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4th & 1: explainations from the staff and player comments

Regarding the infamous 4th & 1 play.  First, a take from Walker...

Walker said Coach Karl Dorrell decided to be "conservative" because a fourth-down play backfired against Notre Dame.

"We did put it on the defense," Walker said, "and I told them, 'We better stop them.' " Then from KD himself: Dorrell also defended the call.

"I just didn't want to make a mistake and put us in a bad situation," he said, adding that he thought the subsequent punt would have been better executed, pinning Cal inside the 10. "We were only down by one point."

Added quote: "It was more about protecting ourselves," said Dorrell And the reaction from the players? "We have players who want the ball," said Breazell, speaking for the players who were willing to express themselves. "We didn't want to turn it back over to them. That's why we were upset."

Guard Shannon Tevaga just shook his head and held his tongue. "Coaches' decision," he said.

"We were a little disappointed," admitted Bell, but defended the coach's call. "We thought they'd be antsy, and jump, and we'd get the first down."

Also some very insightful commentary from the author: The call that might have followed them around like a garlicky smell (if they had lost) came late in the third quarter. Trailing, 21-20, and facing a fourth-and-1 at the Cal 37, the Bruins, who had moved the ball equally well on the ground and with short pass patterns, burned a timeout to come up with a doozy of a strategy -- the old "Let's get them to jump offsides" play.

When it became apparent quarterback Pat Cowan wasn't going to get the ball, that he would just shout sham signals at Cal's defense (Snap count: On never), the crowd began booing.

Smart crowd.

A must read. To read the entire story click here.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Breazell
...has EARNED the right to have an opinion and speak on it. You don't need your FRONT TEETH KNOCKED OUT in a Game to know the difference between Coaching and Cowardice... and Breazell's even had THAT happen courtesy of Karl Dorrel's cluster-f*ck Game'plan'.

Good for you, Brandon. You're right. Good for you.

GO BRUIN BLUE.

by theREAL_LOGAN5 on Oct 22, 2007 4:16 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Breazell
has easily become my favorite player on the team. Even in the Utah and Notre Dame games, he showed up to play...the only one on the team to do so in those games. Hell in the Utah game he was coming off a concussion and still played harder than anyone. He's got a Ben Ball like attitude, now only if that would run off on the rest of his team.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 22, 2007 4:30 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

One Penalty Was Not Enough
I totally disagree with Dorrell's 4th and 1 timeout, delay of game and then punt strategy.  However, it dawned on me that if Dorrell had wanted to ensure his strategy had a chance, he should have taken a second delay of game penalty or illegal motion penalty, etc.  Perez is averaging around 42 yards per punt.  After the first five yard penalty the ball was on the 43.  Why not take a second penalty and move the ball back five more yards.  That would increase the likelihood of putting the ball down inside the five.  Dorrell can't even out coach himself.

by Bruin77 on Oct 22, 2007 5:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Remember the 4th Down ND Pass?
Players grumbled about that, too.
sjh

by Class of 66 on Oct 22, 2007 5:18 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The players know more than the coach
They know it and he knows it.  That's why he doesn't want them talking to the press.  

by Fox 71 on Oct 22, 2007 8:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is a moot point
Why the h*ll didnt we go for 2 when we went up 19-13 . . . PATHETIC!

by charnaw on Oct 22, 2007 9:31 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

you mean
when we were up 19-14. going for 1 point is actually the right thing to do. if you miss the 2pt, youre down 19-14, so 2 field goals would put us down instead of tied. in generally its not smart to chase points for no reason.  its only easy to say something like that in retrospect
Go Bruins!

by bruinpower on Oct 23, 2007 1:49 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed
I think coaches chase points too often and when you do it earlier, you end in trouble because then you're trying to predict a quarter or 2 of scoring.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 23, 2007 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This just proves
KD learned nothing in ND last year.  He doesn't want the ball and doesn't want to control what happens.  Scared / wuss is build into his DNA.

by greatgymnasticschool on Oct 23, 2007 11:31 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He coaches like he's in the NFL
ITS NOT THE NFL KARL. College and pro football are 2 different games and they must be coached differently. 5 years in and he still doesnt get that.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 23, 2007 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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