How can you not run the clock down with 2:50 and only use .30 seconds let them drive to the 40 and then only rush 3 guys against that quarterback. That is bad coaching on the offensive and defensive coordinators. 

Okay.  I get it we won.  A fine victory.  By three.

But I think that this is the worst possible call:  stupd cow has the ball with about 1:50 left in the first half at their own four with third down and about 8.  Clearly they are going to pass.  And Cato drops back to pass.  But we make no attempt at pass pressure.  Which I'd do by a delayed blitz by a guy spying on Cato and, probably, one guy blitzing from right at the snap.

Why would I do this?  If we stop them and they have to punt, then we have a very good chance of getting a field goal which ups the lead a fair amount, or a td which really is nice--'cause we get the 2nd half kickoff.

What bad things can happen if the blitz fails?  Cato scrambles for a first and/or a chunk of yardage.  To me there's no way that he breaks off a really long run.  Or, he completes a long ball, they get a first and score a td or field goal (which is what happened).  Or they complete one for a td--a very, very, small possibility to me.

So, I think that not bringing pressure on the play is really a bad decision.

Bcat2--C'mon--at some point you have to accept some criticism of the coaches.  You seem to think that they are infallible.

First, that was not almost a td.  That was much closer to an incompletion than a td--the guy made a terrific grab and fell down doing it.  That was no where near close to a td.  That throw was on the mark about as well as Cato can do it....The back was kept in for protection--but if we bring one or two more guys, then they just don't have enough to keep us from rushing, or getting to, Cato...But, more than that, if we bring pressure, I contend that Cato doesn't have time to make such a good throw...so we end up with them punting out of their end zone, with OHIO ending up in fine position to get 3 or 7.

If we were ever going to bring pressure, that play was the time.

My point on the original post was he had close to 10 seconds for a receiver to get open, even Weeden with the Browns might complete one with that much time. It reminds me so much of the last few years where we get zero pressure on the QB and lose to N. Il, Fiami and virtually every big game we lose. You can't rush 3 guys unless you have lock down corners and safeties if the other team has a good passing QB. You at least can't do it when there is little time and the other team you know is going to throw to set up a field goal or get down field to tie or win the game. I only saw us rush 3 people twice, maybe it was more but on those two plays they almost got a TD ( down to the 6) and got a field goal and the other play they did get a TD. 

Ohio won so I'll be critical.

If memory serves me: Ohio's final first half drive started with a TT keeper for 6yrds and the next play Beau with a first down run (don't know if he just got it or had yards to spare)

The clock was below 3 minutes and this is where the time managment failed Ohio and indirectly led to MU getting three before half.  It occured because of three straight passes that fell incomplete resulting in no sigificant time burned and a punt after 5 plays.  Clock for Ohio was not an issue as 2 plus minutes and at least one timeout is plenty of time to march down the field.   One of the three plays needed to be a run or a bubble pass or other short catch and pass that if not getting the first down yardage would result in burning time off the clock.  In close games, in any sport, everything counts...what you did do and what you didn't do.

One clock burning play and the resulting coffin punt and the offense and special team would have been the best defense to keep em off the scoreboard before half.

On the other hand, I think Marshall coach blew it at the end of the game.  He should have followed the NI strategy of saving clock by going for the 3 when in range and then going for the onside recovery and needed TD.  The Huskey's tried doing it to OHIO on their last visit but didn't win but sure made it interesting by saving clock to better have a chance.

I saw us set up like we were bringing the house on a blitz only for our LB's to drop in coverage for the first time that I can recall. We need to disguise/fake blitzes like that more often.

Isn't it about absolutely impossible to keep receivers from getting open for 10 seconds.

I believe in qb pressure.  I'm not certain of this but I have a hypotheses:  a qb who's on his rear end or falling down or totally running for his life and about to eat turf cannot complete a pass of any meaning.  Espec Cato who has a weak arm.

Interesting that someone brought up the Northern Illi title game that we were up 20-0 (right?) and lost 23-20.  I'll believe to my final day--and beyond--that we lost that game because we went to a 'contain' type of strategy and took the pressure off.

Let's all repeat . . . one, two, three "What does the prevent defense prevent?"  VICTORY, VICTORY, VICTORY.

Another case in point: Ask Marshall fans about their loss to WVU two years ago in Huntington after a two TD lead in the 4th Qt..  However, that would have been an unacceptable loss in Morganhole, since WVU has clearly superior talent, better facilities, and more resources.   So, just crank up the prevent defense and prevent such a travesty from ever happening.  

I

C Money--I'm pretty sure that you're honoring TT's very fine play there and not arguing against my point here...'cause I'm sure you understand that TT's play proves my point:  so much pressure that it was all he could do to shove out a 10 yard pass, so clearly couldn't have hit one far downfield--so no big risk to us since stupd cow was at their own 4 yardline at the start of the play that I'm railing against.