I don't think anyone is saying that it was the difference in the game (well at least I'm not), I just thought it wasn't a smart decision at the time....
no? no team has ever beat the Colts when they have kicked a field goal? I think I have seen the Colts lose by 3 points or less, meaning you can beat the Colts by kicking a field goal or two.
I can understand everyone's point on this. I like the guts, but at the same time we probably did not put 3 points on the board that we could have. I can accept it for what it was. Probably being overly aggressive. Mangini will have time to dwell on that particular selection, no doubt. I still have to admire the guy and what he has been able to do with this team, though. Does anyone remember Edwards' first game as a coach. I think I do. I think it was against, ironically, the Colts. I remember, Mora was the coach then. We were out-coached and out-played in every aspect. I think the very first play of the game Mora called an on sides kick and we were sleeping. I think that is when the Colts really started using the "No Huddle" and again the game was going too, too fast for Edwards. We lost 45-24; the game was actually much worse than the score. We beat NE the week after 10-3. I think that was the game Mo Lewis mashed Bledsoe. I think???? May be wrong here. At my age things get confused sometimes.
Everybody who's pissed at the call needs to slow down and realize that no matter what, this was a game to steal. And eventhough Indy is a battered team, they are experienced and deep enough to overcome games like this. They have an identity forged by one of the best QB's in football leading this team. And let's remember that the JETS aren't suppossed to be winning at all. The JETS are supposed to be bottom feeding in the AFCE. And with that said I am kinda anxious to see how this team rolls out in 2007. Anything this year is gravy because this is a new team that has to work out the kinks and fill some needs. But the fire and desire is what is most impressive. I see hunger when these guys play and that is keeping them competative. Did I agree with the call? No, I was pleading at the T.V. hoping they were just trying to get these guys offsides or anything besides hiking the ball. That's an easy call and with Chad running the offense pretty well I take the 3 knowing the "O" will move down the field next possesion. But, I held my breath at the snap and for a moment when the pass was picked off I felt like I was watching Herm's team from the previous years. Making bonehead decisions for no reason at all. But just for a tiny moment. This team fights back and that was missing from the previous couple of years as this team grew softer under the Herm regime. As the game moved on so did I. The offense created some movement and special teams showed it's back to classic Westhoff style. The JETS were still in this game. Mangini obviouisly makes that call on emotion. He won't do that again. This team is headed upwards with plenty of new faces mixed in with quality vets coming together and playing a type of game where they feel they are always in it. There is no quit in this team. The defense is a work in progress but they have an offense now that hasn't been aroung in quite a while. Making plays and moving the ball without a running game. That was our strength in that game. The offense. That's why Mangini stayed with them. Albeit to no avail but hey, teams have no choice but to respect them even if the media doesn't. If Pennington doesn't get that play disrupted he fires to an open man. The defender recovered as Chad is side stepping a wouldbe tackler. Still the field goal was easier. And hindsight is 20/20. I didn't want to make this a superlong post but through it all this team has a huge upside and 2-1 in September is not bad considering. October is shaping up to possibly a 3-2 month. And this still is only the first year of this staff in operation who is smart enough to not make the same mistakes twice.
yeah, but the difference is that Herm seemed to be playing just for the FG, not just settling for them. Sure, Mangini is playing for TD's, but he ha sto know sometimes a FG is worth kicking. settling for a FG isn't the same as being satisfied with the FG, which Herm clearly was many of times. it's that Marty Schotenheimer mentality that I am glad Brian doesn't seem to have inhereted, but you can't ignore it completely.
I think it's a great call. If they convert, they really send the Colts spinning. It's puts all the pressure on them. Also, the worst part about it is that Chad threw the pick. If it's an incomplete pass, the Colts take the ball on the 2, and have to move 98 yards to score.
if this were Herm, he would have kicked the FG and we would have found another way to lose the game. Then everyone on this board would flip out and scream for a non-conservative coach. He made an aggressive call, not a stupid call, not a "play to win" call, but an aggressive call. He smelt blood, lots not second guess him. We have NO IDEA how the rest of the game would have gone if we kicked the FG. We do know one thing though, FG or not, our defense could not come up with a big stop. RC