Quote
sfbayram
Mcvay called an epic game plan.
Yes. He did ... in general. There is no way to dispute the excellence of the game he called.
However, there is that pattern of squirrely calls in certain game situations.
Look. Everyone misses plays now and there. Of course, second-guessing play calls is really a mug's game. Take that ball batted down in the short drive after the Peters pick. The play was set pretty well and if the Chief doesn't get his hands perfectly placed, it probably goes for a 1st down and ends the game. It misses, and McV looks bad for stopping the clock. We can't judge plays by their outcomes.
However, I think I am not alone in sensing a pattern of calls which lose track of the odds. There are times when it's more important to consolidate what one has than to risk it for a big gain. On the goal line, for instance, never call a play that concedes hard won yardage: slow-developing run, deep drop pass, etc. Protecting a lead, the clock is the enemy. This is exactly what McV had in mind when he established the Rolex Time mindset that led Todd to pass up a TD.
I am not saying whether we should have run or passed in that last drive. But the very first consideration is to force KC to spend its TOs. IF you pass, make damn sure it's high percentage and instruct Goff to take a sack near the LOS if necessary. That ball out to the flat is hard to complete even if it comes open. I'd much rather see a quick slant to a big body. And, of course, Todd never got the ball.
I just think McV makes shaky calls in certain situations. And McV thinks this too. He keeps talking about how he has put the O into bad positions affecting down and distance. He knows this is an issue on a spot basis.
Of course, it is very, very hard to balance the aggressiveness that leads to success with the importance of conserving one's position. I'm not complaining. The overall package is superb, and it was superb last night.
I just think McV remains just a bit naïve in feeling his way to making the call between aggression and conservation. I think that's a long learning curve. I actually think I see him getting a bit stronger, game to game. But there are still spots of losing his feel.
But you know no one masters it. Reid was talking at the presser about the mistaken calls one makes even at his level of mastery.
Still, I can't QUITE refer to his game plan and calling as "epic." He isn't QUITE there ...
