The Game Goat Thread: Wk. 6 vs Dallas

SeoulSoxFan

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The defense was so tired it would have taken a miracle to stop them in OT.

Tough to call out goats on such a hard-fought game but mine goes to not going for it near the 50-yard line on 4th-and-short.

Jones' pick-6 was also worthy of one, even if he made up for it the next play.

This team desperately needs a win. Oh, hello Jets.
 

cshea

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Bill. His Uber-conservativeness on 4th and shorts has arguably cost them 2 games.

Realize they don’t have Brady, but what happened to the 4th and 2 guy?
 

Mooch

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Mills. He was hot garbage all night, no matter who he was covering.
 

Cellar-Door

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Bill I think, though not so much for the in-game decisions (though I thought they were too conservative at time) but as GM. It got overshadowed when the DBs started getting hurt, but from the get go, they attacked our plethora of slow non-cover LBs in the passing game. You can't build a roster with no quick LBs, if you really love big LBs, get a mix, but all LBs who are big and can't really cover is asking for trouble in the modern NFL, where you'd much rather teams run well on you than pick up chunks in the passing game at will.
 

JOBU

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It’s the defense. Yeah cowboys are good but how many yards did they give up? Didn’t even lay a finger in Dak the whole game. Couldn’t get a stop when they needed to (recurring theme). 24 yards on 3rd and 25 to set up fg at the end of regulation. No one made a play for 60 minutes plus OT.
 

Jinhocho

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Hightower is toast.
Mills was a disaster all night. He literally cant be your second corner.
McDaniels - at this point you gotta just trust in Mac.

The Cowboys had a lot of penalties but I Cant think of a game where I saw at least a clear dozen more that were blatantly missed. Aint gonna win a superbowl like that.
 

jmanny24

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Bill. His Uber-conservativeness on 4th and shorts has arguably cost them 2 games.

Realize they don’t have Brady, but what happened to the 4th and 2 guy?
This. Bill has lost his gusto (or security blanket in TB) You drafted the kid it's time to stop being so conservative, let him go.
 

Ed Hillel

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I actually thought they played a pretty competitive game, and there weren't really many goats, but you absolutely need to go for it on 4th down in overtime, ESPECIALLY if you are going to run on first and second down.

I had no problem with the other decisions, including kneeling at the end of the half.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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The facemask in the OT really hurt.

Jones HAS to fix the occasional bad footwork that causes the ball to be inaccurate. I thought that's what happened in the pick-6 throw.
 

Eddie Jurak

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1. Kirk Ferentz, holding call that negated a touchdown to Meyers that would have made it 21-7
2. Yodny Cajuste, for the matador act that let to the sack/fumble on the next play
3. Mac, who had his statistically best game, but missed a pair of key slants that he had open. One miss ended a drive and the other was deflected and becamse a pick six.
4. Special teams for getting a punt blocked.
5. BB - I think the game managed him instead of vice versa. Should have thrown the challenge flag and burned a time out before the punt block. If nothing else it would have given them a better chance to get that punt away cleanly instead of having the defense know when the snap was going to come.

After the fumble, the whole offense, including everything from the play calling to each players' execution went into a long funk, not emeging until there were 13 minutes left in the game.

I think the defense did way better than the numbers will show. From the sack fumble onward, the offense just hung the defense out to dry and they looked gassed by the 4th quarter, but still managed to hang in there.
 

bankshot1

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Bill the coach devised a reasonable plan to play with a team that Bill the GM fucked up. And they lost a heartbreaker to a team that had so much talent that Bill the coach probably should have gone outside his comfort zone to attack more aggressively.

I'm rambling
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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This was all on the coaching staff. Just a brutally awful performance from them. The conservative approach is killing this team. At times they looked like they were afraid to try to win the game.

They’re 2-4. They could be 5-1. We used to mock the Chargers for pulling shit like this. Today we are the fucking Chargers.

