Comments on: Jim Harbaugh’s costly mistake

By: Nancy R

Nancy R — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 17:41:07 +0000

I agree totally with Dave T. It matters where you put your energy and focus. A third QB wasn’t needed. Having a sub for Justin Smith in an intense offensive game makes perfect sense. Not to do so makes no sense. Sounds like a no brainer to me.

By: chris

chris — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:47:42 +0000

have to disagree with Lowells criticism of Harbaugh on this one……..Smith has been a durable player so even against Brady and the Patriots, I dont fault Harbaugh taking for granted that Justin Smith would be ok in the game. Harbaugh’s still a relatively young coach in the NFL (1+ years) so you have to assume he’ll learn from his mistake of not being more careful with an older player.

By: CohnZohn

CohnZohn — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 04:46:17 +0000

Thanks, Dennis. And happy new year to you. I’m not always such a good driver, but I try.

By: mike

mike — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:59:36 +0000

Waiting too long to substitute a player to avoid fatigue is like waiting to drink water after you already are dehydrated. It’s too late. Substitution, like drinking water before feeling thirsty, should begin before the onset of any type of fatigue. Even two plays off in the first Q or a couple of plays off in the second Q can be critical in staving off the onset of fatigue.

Remember, NE ran over 95 plays in the game and 62 or more in the second half, with the majority of the second half being a passing game fest.

Rushing the passer is the most fatiguing and exhausting element of playing defensive line.

Rotating players, especially in extened drives, is important. For several snaps in the 3rd and 4th Qs, Aldon Smith did not even get into a stance nor get off of the line of scrimmage.

Gassed?????? YES; Fatigued????????; YES; Poor substitution??????? YES!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:18:56 +0000

But a very good day none the less. We must try to always remember that it is your car we are all riding in. Thank you for driving even if sometimes we are not quite sure where we are going.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:18:04 +0000

Lowell,

Always enjoy your obsevations. I believe the larger mistake took place in the middle of the season.
Football is the ultima team sport, the gestalt was changed with the changing of the QB. Everything changed, the long sustained drives, the deliberate play calling gave the defence time to rest, allowing them to give max effort.The whole team bought into this style of play , thus the success of the last year and a half.
Though the inellectual excersice of looking at each seperate piece is fun, it does little to understand what has happened to this team.
Lowell , I am looking forward to an article of yours exploring this idea.
Paul

By: CohnZohn

CohnZohn — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:14:02 +0000

Dave T, Thanks for this. You explained it much better than I could. It turns out Mrs. Cohn Zohn and I got pretty sick. I thought we had bad colds but a doctor friend said we both likely got influenza — even though we were vaccinated. I am further along than Mrs. Cohn Zohn — she’s still in bed, miserable. I’m on Comcast in a few hours.

By: CohnZohn

CohnZohn — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:11:15 +0000

Dennis, Maybe I’m having a stupid day.

By: Dave T

Dave T — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:58:55 +0000

Lowell,

I agree with your assesment regarding the potential that the injury could have been avoided. The entire idea behind the New England offense and the offense typically run by Peyton Manning is designed to keep your defenders on the field and not let you make substitutes. If you think that the defenders are not tired in even the first quarter because and offense is running so many plays, you are all fooling yourselves and have clearly never played any sport. It is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic sports. If you can’t catch your breath after a full on exertion, you become oxygen depleted and therefore fatigued. Simply being able to rotate out for a play or two can greatly diminish that effect. Even that little bit of fatigue can cause you to react slower, not get your feet or hands set and yes, lead to potential injury.

Look, Lowell is not saying that it directly led to Smith being injured. What he is saying is that it greatly increased the odds of that happening. If there had been a player that could have rotated in on occasion, it would keep all the defensive lineman more fresh and more nimble and less likely to react slowly and be caught in a position where they could be injured. Activating a third QB when that was really a necessity where a D Lineman could have had more benefit is a extremely rational argument.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 21:46:09 +0000

Lowell, I am not trying to debate you, I am trying to understand you. And I have to admit your logic on this one is a little tough to follow.