Dumbest Coaching Moves of All Time...

by bighead on Nov 16, 2009 1:36 AM PST Comment 17 comments

This post is a little off topic, but I was interested to see what the Bolts from the Blue community would have a say on it...

Watching tonight's game between the Colts and Patriots, I was left absolutely dumbfounded by the move of Bill Belichick to go for the first down on a 4th down and 2 play on his own 28 with 2:08 to go in the fourth with just a 6 point lead. The fourth down play came up about a half yard short of picking up the first down, and Peyton Manning led his team for a touchdown to pull out a miraculous win. For me personally, this was one of the absolute dumbest coaching moves I have ever seen, and I really cannot see any reasonable argument in favor of the call to go for it. (and just a side note: I personally feel that most NFL coaches are too hesitant to go for it on fourth down, under the right circumstances, but this was absolutely ridiculous)

My question to the Bolts from the Blue community is this, where does this rank among the dumbest coaching moves in sports history? Whether in football, or any other major sport, what were the dumbest coaching decisions ever?

This FanPost was written by a member of the Bolts From The Blue community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bolts From The Blue editors or SB Nation.

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I get what he was doing.

He didn’t want to give Manning the ball back with 2 min and a timeout. With Brady and their offense, he figured he could pick up 2 yards. It was an all-or-nothing gamble—pick it up and you’ve essentially won. Don’t, and you have a strong chance of losing. He lost.

It’s a tough call to make. I understand the aggressiveness, wanting to seal the win. I don’t think I’d call it that dumb.

by Zach (maestro876) on Nov 16, 2009 9:06 AM PST reply actions 3 recs

I actually thought it was pretty smart

His defense had been getting run over by the Colts and Manning in a two minute drill with a timeout from anywhere on the field is practically a loss.

Go down with your boots on.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Nov 16, 2009 9:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

well

dumbest coaching move of all time would go to coach Ditka,at least in my book.

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by Gorditoe1 on Nov 16, 2009 9:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Here's a website

That allows you to use some percentages to figure out if you agree with Belicheck. All you need to do is make up your mind about 3 things. What percentage chance did the Patriots have of converting the 4th and 2? What percentage chance did the Colts have of scoring a TD if the conversion failed? What percentage chance did the Colts have of scoring a TD if the Patriots punted?

If you assume that the Colts have a 100% chance of scoring if the conversion failed and there’s both a 50% chance that the Patriots could convert that 4th down and that the Colts could score a TD after a punt, then it equates to basically a coin flip as to whether it was a good call.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 16, 2009 10:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Not dumb

But definitely arrogant, IMO.

This time, BB wrote a check they couldn’t cash. Too bad.

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by Buck Melanoma on Nov 16, 2009 10:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

what's arrogant

about knowing Manning is going to score a TD against your defense no matter where he gets the ball? I think that’s why he went for the 1st down.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on Nov 16, 2009 1:32 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Vote of no-confidence in the D

Basically, Belichick just sent a message to his locker room telling his defense that he didn’t trust them. I’m sure part of the decision was Bill believing that Tom Brady’s offense could get the 2 yards when it counted… but at the same time it was a lack of respect to the defense. It’s the last two minutes of what may be one of the most important games in the season, and he won’t let the defense have its shot.

Punt it away and Peyton has to lead a 80 or so yard drive with 2 minutes and 1 timeout left. Do-able, but at the same time, Peyton’s not superman. I think in that case, you have to trust your defense to be able to do their job.

by cowbell on Nov 16, 2009 11:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Lack of Respect

I don’t look at it as a lack of respect for the defense. There are some offenses in the NFL, the Colts, Chargers, Saints and Patriots to name a few, that you do not want to ge give the ball with two minutes on the clock and a chance to beat you (no matter what defense you have). To me it was more of a healthy respect for the Colts O then a lack of respect for his D.
It was a risky call from the Pats 28 and I probably would have punted, but if he gets the first down the Colts never get the ball. I like a Coach that trys to put the game away and win it instead of trying to hang on to the win.

by JeromeB on Nov 17, 2009 8:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That might be true

But the defense was already sending the message to Belicheck that they couldn’t be trusted.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 17, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

When you say "dumb coaching moves"...

…for some reason, my mind drifts to Marty Schottenheimer. Deciding to challenge McCree’s fumble in that playoff game against the Pats. One less timeout that could have been used to get Kaeding closer.

Oh, and then there was two years before that when he runs onto the field to berate an official for not calling roughing the kicker — during a play! That was all the momentum the Jets would need.

I suppose I should try and think of dumb coaching moves by non-San Diego team coaches for the sake of my blood pressure.

by Andy (allfield) on Nov 17, 2009 10:01 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

I swear sometimes it felt like he wanted to lose in the playoffs.

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by Richard Wade on Nov 17, 2009 11:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Let us not

forget Marty going for it on fourth and fricken 11 instead of bringing in Kaeding in the NE playoff game of ’06.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Nov 19, 2009 11:54 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

That crazy Marty

he loved to go for it on 4th down. I bet you he liked the Belicheck move.

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 19, 2009 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Can we now add yesterday's onside kick by McDaniels?

OK, maybe not dumb. More like desperate. Either way, the outcome was certainly sweet.

TD enema for little hoodie. hahahaha

If the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will!!

Robert Hunter

by Buck Melanoma on Nov 23, 2009 8:35 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The whole game reeked of desperation on lil Hoodie's part

Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.

by Wonko on Nov 23, 2009 10:56 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I know

Using your injured and hobbled QB and going for it on fourth and a million several times….wow that’s what you call SORRY!

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by Gorditoe1 on Nov 24, 2009 9:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yale vs. Harvard: November 21, 2009

2:25 left in the game, Yale leading 10-7. Harvard has no timeouts left.

Yale has a 4th and 22 at their own 25. Coach Tom Williams calls a fake punt that ends up being 7 yards short of being converted. Harvard takes over at the Yale 32 and scores the game-winning touchdown.

Absolutely. Inexplicable. Guy should be fired for this terrible Belichick impersonation.

by cowbell on Nov 24, 2009 5:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs