I just watched the last 2 minutes of the national championship more because I wanted to see if Mario ended up not having a headset for the rest of the game after his sideline temper tantrum.

He did end up getting it back up and working but I noticed something else. Miami was moving the ball well, Indiana was lost/unorganized and got called for a really dumb roughing the passer penalty. Miami got down to the IU 45 or so and had all the momentum. I was thinking crap Miami's gonna pull this out and win the natty even with Mario!

That's when Cignetti called a timeout with a few seconds left on the play clock. He called everyone over, nobody will ever know what was said (I wish I did) but he wasn't panicked! He allowed his defense to take a deep breath, took the momentum away from Miami and Beck and allowed Mario and his staff to rethink(like we've all experienced) their game plan. Sure enough the very next play was the int. BRILLIANT!!

That Cignetti is one goofy dude but he sure can coach!! I think I'll have a beer!! Hilarious!

Edited yesterday at 06:34 AM1 day by candyduck
Update

I don't really like beer most of the time (there are situationalexceptions to every rule), but I can appreciate the moment!

Hear, hear!

Edited yesterday at 07:02 AM1 day by woundedknees

I thought Miami was going to score a TD and win the game. They blew it.

A great QB doesn't blow it when it counts the most.

What I can imagine a coach saying in that spot would be: "Don't give it away, focus on your assignments and make them earn it".

I wish football coaches used timeouts like they do in volleyball and basketball to stop the momentum when it's really swung against you.

I think Cignetti is going to make it a thing. What is better, to have 3 timeouts left to give you a chance to get the ball back to score if the opponent gets one more first down, or is it better to have stopped the other team's momentum on the previous drive so you didn't end up playing from behind in the first place?

I noticed the same thing during the game when Indiana called that timeout. Great move to get reorganized and spell your pass rushers.

However, I did take issue with Cignetti on Indiana's previous drive to not put the ball in Mendoza's hands to get the first down (throwing). Whether Indiana fails throwing or running, they still kick the field goal and Miami gets the ball with 1:42 left.

With that much time on the clock, I feel the timeout is low impact in college football with clock stopping on first downs. Indiana should have done everything possible to get that first down instead of the lazy handoff to burn Miami's last timeout. Willingly giving it back to Miami with 1:40+ remaining was a huge mistake in my opinion. Fortunately, it didn't cost them.

It just felt like Cig’s time-out was mainly to firm-up secondary assignments on what was an obvious go-for-it passing down for Miami. It was just too predictable, and Indiana’s zone coverage allowed the time for their deep saftey to move under coverage to either side for a break up or int.

Edited yesterday at 07:35 PM1 day by Washington Waddler
spelling

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

1 hour ago, mikethehiker said:

I noticed the same thing during the game when Indiana called that timeout. Great move to get reorganized and spell your pass rushers.

However, I did take issue with Cignetti on Indiana's previous drive to not put the ball in Mendoza's hands to get the first down (throwing). Whether Indiana fails throwing or running, they still kick the field goal and Miami gets the ball with 1:42 left.

With that much time on the clock, I feel the timeout is low impact in college football with clock stopping on first downs. Indiana should have done everything possible to get that first down instead of the lazy handoff to burn Miami's last timeout. Willingly giving it back to Miami with 1:40+ remaining was a huge mistake in my opinion. Fortunately, it didn't cost them.

I thought about that too at the time. But it would have made it too easy to get a field goal and tie the game, especially with today's kickers in warm weather with not much wind. It would have been different if they were playing in a place like Green Bay.

The loss of the offense's time out becomes huge if there is a sack. And once a team gets in the red zone, they have to keep throwing it or run out of time.

But before that decision is made, it pays off to go for two early in the game so a situation like that does not become a tie.

Of course if you don't make it, then you are playing 'catch up' to get that missed point back.

I like taking the chance deep in their zone on 4th down earlier in the game. If you don't make it, most of the time they will punt deep and you get the ball back mid field or closer - then it is pretty easy to get that field goal back that you passed up.

38 minutes ago, HDuck said:

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

B-E-C-A-U-S-E he's B-E-C-K - 1 comeback PO win was enough. 😁

The TO Cig took before Fernando's run for a TD was also timely. Gave him time to talk things over with OC Mike Shanahan and run a 4th downplay drawn up for this game.

2 hours ago, HDuck said:

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

I wonder if the time out effected Beck? Only he will know

2 hours ago, HDuck said:

It helped that Beck did not throw a very good pass. Not sure why? Hurried? Feet not set?

Absolutely. And the way the corner and saftey sandwiched the receiver, it would’ve required a dime. Pressure situations can make you try a little too hard? Dunno, something went wrong for him.

2 hours ago, oregon123 said:

I thought about that too at the time. But it would have made it too easy to get a field goal and tie the game, especially with today's kickers in warm weather with not much wind.

The play I questioned was on 3rd down (and 5). You still get the field goal on 4th down to go up by 6 if you don't get the first down. The point is that you do everything you can to win the game on 3rd down instead of handing the ball off into a loaded box. Play action with the ball in Mendoza's hands to win the title vs handing the ball to Miami with plenty of time to steal your championship. The last Miami drive could have ended very differently for Indiana - don't give them that chance.

2 hours ago, mikethehiker said:

The play I questioned was on 3rd down (and 5). You still get the field goal on 4th down to go up by 6 if you don't get the first down. The point is that you do everything you can to win the game on 3rd down instead of handing the ball off into a loaded box. Play action with the ball in Mendoza's hands to win the title vs handing the ball to Miami with plenty of time to steal your championship. The last Miami drive could have ended very differently for Indiana - don't give them that chance.

OOOOOOhhhhhh, that's different!

Great Point! And you know what? If nobody is open then instead of throwing it away, run a few steps and go down, or a path might be avail to the endzone.

Play calling to mix up what they think is coming is a good way to gain an advantage.

Another option on 3rd down could have been a zone read to keep it and go outside if the DE crashes.

Nobody deep in the playoffs is going to smash it thru a loaded box when everyone knows it is coming.

Better than many of Mari-0-No's not so timely moves, eh?

12 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

B-E-C-A-U-S-E he's B-E-C-K - 1 comeback PO win was enough. 😁

Mississippi State was ROBBED on that pass interference non-call at the end of the game. It was obvious at our house. Eh? The natty wasn't the only game the officials wanted Miami to win.

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by BroncoSas

A brutal non-call. Ole Miss should have had one more play, 15 yards closer to the end zone. One more Hail Mary attempt.

In the champ game, the B12 refs allowed the Miami DBs to mug the Indiana receivers. I like the idea of letting the players play, but not to the point where grabbing a receiver's jersey, arm, etc., isn't called.

8 hours ago, BroncoSas said:

UGH, I get up usually before three AM. Freudian slip? I meant Ole Miss!

1 hour ago, BroncoSas said:

UGH, I get up usually before three AM. Freudian slip? I meant Ole Miss!

Who cares? It's one minor league SEC team or the other. No B1G deal. 😁

Allow me to say something in Beck's defense.

He may have been aware of the safety's presence and thrown the ball earlier than his receiver expected.

A film clip of the play available on the internet showed the received running with his head down to the endzone as the ball arrived.

If the received had turned to look for the ball, he could have contested the catch with the cornerback who was behind him.

Given the situation, Beck made a reasonable decision. He may have underthrown the ball, but an alert received could have competed for the ball.

It is to Beck's credit that he did lay blame on his teammate.

I do not have a dog in this fight, but Beck has taken more than his share of blame in these parts (Atlanta, Georgia) in the past.