Topic: Gazette: It’s time for Herd to take some risks

[ZackUSAF82]

By Doug Smock
Staff writer

THE GOOD NEWS: I can say with confidence that Mark Snyder has not lost his Marshall football team.

It’s not the way Thundering Herd players are keeping their chins up after they lost their sixth game in a row, 38-31 at Tulsa. There was an instance during the game that told me all I needed.

After a somewhat successful offensive play, I caught a glance at the MU sideline, opposite the press box at Tulsa’s ancient stadium. I see a dozen or so players — looked like the defensive starters, but I might have had a deadline-induced hallucination — and they were dancing and chanting in some sort of unison.

Many fans may have given up, but the players are still swinging away — and having some fun.

Really, it’s good to see. If you’re staring at 0-12, the sport of football can turn into drudgery really quick.

“I feel like they’re coming together as one, and there are stages to that,” Snyder said. “We still didn’t get off to a fast start, but we finally finished. We played well in the middle, and we’ve been doing that, but we tried to finish here.

“I felt like the kids were into the game — these guys like football. And there’s no give-up in them. The locker room was great. At halftime, they believed. We’ve just got to make some plays.”

Link: http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Sports/Marshall/2007101419

[HerdBlizz]

Good coverage.  tells it the way it is.  Snyder has no clue how to coach.  .  POOR POOR POOR coaching.  the guy hasn't a clue. I knew how smart he was when he came out for the game at Cincinnati and the kickoff temp was close to 90  and the guy had on a Tressell sweater....

[2xBison]

And once again, coaching decisions came into play. Let’s be clear about something: It’s nearly impossible to excuse incurring a delay-of-game penalty after a timeout — an extended timeout for television, at that.

But there is a story behind that faux pas early in the fourth quarter, which turned a fourth-and-5 at the 6 into fourth-and-10 at the 11. Apparently, the Herd didn’t intend to snap the ball.


“I couldn’t get down to the referee in time [to signal a timeout]. We were trying to draw them offsides and ... long story,” Snyder said. “We’ve got to communicate that better. In that area, that call’s going to have to come from the field. I’m not going to be able to make that timeout call. But it was a ‘no play’ — we were trying to draw them offsides, call timeout and not run a play, get a cheap first down.”
Another small problem here. Had Tulsa jumped on Bernard Morris’ hard count, the penalty would have been half the distance to the 3-yard line, leaving fourth-and-2. A slight advantage, I guess, but really?

wow

[HerdAlum00_01]

And once again, coaching decisions came into play. Let’s be clear about something: It’s nearly impossible to excuse incurring a delay-of-game penalty after a timeout — an extended timeout for television, at that.

But there is a story behind that faux pas early in the fourth quarter, which turned a fourth-and-5 at the 6 into fourth-and-10 at the 11. Apparently, the Herd didn’t intend to snap the ball.


“I couldn’t get down to the referee in time [to signal a timeout]. We were trying to draw them offsides and ... long story,” Snyder said. “We’ve got to communicate that better. In that area, that call’s going to have to come from the field. I’m not going to be able to make that timeout call. But it was a ‘no play’ — we were trying to draw them offsides, call timeout and not run a play, get a cheap first down.”
Another small problem here. Had Tulsa jumped on Bernard Morris’ hard count, the penalty would have been half the distance to the 3-yard line, leaving fourth-and-2. A slight advantage, I guess, but really?

wow

And I thought it was an another "accidental" dumb play.  Turns out this one was on purpose.  4th and 5 from the 6, with basically the game on the line and our great hope is to draw them offsides? :shock:

[Buffalo Bop]

:shock:

[W0lfman]

I dont know what to say.  :oops:

[HerdAlum00_01]

I dont know what to say.  :oops:

Wolf I agree.  I am literally speechless after reading that.

[ThunderValley]

But the kicker is ..it wouldn't have been a first down even with the penalty. Snyder thought it would. :-?

[Green Dog]

Unbelievable.

The man leaves me scratching my head nearly every time he speaks to the public or media. Mr. Conservative strikes again.

[Photo by]

But the kicker is ..it wouldn't have been a first down even with the penalty. Snyder thought it would. :-?