I am completely discouraged about the future of this team, and I believe this is not the coaching staff they need to rebuild. BB has become too conservative, his son is an awful defensive coordinator, and McDaniels confounds the shit out of me with his offensive calls.
 

jsinger121

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Why did this team pay two TE the money they did and only have 3 catches for 34 yards and a touchdown combined.
 

cshea

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We had another 3rd and 1 Bolden run for a loss. Can we just rip those fucking plays out of the playbook? Have he ever converted?
 

j44thor

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Coaching has consistently been too timid on offense. Also not challenging the Meyers spot before the blocked punt was poor coaching because it led to rushing the punt team out there, second time they have had a punt blocked after rushing the punt team out this season. Ideally challenge but at minimum they needed to take a TO there.

Also lost in the craziness of the last two mins is the play that lead to the costly delay of game before the Diggs Pick 6. Why were they motioning Harris out wide and leaving just Johnson in the backfield? Seemed clear Mac and Josh weren't on the same page on that play. The one time they should have been conservative they opt to run a new wrinkle and it costs them 5 yards when all they needed to do was get a first down and keep the clock running.
 

jsinger121

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This was all on the coaching staff. Just a brutally awful performance from them. The conservative approach is killing this team. At times they looked like they were afraid to try to win the game.

They’re 2-4. They could be 5-1. We used to mock the Chargers for pulling shit like this. Today we are the fucking Chargers.

I am completely discouraged about the future of this team, and I believe this is not the coaching staff they need to rebuild. BB has become too conservative, his son is an awful defensive coordinator, and McDaniels confounds the shit out of me with his offensive calls.
I kinda think it’s not going to end well here for BB. You can’t win in the NFL with barely any talent.
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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Let's not forget the 2 or 3 possessions in a row that were ruined by the offensive line getting steamrolled.

And Nelson Agholor's big drop.
 

Mystic Merlin

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I would’ve gone for the fourth down in OT, so Bill gets a knock from me.

As for players, the OL had….problems. Wynn, Herron in particular had some blown blocks that ruined drives.

They clearly are not at the same talent level as the top teams. LB is clearly their biggest off-season need, as they will continue to get exposed by good offenses with TE and RB if they play guys like Bentley, KVN, and Hightower together on a regular basis.
 

Ed Hillel

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Why would you challenge the Meyers spot? He was a full yard short.

What I hate is that stupid run onto the field late thing with the kicking unit. It ALWAYS ends up with a rushed snap and punt.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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I actually thought they played a pretty competitive game, and there weren't really many goats, but you absolutely need to go for it on 4th down in overtime, ESPECIALLY if you are going to run on first and second down.

I had no problem with the other decisions, including kneeling at the end of the half.
Agreed with all of this.

At the end of the day, this team just lacks high end talent on both sides of the ball. Drafting like crap for 3-4 years in a row will do that to you.

The Patriots were able to defy the laws of NFL physics for a long time but nobody can do it forever.

Pick six throw aside (admittedly its a big one to put aside), I thought Mac was excellent. Would love to see him play behind a reliable offensive line with real playmakers some day.
 

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This was all on the coaching staff. Just a brutally awful performance from them. The conservative approach is killing this team. At times they looked like they were afraid to try to win the game.

They’re 2-4. They could be 5-1. We used to mock the Chargers for pulling shit like this. Today we are the fucking Chargers.

I am completely discouraged about the future of this team, and I believe this is not the coaching staff they need to rebuild. BB has become too conservative, his son is an awful defensive coordinator, and McDaniels confounds the shit out of me with his offensive calls.
You must be relieved to have found a new coaching staff to deem horribly inadequate now that the Sox are even in the ALCS.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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You must be relieved to have found a new coaching staff to deem horribly inadequate now that the Sox are even in the ALCS.
FO was tweeting during the game noting that BB has become shockingly conservative for years now. And today it cost them the game.

I doubt there’s anyone on this board who thought the staff did a good job today.
 

jsinger121

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They have plenty of talent IMO. They are too timid to use it.
I honestly don’t think they do. They have average WR and RB if that. The OL blows. The TE might not even be that good and probably vastly overpaid. They probably have a QB to build around but he is really playing with not a ton around him.
 

Captaincoop

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The offensive line was bad. Receivers dropped a few and Mac made some mistakes.

