Michigan State going for two

Submitted by victors2000 on

X's and O's discussion, less about the teams involved.

That said, Coach Dantonio elects to go for 2 following a Spartan touchdown to pull them within one with the score 16-17 and 4:41 to go in the game. As we know they missed and the rest is history.

I thought it was the right call. If they miss they have 4:41 to stop OSU and set up for a FG. If they make it, their defense had been relatively successful stopping them. A lot of pundits felt this was the wrong call, including my son who said O'Connor couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. Thoughts?

Discuss...

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BlueInDallas

November 20th, 2016 at 7:00 AM ^

There was way too much time on the clock for that call. I could see it if it is one play to win the game like when we went for two a few years ago. But 4:30 is an eternity. Better to tie it and take chances with last possession with OT looming. Also, had they made it OSU would've been more aggressive with play calling. So, again, it was too early IMHO.

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Optimism Attache

November 20th, 2016 at 10:06 AM ^

Think about it this way. You're 3-7 playing the #2 ranked team. You've done a pretty good job holding off their typical scoring bonanza so far. You're offense has been above average on the day, but you know you're very outmatched in general, and the longer the game drags on, the more likely it is each team will regress to its season mean, in which case you lose. If you're a realist about your team's ability--and I think Antwuanio is--you don't consider more game time a positive against OSU, esp with how low scoring the game had been all day. 

Coach had a chance to get one good play off and very possibly secure a statement win that keeps his guys motivated for next season. I think it was correct to go for the high upside, low downside approach. 

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bacon

November 20th, 2016 at 7:06 AM ^

Sparty NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! This was a total fuck up on his part. His strength is his defense. His offense can't throw the ball. Interceptions on the two point and the first play after the defense stopped OSU's offense show as much. Pride. It comes before something.

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Everyone Murders

November 20th, 2016 at 10:19 AM ^

I think it matters. They would have been in a position to beat the #2 ranked team in the country, with recruits watching and a huge day for (both of) their seniors. IMO, Dantonio made a hilariously bad decision given the time on the clock. What's telling to me is that Dantonio said in his press conference that he had decided well in advance of the game that "if we had the chance to go ahead late in the game, we would go for two". He stuck to his guns, showing a slavish commitment to a decision without taking the course of the game into account. Would that make sense with, say, 90 seconds on the clock? Arguably. With over four minutes, it seemed silly. Now you've given OSU two ways to win the game even if OSU can't get into the end zone. Dantonio' s record on late two-point conversions at home vs #2 ranked teams in 2016? Minus 2! Please excuse any typos since I'm laughing as I type this. Sparta No! may be returning home, which is fine by me.

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Everyone Murders

November 20th, 2016 at 11:09 AM ^

And on top of the lack of subterfuge, it seemed like the TE and WRs had no latitude to find open space. The right side of the end zone seemed pretty open, yet the MSU TE sat in double coverage hoping the QB would zip the ball into a tiny (or nonexistent) window. So slavish commitment to a bold decision with a poor sense of timing, no deception, and poor execution? We award Dantonio no points, and are indifferent as to whether there's mercy on Dantonio's soul.* *Not out of meanness. Just because we're unsure about whether he has a soul.

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UMxWolverines

November 20th, 2016 at 11:37 AM ^

Stupid imo. It wasn't like our game vs OSU in 2013 when we couldn't stop them all day. Both offenses were meh but LJ Scott (who is a great player on a crappy team, just saying) just carried them to the endzone. The defense was playing well and there was a good chance of stopping OSU and getting the ball back.

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jblaze

November 20th, 2016 at 7:09 AM ^

I didn't watch the game and I think it depends on how MSUs offense was playing.

If O'Connor was playing that poorly, then I'd go for 2. It's unlikely that they could keep up in OT (or move the ball).

Also depends on kickers and the feel of the game. Anyone saying there is a "right" answer is wrong. It depends on how your O and D are playing.

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ABOUBENADHEM

November 20th, 2016 at 7:11 AM ^

No right-minded coach goes for two in that situation, at home. He instead chose the riskiest option, knowing that if he made it he'd be looked at as a ballsy hero, but also knowing that if he failed (which was most likely) losing would hurt UM. Chicken sh*t move.

