Belichick: Ravens looked "confused", "late" in missed field goal

**curseofdilfer** · 01-23-2012, 05:55 PM

Belichick interview with WEEI 1/23/12 available http://www.patriots.com/media-center...d-3aa9188341cf at 2:40 in the interview (not sure if link works but you can get to it from patriots.com web site).

Belichick was asked why he did not call time out before Cundiff missed field goal.

Belichick says Cundiff was late getting on the field and seemed rushed, and there might have been confusion about what down it was. So Belichick did not call time out so as to exploit that confusion.

Outcoached, sounds like. Belichick knew Ravens were confused and reacted even before the Ravens knew themselves (since Ravens could have called time out there).

**purplepoe** · 01-23-2012, 05:58 PM

So Belichik noticed it yet our coach says he saw nothing.

John Harbaugh has SERIOUS issues managing the clock and time outs.

It was on display on the FG and also after the 3rd and 3 draw debacle where people had to scream at him to call a time out.

It's beyond me how this continues to happen.

PP

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 01-23-2012, 06:02 PM

“Instead of taking a deep breath and collecting myself, everything just kept speeding up, speeding up, the mechanics of the operation were just off a little bit.”

-Billy Cundiff

Great job by Cundiff and the coaches...

**curseofdilfer** · 01-23-2012, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by purplepoe

the 3rd and 3 draw debacle where people had to scream at him to call a time out.

PP

What was that play where Harbaugh seemed to push some guy away from him just before calling a time out? What was that about, was Harbaugh angry or something that he pushed the guy?

**kronusthebonus** · 01-23-2012, 06:08 PM

Harbaugh fail.

How do you not call a time out?! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! WTF

**purplepoe** · 01-23-2012, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by curseofdilfer

What was that play where Harbaugh seemed to push some guy away from him just before calling a time out? What was that about, was Harbaugh angry or something that he pushed the guy?

Yea.

Cameron was definitely yelling for a TO and the other guy I think is the kicking consultant. Forget his name. Short dude.

PP

**Maverick Hiker** · 01-23-2012, 06:19 PM

Bilichick makes himself sound smart by not calling a timeout. Self serving comments. Since Cundiff missed, it was in part due to Bilichick's wisdom in not calling a time out. I don't buy it. Hindsight is 20/20.

Cundiff was out there in time and the snap was good. If anything he didn't have time to freeze up which is good. It's not like someone broke through the line and blocked the kick because the Ravens were not ready. The execution was perfect except for the kick itself.

**brown2RAVEN** · 01-23-2012, 06:19 PM

That was the 4th and 6.
Nance called him Cam Cameron , but I don't know who it was.

**Ravenswintitle** · 01-23-2012, 06:24 PM

They should've called a TO but it's easy to say that now in hindsight.

**SteelFaninBMore** · 01-23-2012, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by curseofdilfer

What was that play where Harbaugh seemed to push some guy away from him just before calling a time out? What was that about, was Harbaugh angry or something that he pushed the guy?

Yeah, I think that was it. Don't think Harbaugh was angry, seemed like a heat of the moment reaction. A lot of people talking to him and around him, not sure whether to kick or go for it, some poor assistant runs up screaming "look at the fucking play clock", Harbs thinks "oh shit", and pushes the guy out of the way so he can find the nearest ref. Didn't look like anger as much as frustration and some panic.

**LukeDaniel** · 01-23-2012, 06:29 PM

There is something about Harbaugh that makes me feel like he's not the most detail-oriented type of guy. He's mishandled so many late game situations now for it to be a coincidence. Simple things that should be noticed aren't. Basic elements of strategy aren't either.

Due to a new arrival to my family, I was only able to attend one Ravens game in 2010. It was the exciting win over the Saints right at the end of the season (Week 15 I believe). That game was a classic example of Harbaugh not thinking logically. The Saints took over deep in their own territory-10 yard line or so- with about 2 minutes or so to go. On 4th down, Brees, under pressure from Ngata throws a lame duck that is intercepted by Cory Redding (first career INT). The Ravens have the ball in NO territory with practically no time left on the clock. The Ravens run 3 plays and then kick a FG with no more than 5 seconds on the clock. I was standing up in my chair talking to whoever would listen about how wrong it was to kick a FG in that spot. Instead, we should have just kneeled on the ball and turned it over to them around the 10 yard line. They would have one play to get the ball 90 yards for the winning TD. Instead we kick the FG, and NO gets one kickoff return for a chance to win. They returned it to the 40 yard line where Cundiff and Nakamura converged for the tackle. It was close to being broken for the win. This might seem like a "nitpicking" type of thing, but it shows that Harbaugh doesn't think things out all the time. What gives you the better odds for a TD....a kickoff return or a 90 yard pass play with no time on the clock against a prevent defense?

This thread really makes me want to vomit. I'm so irritated right now and don't know of any remedy to cure this feeling.

**Tyrian** · 01-23-2012, 06:34 PM

If New England lost, aspects of Belichick's calling would've been brought to question. He made some errors yesterday. Unusually tense?

If it's true, while Harbaugh should've called a TO, it's not his fault the kicker is not paying attention to the most important part of his whole career. Cundiff've called a TO himself, but chose not to. Don't tell me he wasn't paying attention to the scoreboard, either. Not knowing the down as well? Did he/they know what planet they were on? Do Neptunians play gridiron? Maybe the Io Pyroclastics gave his agent a call and offered him billions in space money.

To be honest, yes, rush of the moment can get anyone, but it all seems a little implausible. It was bad execution across the board and that's sometimes how it goes.

**TL24x7** · 01-23-2012, 06:38 PM

And what exactly is Jerry Rosburg doing during this time? Shouldn't he have his unit ready for what was the most important FGA in Ravens' history?

Cam Cameron gets a ton of heat for his job as OC, and I do believe he should be replaced, but Rosburg IMO is a weaker coordinator than Cameron.

**SteelFaninBMore** · 01-23-2012, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by LukeDaniel

There is something about Harbaugh that makes me feel like he's not the most detail-oriented type of guy. He's mishandled so many late game situations now for it to be a coincidence. Simple things that should be noticed aren't. Basic elements of strategy aren't either.

In Harbaugh's defense, it's not like he's had a chance to learn fundamental clock management. Look at where he came from.....nobody can fuck up a two minute drill like Andy Reid.

**ravensinva** · 01-23-2012, 06:41 PM

Harbaugh choked just like Cundiff.

**RavensQB** · 01-23-2012, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by SteelFaninBMore

In Harbaugh's defense, it's not like he's had a chance to learn fundamental clock management. Look at where he came from.....nobody can fuck up a two minute drill like Andy Reid.

Then you hire an assistant coach. HELL HIRE me.....

The TITLE would be Assistant Head Coach/ TIME MANAGMENT.

**RavensQB** · 01-23-2012, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by ravensinva

Harbaugh choked HARDER THAN Cundiff.

Fixed it for ya

**Haloti92** · 01-23-2012, 06:46 PM

The problem is that these decisions have to be made in like 15-20 seconds. Of course you can 'memorize' or 'practice' some basic scenarios (much like memorizing the when-to-go-for-2 chart), but each situation is a bit different (yard line, down, time left, etc). It is often easy (but not always) to work through to the best option after the fact with time to think about, even if the time we are talking about is 2-3 minutes. But the decisions often have to be made in under the playclock.

This isn't an excuse, because these coaches get millions of dollars, and in the case of Tomlin/Harbaugh and other non-coordinator types (managers), it is basically all they are responsible for on gameday, but it is an explanation. Simply put, these guys may be smarter than an average professional athlete, but they are not necessarily smarter than an average person (let alone very smart/geniuses), and their brains may not be able to process all the information fast enough to arrive at the strategically best decision in the time they have to make it.

I also don't think calling a timeout necessarily helps there. He was rushed but he got there. He also didn't have time to think about how important the kick was. And as I said eariler, if Harbaugh calls a timeout with 5 or so seconds on the playclock, Cundiff kicks anyway (as they are taught) as the ref is blowing the whistle, and if he makes it, then misses the 'real' kick, Harbaugh gets annihilated for 'icing' his kicker.