Mills was atrocious and Hightower absent.

Running backs and D Line were encouraging.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I honestly don’t think they do. They have average WR and RB if that. The OL blows. The TE might not even be that good and probably vastly overpaid. They probably have a QB to build around but he is really playing with not a ton around him.
The TEs are very good, the OC is not calling plays to target them. The OL is currently in shambles but IMO they have more than enough talent. But they continue to make stupid mistakes and have horrible play calling and it’s fucking killing them.
 

Hoya81

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Bill. His Uber-conservativeness on 4th and shorts has arguably cost them 2 games.

Realize they don’t have Brady, but what happened to the 4th and 2 guy?
With White on the shelf, not sure there’s anyone on the roster who you’d trust with that 4 and 2 call.
 

Garshaparra

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It’s the defense. Yeah cowboys are good but how many yards did they give up? Didn’t even lay a finger in Dak the whole game. Couldn’t get a stop when they needed to (recurring theme). 24 yards on 3rd and 25 to set up fg at the end of regulation. No one made a play for 60 minutes plus OT.
Not entirely true - 2 terrific D plays: the tip to Dugger pick, and Bentley's inspired punchout at the goal line prevented this from being a runaway. Still though, it's another close loss, and at 2-4, it's on to the golf course. My goat would be Mills though, not just got the last play, but so much trailing coverage all day long.
 

j44thor

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Why would you challenge the Meyers spot? He was a full yard short.

What I hate is that stupid run onto the field late thing with the kicking unit. It ALWAYS ends up with a rushed snap and punt.
You challenge the spot so you don't have to rush the kicking unit. Point of contact was close to the line to gain though probably not quite there, either way it could have been a free challenge since they needed to take a TO once they wasted too much time deciding to punt or go for it. At minimum they had to take a TO there if you are concerned about blowing a challenge.
 

Mystic Merlin

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The TEs are very good, the OC is not calling plays to target them. The OL is currently in shambles but IMO they have more than enough talent. But they continue to make stupid mistakes and have horrible play calling and it’s fucking killing them.
You are getting close to figuring out why you think the playcalling is horrible.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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This was all on the coaching staff. Just a brutally awful performance from them. The conservative approach is killing this team. At times they looked like they were afraid to try to win the game.

They’re 2-4. They could be 5-1. We used to mock the Chargers for pulling shit like this. Today we are the fucking Chargers.

I am completely discouraged about the future of this team, and I believe this is not the coaching staff they need to rebuild. BB has become too conservative, his son is an awful defensive coordinator, and McDaniels confounds the shit out of me with his offensive calls.
I didn't like a few of the in-game decisions tonight but we just played a team that is light years ahead of this squad in terms of high end talent. We mocked the Chargers because they had great talent and didn't make enough of it. This team's talent stinks. We didn't get a single top end player out of the 1st or 2nd rounds from 2014-2020. It was an awful run and its a miracle we didn't pay for it sooner.
 

P'tucket rhymes with...

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The TEs are very good, the OC is not calling plays to target them. The OL is currently in shambles but IMO they have more than enough talent. But they continue to make stupid mistakes and have horrible play calling and it’s fucking killing them.
This is where we differ. I don't think they're very good, especially with the injuries.

But either way, Mystic nails it.
 

Mystic Merlin

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I didn't like a few of the in-game decisions tonight but we just played a team that is light years ahead of this squad in terms of high end talent. We mocked the Chargers because they had great talent and didn't make enough of it. This team's talent stinks. We didn't get a single top end player out of the 1st or 2nd rounds from 2014-2020. It was an awful run and its a miracle we didn't pay for it sooner.
I think that’s a bit harsh on 2020, Dugger, Onwenu, and Uche may become impact players, though they aren’t yet. But your larger point stands.
 

PedroKsBambino

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FO was tweeting during the game noting that BB has become shockingly conservative for years now. And today it cost them the game.

I doubt there’s anyone on this board who thought the staff did a good job today.
I think the playcalling and conservative 4th down approach is wrong--I am with you there.

