to sabotage our team. I believe he wanted to make things interesting for the viewers. I am clearly kidding, but seriously what the hell was he thinking? Chad Henne orchestrates a beautiful 96 yard drive, and we follow that up with....fill in the blank and use your word of choice.
It is this type of play calling that irks me and brings me to the conclusion Dan Henning must go. Too many times this season the wildcat has stalled drives. Too many times Dan Henning calls for a predictable play (draw play anyone?). There was a point in yesterday's game where my brother successfully called three plays in a row. The sequence went as follows: 1) Draw play. 2) Pass to Davone Bess in the flat for a gain of three. 3) Pass to Brian Hartline. 4) Punt. While I found this hysterical, it only showed that Dan Henning's play calling really has become easier to predict than the sun rising each morning.
This team is mediocre. Brandon Marshall said it best this morning: "Put playmakers in position to make plays. Otherwise, we'll be seeing our kicker in the Pro Bowl."
How about the play after Fasano dropped a pass in the flat (throw was not great, but it was catchable)? 3rd and 6 in the red zone and we ran the ball. Too content to take field goals and take absolutely no risks. I have noticed that TS has a play sheet on the sidelines. Any idea whether he overrules Henning?
ReplyDeleteMany coaches have play sheets. Usually a team will have 15-20 plays scripted, and then they have a few situational plays on those sheets. Sometimes they have a "rule" sheet on when to go for it at certain places on the field, or when to go for two. The point of the script is to give the defense a few looks on offense in terms of your formations, and then see how they are defending those formations. So you're setting up the defense first few plays and then you are supposed to adjust or find holes in their defense. The offensive coordinator's main job is to help develop the gameplan during the week after breaking down film and then make certain adjustments during the game in the event the gameplan is not working or they see some holes in opposing team's defense. Whether Sparano over-rules Henning, I am not sure. But if he did, I would not be surprised. The HC is on the field and may have a certain feel about something and say to the OC, screw the gameplan let's run this play. HC usually is the one making decisions of when to go for it on 4th and short. For example, Belichik is a HC that controls most aspects of the game, especially after all his coordinators left. Some coaches feel more comfortable controlling only certain aspects of the game. Remember Cam Cameron? He only made decisions regarding offense because he was not comfortable with the defense. Sorry for the long winded answer that really gave you more useless information instead of directly responding to your question. The short answer is I have no idea if Sparano over-rules Henning. Lol.
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