grizindabox said:
Everyone knows that there were so many short field goals due to the red zone failures of the offense....but ask yourself why there were so few FG attempts between 35-50 yards.....it had nothing to do with red zone struggles....
35-50 yard FG's means LOS between the 18 and 33 yard line....let's take a look, shall we? And see how many drives died in that dead zone:
NDSU - 0 opportunities
CP - Fumble on CP 15, Downs on CP 40, Missed FG from CP 19, Downs on CP 38, Downs on CP 32
LIB - Missed FG on LIB 15, Fumble on LIB 1, Downs on LIB 8 (last drive of game)
NAU - Punt from NAU 42, Downs on NAU 46, Punt from NAU 40
UCD - Fumble on UCD 3, Half on UCD 20, Downs on UCD 30, Downs on UCD 33
WSU - Missed FG on WSU 38, Punt on WSU 49, Downs on WSU 9, Downs on WSU 23, Missed FG on WSU 38, Fumble on WSU 26
UND- Punt on UND 47, Downs on UND 40, Downs on UND 5 (end of game)
PSU - INT on PSU 30, INT on PSU 37, Downs on PSU 49, Downs on PSU 46 (down by 3 scores and needed to go for it on both)
ISU - Downs on ISU 5, Missed FG on ISU 35, Missed FG on ISU 27, Fumble on ISU 39
EWU - Fumble on EWU 32, Fumble on EWU 43, Punt on EWU 41
MSU - 0 opportunities
SDSU - Punt on SDSU 40, Punt on SDSU 41
NDSU - Punt on NDSU 47, Punt on NDSU 47, INT on NDSU 46, Missed FG on NDSU 32,
I see 17 drives that were killed on the opponents side of the field by either a fumble, INT, or missed FG. 12 more drives where the FG attempt would have been 55+ yards. I assume you wouldn't want any kicker trying that?
so we're left with zero opportunities in the first game against NDSU, once against CP (downs on the 32, which was our last possession and one yard wins the game for us), once against LIB (the last drive of the game in which we needed a TD to win), twice against UCD (vs attempting 47 and 50 yard FG's), twice against WSU (including one that died on the 9, outside the range but I'll count it nonetheless), once against UND (but not really, since this was us taking victory formation at the 5 yard line), twice against PSU (BARELY in PSU territory and we were down by multiple scores and needed TDs), once against ISU (again, outside your range but I'll count it), zero opportunities against EWU or MSU or SDSU (unless you're wanting him to try 55-58 yarders), and zero against NDSU in the playoff game.
So, which ones do I take issue with? The two against Weber. That's it. THOSE are the only two FG's I wish he'd have attempted. A 27-yarder and and a 40 yarder, then tries a 55 yarder...THAT gameplay was a heads scratcher. EVERY SINGLE OTHER time he went for it I agreed with his decision. In fact, there were a handful of times I wished he'd have gone for it instead of punting (EWU, UND, NAU come to mind), but obviously it depends on the distance needed for a 1st down.
