Coaches get too cute

HouseCall said

I think it’s situational football. Creative play calling is a huge necessity in the league today because the defenses are so fast and defensive schemes are so complex.

You look at the situation of that play and it is a questionable decision - even though the play itself was undeniably perfect for a 3rd and 3.

But was it the perfect play for 3rd and 3 when your opponent has no time outs left and under 2 minutes on the clock?

That’s where, in theory, a run makes more sense because even if it fails to gain the 1st it keeps the clock moving.

So risky and creative play calling is hugely important - but sometimes you need to be a little more Dennis Allen and less Sean Payton. I’d have to think Allen would have vetoed Kubiak calling a pass play in that situation - but maybe I’m wrong.

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This. There is a time to be creative and cute and there's a time to be smart. In that spot the Eagles simply could not afford two possibilities: an incomplete pass or a turnover. Passing in that spot opens up both possibilities. A run play only opens up one.

Knowing that I have Jalen Hurts, Saquan Barkley and one of the best short yardage ground games in the league, I'm running the football. If I don't get the first then oh well. I'm going to run the clock and then run the Tush Push for the automatic, cheat code 1st down. Game over.

Obviously the play was there if Barkley makes the catch then we're talking about how bold and brilliant the play call was. But it didn't work and they lost so it's an awful call. That's life in the fast lane. If it works you're a genius. If it doesn't you're a dingus. If you go for an onside kick in the Super Bowl and recover it then you made the boldest call in NFL history. If you don't get it then you made one of the most inexplicably dumb calls in NFL history.