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allintime23

November 20th, 2016 at 7:22 AM ^

Yeah, Michigan has to beat them anyway. It's not like if state wins that does anything to help Michigan? It would have actually been worse for Michigan if state would have won. I don't see how anyone could have validated keeping Ohio state in the top ten after such a bad loss. That makes the Michigan vs.OSU game way less impressive and effects the playoff.



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UESWolverine

November 20th, 2016 at 8:48 AM ^

I fine with the call. I'm kind of surprised that it wasn't a fake extra point to catch them off-guard. I'm glad they missed though, because I do think that OSU losing to MSU hurts us in some way. I could be wrong, but it seemed like the loss last year put a fire under them last year and whether that's true or not, I'd rather them not have any extra motivation against us. 

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Red is Blue

November 20th, 2016 at 7:45 AM ^

I don't think keeping OSU in the top ten matters. It is highly unlikely the impressiveness of Michigan's remaining opponents impacts Michigan's playoff prospects. Win and in lose and stay home. The OSU outcome only matters to the extent it impacts their psychological state. And there is no way to tell whether they're more vulnerable post loss or victory. Given the focus on this game, even that probably doesn't matter. The only reason I can see that makes the OSU victory a little better is it gets more eyes ball watching and is more impressive if Peppers does something Heisman worthy.

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Butch-dontcall…

November 20th, 2016 at 8:27 AM ^

i remember him saying that... i also remember him saying that he didnt root for  u of m to win, even if uofm victory would benefit msu..... what a douchebag... 

hey mark.... hows that going-for-2 thing going for 'ya... lets see last two attempts  ---interception  on one and a run back for two for the OTHER team against your two biggest rivals......lol

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Fishbulb

November 20th, 2016 at 7:12 AM ^

Bad decision, even worse play call--I wouldn't trust O'Connor to walk my dog. You kick the XP and OSU is probably going to be somewhat cautious with the ball next and you have a chance to get it back. Get to OT where you are already in scoring position and can ride Scott to a TD. Crazy shit happens in OT.



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1VaBlue1

November 20th, 2016 at 9:30 AM ^

Aside from the horrible weather affecting the pass game all day, MSU's pass game if fucking HORRIBLE!  Putting the ball in TOC's hands, expecting him to make a tough pass over the middle, was about the dumbest play call Mick could have made.  Maybe that was his motivation?  Call something so stoopid it would be unexpected?  Ughh...  Horrible play call...

Don't care about going for two.  There was plenty of time to get the ball back.  Although playing for OT was the safe play, I won't cast shade for trying to take the lead and let your defense - by far the best part of his team - win it for you.  Against the #2 team in the country.  

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Mr. Elbel

November 20th, 2016 at 7:13 AM ^

Yeah I think with that much time left you take the tie. 4 minutes is kinda in that sweet spot where if you get the 2 points, there's too much time left on the clock. but if you miss it, there's not enough time left on the clock. difficult spot either way if you go for 2, so that's why you go for 1 and play for OT unless you find yourself in a position to win in the final minute.

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allintime23

November 20th, 2016 at 7:19 AM ^

If you thought that was the right call then you must realize you should never coach a sport. Not even your daughters softball team. Did it turn out to be the right call? Why not hope to take the game into overtime and run your back who is getting eight yards a touch until he takes you to where you can kick a short field goal?



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victors2000

November 20th, 2016 at 11:22 AM ^

I respectfully disagree about the enormity of my error, if indeed it was bad judgement, to go for two. You DEFINITELY run a play that you know you can execute. O'Connor throwing the ball was probably not that play. I may have gone spread them out with no backs and have O'Connor take his chances running the ball in.

Obviously, hindsight is 20/20 but the actual play call stunk, especially how O'Connor executed it. Then of course was the botched punt afterwards pretty much screwed MSU of any chance of getting into scoring range. Had they made the two the weather really would have hampered the Buckeyes chances to move the ball, I think. I don't think JT was holding something back just in case Sparty took the lead.

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RainbowSprings

November 20th, 2016 at 7:31 AM ^

WTF, your sitting there with a 3-7 record and a chance to beat the #2 team in the country. MSU's defense was playing pretty well. Go for it. Don't know if the right play was called, but on paper the call was worth the risk. So now your 3-8. BFD.

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the blue planet

November 20th, 2016 at 7:33 AM ^

popular thinking is to play for the tie at home.  Go for it on the road.  Even so... an O'Connor pass play was a horrible call.  The running game was lethal all day, and got them in the end zone in the first place.

 

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