Overall, though, worth noting the Cowboys are a much more talented team and Pats were right there. Defense executed bend-but-don't-break and while I don't love the overall playcalling, I get there is a theory to it given they are young, don't have a good line, and don't have many (any?) offensive playmakers.

So that's just to say while there's parts of the coaching I agree were bad I also think the only reason they were close and had a chance to win was coaching/scheming especially on defense. That is an indictment of the talent, which is the same guy as the coach ultimately as we all know
 

jsinger121

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I didn't like a few of the in-game decisions tonight but we just played a team that is light years ahead of this squad in terms of high end talent. We mocked the Chargers because they had great talent and didn't make enough of it. This team's talent stinks. We didn't get a single top end player out of the 1st or 2nd rounds from 2014-2020. It was an awful run and its a miracle we didn't pay for it sooner.
This. Brady covered up massive personnel misses and now its coming home to roost. You can’t have that many failures drafting because then you are overpaying for mediocre free agents which is what they did on most of them outside of Judon.
 

Cellar-Door

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I think Steve is getting a bad rap, I think he's generally been a good DC working with the limitations of the LB talent and having limited pass rushers.

There isn't really much he can do about certain things... we can't get pressure with 3 or 4 so he has to decide.. try to get pressure and leave guys 1 v 1, or take your chances on longer drives. He's making the right call I think, make teams string together a bunch of plays, because Mills can't hold up against good WRs, and your LBs can't cover.
 

Super Nomario

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It’s the defense. Yeah cowboys are good but how many yards did they give up? Didn’t even lay a finger in Dak the whole game. Couldn’t get a stop when they needed to (recurring theme). 24 yards on 3rd and 25 to set up fg at the end of regulation. No one made a play for 60 minutes plus OT.
They gave up a ton of yards but bent-but-didn't-break effectively. They held the Cowboys to 23 points in regulation.

This is a weird one to assign blame. The offense started great, got the big TD late, and was completely dreadful in the middle. And the pick six was an absolute killer. The D kept them in the game for the most part but struggled late.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I think Steve is getting a bad rap, I think he's generally been a good DC working with the limitations of the LB talent and having limited pass rushers.

There isn't really much he can do about certain things... we can't get pressure with 3 or 4 so he has to decide.. try to get pressure and leave guys 1 v 1, or take your chances on longer drives. He's making the right call I think, make teams string together a bunch of plays, because Mills can't hold up against good WRs, and your LBs can't cover.
I agree, it's frustrating to watch but the defense has been competitive against Dallas and Tampa, two of the top offenses in the league. So I can't say the scheme and decisions are bad.
 

Ralphwiggum

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The o-line should have been holding more. Let the refs call a holding penalty instead of almost getting your rookie QB killed a couple of times including a back breaking strip sack. As I said in the game bread, I think there’s a lot to like about Mac, but the line is so fucking bad it is hard to tell.

On D they made some plays when they had to but the Cowboys were stupid and undisciplined all game long, had two easy scores ripped off the board due to turnovers, but otherwise did whatever they wanted all game long. I don’t know who I’d give the game GOAT to but there was plenty of shitty play on both sides of the ball for a game that went into OT.
 

Mystic Merlin

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I think Steve is getting a bad rap, I think he's generally been a good DC working with the limitations of the LB talent and having limited pass rushers.

There isn't really much he can do about certain things... we can't get pressure with 3 or 4 so he has to decide.. try to get pressure and leave guys 1 v 1, or take your chances on longer drives. He's making the right call I think, make teams string together a bunch of plays, because Mills can't hold up against good WRs, and your LBs can't cover.
Steve is an enticing target for some because he has some odd tics and everyone loves to attack nepotism, the latter of which is a rich point to make inside a league that might as well have it as a foundational pillar of coaching/management selection philosophy.
 

Mooch

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I think Steve is getting a bad rap, I think he's generally been a good DC working with the limitations of the LB talent and having limited pass rushers.
I know personally of one player on this year’s roster who thinks that he’s a completely incompetent moron.
 

Marbleheader

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Bill has definitely had a tough year, but every game I see the stupid stuff other coaches do, he's better than most. Maybe we can trade him at the deadline