Dan Campbell’s decisions could save football
In my opinion we have been subject to bad football this year. Not just as Patriots fans. That was closer to torture. No. Football is filling up with nerds, but somehow getting less tactical. I’m talking about the recent influx in 4th down fuckery. I know Dan Campbell’s performance in the NFC Championship game won’t be a nail in the coffin to this new age dork philosophy, but perhaps a step.
We can look at the 2nd half collapse from the Lions and blame it on a lot of things. Poor execution probably tops the list. Surprisingly, Goff belongs at the bottom of the list. He gave his WRs opportunities to make plays and they choked. Including the first 4th down attempt. But, it’s the dumbass decision making from coach knee caps and his army of spoons and their calculators. Eight minutes into the 3rd quarter the Lions had a chance to kick a 40 sum odd field goal to put the game back to a 3 possession game. They could have broke even on the scoreboard 1/4 of the way through the 2nd half, a quarter and a half away from the Super Bowl up 17 points.
Instead they go for it on 4th down. What does that 4th down get you? You’re still another set of downs away from the endzone. The nerds don’t realize the odds are you’re kicking a field goal anyway? Or are we just on a war path to completely remove kicking from the game? Make a true 7 v 7 experience? I digress.
The failed 4th down attempt leads to a 49ers touchdown after an insane catch from Aiyuk off the helmet of the defender and it was curtains from there. The Lions melted like a fine brie. A fumble on the very next play. Another 49ers touchdown and somehow the Lions found themselves in a position to tie the game with a handful of minutes left. Easy call. Nope. Another 4th down attempt. Another fail. Just kick the freaking ball!!
I understand this new age offensive approach to go for it on 4th and short or go for the 2 pt conversion early in the game because they plays of a higher than 50% percentage of success and over the course of a season you will net out positive. One problem. The NFC Championship game isn’t a season. It’s 1 game. It’s one down. It’s one pass. That’s the beauty of Sports. It can’t be pre determined (Conspiracy theories aside), but these pointdexters keep trying to ruin it. I have given the same rant about Joe Mazzula’s bullshit approach to 3 pt percentage. That’s all good to jack 50 three’s a game over 82 game, but went you’re 2- 31 and losing game 7 of the NBA Finals it’s time to pull your head of your ass. Or Math book, whatever.
If we’re lucky guys like Brandon Staley and Dan Campbell will continue to come up short in the clutch because their four eye nerd army doesn’t believe in clutch. We’ll get actual football tactics that take into account intangibles like momentum or fear or who’s got the bigger sack. It won’t happen over night, but Sunday’s debacle for the Lions put a big dent in the pocket protector.