I think the logic is 4th and goal from the 2 or 3 has a lot more options than from the 5 or 6.

The biggest flaw is that the thought that a hard count would work here. Obviously it didn't.

It is almost as if he wanted to roll the dice and go for the TD and couldn't quite bring himself to it so the compromise was to get them to jump offsides so that he would be more comfortable going for it.

Here's the problem. This isn't a question of tactics but of strategy. We have to assume that every game we are in we will have a variety of decisions like this. When the game plan is assembled in the film room on Sunday and Monday what to do in these situations needs to be decided and practiced the rest of the week. Everyone wearing green, everyone, should know what to do in these situations.

[HerdAlum00_01]

And once again, coaching decisions came into play.


“I couldn’t get down to the referee in time [to signal a timeout]. We were trying to draw them offsides and ... long story,” Snyder said. “We’ve got to communicate that better. In that area, that call’s going to have to come from the field.  

I think I need to hear the long version before I have a panic attack. :oops:

[cubsrams1]

Unreal.

[DC01HERD]

Wow.

It reminded me of that Seinfield episode. I'm waiting for yada, yada, yada!

[field pass]

What do you save your timeouts for - but to use them at the end of the half?

The game is over and Snyder is still confused thinking that he could have had a first down?

Truthfully, he just doesnt know the game.

The only thing I can see is that the Ferrell (interim president) was in a hurry or panic to hire someone to fill the void because Pruett made such an abrupt last minute departure.

Weve got to get this over with....somehow

[catfanatic1979]

Switch Lee Smith to defense.

[Massherdfan]

People, Snyder makes himself look like a fool every time he opens his mouth. This man does not even know the freaking rules, let alone how to coach... We are in deep doo doo  w/ this Maroon at the helm.

If we go 0-12, I just don't see how anyone can support bringing Capt. Marbles back for another season of this crap.

And would someone please list all the schools that MS played football at prior to arriving at Marshall for his ONE season of football. I've tried searching his playing record on the internet, but can't find his complete playing history.

[Thunders]

It just sucks because he talked about not being so conservative last week and we need to take more chances yet we are down 31-17 before half with 56 secs to go and we just kneel it?!   That is not taking chances especially when you are 0-5. If I am the coach of MU right now I am trying ANY way I can to win. Trick plays, 2 minute offense, whatever it takes to win the game. I would leave it all out on the field and I don't feel like we are doing that at all. We are still trying to play like we are 4-1 or 5-0 and trying to win the division. Taking no chances.

[Massherdfan]

Someone, quick, get a life raft, Snyder is drowning!

[Thundering Herd]

I read that five time over to make sure that I wasn't reading that wrong.  I bet Smock was laughing his tail off after he said that.  I've heard some dumb statements, but that takes the cake.  That made George Bush look pretty bright.

[HRHF]

I read that five time over to make sure that I wasn't reading that wrong.  I bet Smock was laughing his tail off after he said that.  I've heard some dumb statements, but that takes the cake.  That made George Bush look pretty bright.

GREAT! We've got the Dubya of college football coaches....

I've gotta tell you, I sweated a little when Snyder started talking about "staying the course."

 :oops:

[HerdAlum00_01]

I read that five time over to make sure that I wasn't reading that wrong.  I bet Smock was laughing his tail off after he said that.  I've heard some dumb statements, but that takes the cake.  That made George Bush look pretty bright.

I think I read the whole thing from the wrong perspective.  I believe we were really playing field position strategy and didn't want to give them room to work when they took over on downs.  It makes perfect sense, because this one time, earlier in the season, we did have a safety. 8-)

Seriously...I'm pretty sure this whole thing is an episode of the Twilight Zone.

[Garbanjo]

The only thing I can see is that the Ferrell (interim president) was in a hurry or panic to hire someone to fill the void because Pruett made such an abrupt last minute departure.

When your AD doesn't do his job, you end up with these types of results. It came down to Kayo's choice for the job (Kueck) or the choice Farrell, the BoG and the Gibsons went with (Snyder).

On the bright side, we got new turf out of the deal. As for Snyder, at least he can recruit. If he can't get it done, he will leave some talent in the cupboard for the next guy.