Holmgren Finally Gets It

Coach Holmgren hates to run. An impatient man, the quick results of passing seduce him. So he usually stops calling running plays around the 2nd quarter.

Against the offenseless Raiders, the best strategy is to get an early lead and run, run, run: this lessens the possibility of turnovers and milks the clock.

So, at least for one game, Holmgren knew he had to change his ways. From the Times:

"I wrote on my sideline sheet, 'Stay with the run' in big letters," coach Mike Holmgren said. "It's not always pretty out there ... but I think it's important we stayed with it."

The result: 207 rushing yards, a season-high for the Hawks. Maurice Morris had 138, a career high. And the Hawks won. It wasn't pretty, but against a team with no offense, it's the smart way to get a win.

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By Seth in News on November 7, 2006 8:53 AM

Comments [rss]

Seth

Clayton's wrong--at least on that game. As bad as Edgerrin James's stats were, Arizona still would've won the game if they hadn't given up a punt return for a touchdown and a fumble return for a touchdown.

Frank

I don't know, Seth.

I get the feeling that the result was more a function of the opponent than of the strategy.

That is to say, the Raiders suck. We could have run against them and won, we could have passed against them and won, we could have just kept handing them the ball and still won.

John Clayton wrote a piece a few weeks ago discussing how "running out the clock" is now an outdated concept that doesn't work against the speed and power of top tier, modern day defenses. (looked what happened to Arizona against Chicago a few Monday's ago)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=2633180