What was different about the last drive?

[gamecockcat]

I'm curious as to why we struggled so mightily the entire second half until the last drive and, eureka, we discover that we can move the ball and pick up first downs.

Was it merely better execution? Playcalling? I don't see how it could've been SC getting tired as our offense hadn't spent much of the second half on the field. An adjustment to blocking schemes that the coaches made before the last drive?

Didn't really hear Stoops address it directly and was curious what others thought the difference was. Because the results were miles apart from 90% of the second half to the last drive.

 

[LouievileKat]

We really needed it and we didn't get a stupid holding penalty.

 

[kats23]

My guess would be deflated team vs a very pumped up team following the interception.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Stoops reportedly told Dawson he could not throw on that last drive. I think the team just lined up with a fresh Boom and just played smash mouth football. I loved it!

 

[DACats86]

Stoops reportedly told Dawson he could not throw on that last drive. I think the team just lined up with a fresh Boom and just played smash mouth football. I loved it!

Reported where?

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Reported where?

Heard Leach or Maggard say it this morning on Tom's show.

 

[zcats]

He hardly threw it the whole second half. What did we have 5 pass attempts for the half?

 

[ThePhoenix]

One big reason we didn't move it in the 2nd half until the end was stupid penalties.

Two, the execution went up a notch. That spin move Boom put on was utterly ridiculous. Watching the replay they had TWO guys that should have normally had him dead to rights. That was just a special player making a special play.

 

[zwynn10]

Stoops said so himself in the post-game show. He basically said that he leaves Dawson alone to call plays but in limited instances, like the last possession, he told Dawson to keep the ball on the ground.

 

[UKnCincy]

Don't think that's exactly what he said. I heard Stoops say "no option" plays. Said if you're going to have some type of hand off, then keep it on the ground. No need to get fancy. Don't think he was saying no passes. Just no option hand offs where Towles might've passed.

Basically, he wanted to minimize the amount of decision making required mid-play. Just line up and execute. That's how I took it at least.

 

[UKnCincy]

We really needed it and we didn't get a stupid holding penalty.

Bingo. A lot of our struggles were self inflicted, at least on the first couple of drives in the second half.

 

[TeoJ]

Bingo. A lot of our struggles were self inflicted, at least on the first couple of drives in the second half.

Attitude

 

[Rhavicc]

Don't think that's exactly what he said. I heard Stoops say "no option" plays. Said if you're going to have some type of hand off, then keep it on the ground. No need to get fancy. Don't think he was saying no passes. Just no option hand offs where Towles might've passed.

Basically, he wanted to minimize the amount of decision making required mid-play. Just line up and execute. That's how I took it at least.

^^^ This.
If you watch our games, heavy majority of our plays have a run-pass option. Simply narrowed it down to running, and running alone on the last drive. When you do that, your offense will be more in-tune with one another. No decisions for the offense to make.

Also, drives can look 100% different if you don't start them off 1st and 20 from your own 15 yard line. Even defense can look different because of it.

 

[BlueTick2]

The will to win!

 

[DACats86]

Don't think that's exactly what he said. I heard Stoops say "no option" plays. Said if you're going to have some type of hand off, then keep it on the ground. No need to get fancy. Don't think he was saying no passes. Just no option hand offs where Towles might've passed.

Basically, he wanted to minimize the amount of decision making required mid-play. Just line up and execute. That's how I took it at least.

Sounds more reasonable. Don't think that Stoops would mandate Dawson to not throw the ball.

 

[fuzz77]

Reported where?

Stoops said so during his post game interview.