Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
I’ve reviewed the game losing play several times and here’s what I saw.
The Rams load up the defensive line. This discourages a run, intimidates Murray with potential pressure and makes it difficult to throw up the middle. They appear to be playing man.
So what goes wrong on the Cards’ side. I think the failure is 25% on McBride, 25% on Petzing and 50% on Murray. McBride had to have seen the Rams constantly pressuring Murray throughout the game. Surely McBride should have anticipated max pressure with the game on the line. He should have expected Murray might have to throw early. He’d had a tendency to do that throughout the season. As soon as McBride turned laterally he should have looked at the QB. If he had, he had a shot at making the catch or at least knocking it down. He briefly hesitated. The still photo is deceptive. It looks like he has time to react, but if you watch it in real time, McBride has just turned. The ball is halfway there. The ball is rocketing toward him. In real time he clearly had no chance at that point to even touch it.
As to Petzing’s liability, I might have possibly run wide, but not deep. Otherwise I’d have called a timeout to slow everything down, get everyone focused and explained how they were going to score; no penalties so concentrate; no sacks. Essentially with such short yardage and no sneak capability you could call 2 plays, maybe 3. An incomplete will stop the clock, so time isn’t a factor. You don’t need the time out unless you’re going to run wide. I look right at Murray and say, “Stay frosty.”
As to Murray, nothing there was new. Murray has to start understanding the difference throwing and passing. He threw too hard; McBride had too little time to react. If the ball placement is good you don’t have to throw hard. Murray has got to get better at ball placement. The throw hit McBride in the helmet. Murray also has a tendency to throw high when he can’t stay calm. Adrenaline is his enemy. I also think he threw too quickly. He had a throwing lane, so he didn’t look for McBride’s face. Murray may have been trying to correct against all the criticism he doesn’t throw in anticipation of the cut. If true you don’t throw that hard. Sadly, it seems more likely he panicked and threw early. Looking at the rush it looked like Murray could have waited a couple of seconds longer to release the ball. As I’ve said before he seems afraid to take a hit to make a completion.
If Murray hits McBride in the numbers, it never gets intercepted even if incomplete. A perfect pass hits McBride in the right side. This was a bad pass to an unprepared receiver. Things have to be changed.
The Rams load up the defensive line. This discourages a run, intimidates Murray with potential pressure and makes it difficult to throw up the middle. They appear to be playing man.
So what goes wrong on the Cards’ side. I think the failure is 25% on McBride, 25% on Petzing and 50% on Murray. McBride had to have seen the Rams constantly pressuring Murray throughout the game. Surely McBride should have anticipated max pressure with the game on the line. He should have expected Murray might have to throw early. He’d had a tendency to do that throughout the season. As soon as McBride turned laterally he should have looked at the QB. If he had, he had a shot at making the catch or at least knocking it down. He briefly hesitated. The still photo is deceptive. It looks like he has time to react, but if you watch it in real time, McBride has just turned. The ball is halfway there. The ball is rocketing toward him. In real time he clearly had no chance at that point to even touch it.
As to Petzing’s liability, I might have possibly run wide, but not deep. Otherwise I’d have called a timeout to slow everything down, get everyone focused and explained how they were going to score; no penalties so concentrate; no sacks. Essentially with such short yardage and no sneak capability you could call 2 plays, maybe 3. An incomplete will stop the clock, so time isn’t a factor. You don’t need the time out unless you’re going to run wide. I look right at Murray and say, “Stay frosty.”
As to Murray, nothing there was new. Murray has to start understanding the difference throwing and passing. He threw too hard; McBride had too little time to react. If the ball placement is good you don’t have to throw hard. Murray has got to get better at ball placement. The throw hit McBride in the helmet. Murray also has a tendency to throw high when he can’t stay calm. Adrenaline is his enemy. I also think he threw too quickly. He had a throwing lane, so he didn’t look for McBride’s face. Murray may have been trying to correct against all the criticism he doesn’t throw in anticipation of the cut. If true you don’t throw that hard. Sadly, it seems more likely he panicked and threw early. Looking at the rush it looked like Murray could have waited a couple of seconds longer to release the ball. As I’ve said before he seems afraid to take a hit to make a completion.
If Murray hits McBride in the numbers, it never gets intercepted even if incomplete. A perfect pass hits McBride in the right side. This was a bad pass to an unprepared receiver. Things have to be changed.
