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2022 Super Bowl: Bengals’ short-yardage calls vs. Rams among questionable coaching decisions in big game

Published

1 year ago

February 14, 2022

Sunday night’s title showdown between the Bengals and Rams featured the youngest head-coaching matchup in Super Bowl history. It didn’t necessarily feature the best head-coaching matchup in Super Bowl history, at least based on the two sides’ in-game decision-making. Make no mistake, Zac Taylor deserves lots of credit for leading Cincinnati to its first Super Bowl appearance in more than 30 years, and Sean McVay has rightfully made history for winning Los Angeles a trophy.

The two coaches also had their fair share of solid calls in Super Bowl LVI, like the Bengals’ halfback-pass touchdown from Joe Mixon, or Cincy’s deep-ball shots against Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. But the officials weren’t the only ones with a few questionable decisions on the big stage, either. Here are some of the most notable iffy calls from Super Bowl Sunday:

Short-yardage play calls: While Taylor got steady production from Joe Mixon when the Bengals ran the ball, he twice fed backup running back Samaje Perine on crucial third-and-one plays, including one in the direction of Rams All-Pro Aaron Donald in the waning seconds of the game. With 55 seconds left, facing a second-and-one with field-goal range in sight, he also dialed up a throwaway deep shot that ended up going out of bounds, wasting a down.

Refusal to run: Even though Taylor and the Bengals made uninspired choices on the short-yardage opportunities, they could’ve afforded to lean on Mixon more throughout the game. Every time he touched the ball, he moved forward. Yes, it was just as important to get Joe Burrow in a rhythm, but when Mixon is averaging almost five yards a touch and Burrow is absorbing pressure on every other drop-back, the smart play is probably to keep the ball on the ground, even if it’s slower and not as sexy.

Running in general: Whereas the Bengals found success on the ground and just needed to be more selective with their short-yardage hand-offs, the Rams had the opposite problem: they needed to run less. Obviously Sean McVay couldn’t totally abandon the ground game, but his three-man rotation of Sony Michel, Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson just never found daylight against Cincy’s D-line, and yet too often, L.A. opened drives with first-down carries up the gut before asking Matthew Stafford to throw them out of a hole.

Ignoring Cooper Kupp: Maybe the Bengals were just blanketing the Rams’ best receiver immediately following Odell Beckham Jr.’s absence due to injury, but we doubt it, considering Eli Apple’s consistent struggles with Kupp on the final drive. Why didn’t McVay do his darnedest to keep the ball in Kupp’s hands as the offense floundered for drives at a time after Odell’s departure? Rams fans can at least take solace knowing Kupp was, in fact, the focal point of the final series, which sealed the victory.

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Related Topics:among Bengals big Bowl calls coaching decisions Game questionable Rams shortyardage Super

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Fans React To What Stephen A. Smith Said About Jimmy Butler

Published

3 mins ago

June 9, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat is back in the NBA Finals and that is causing people to talk about his place in the history of the league.

Some people think he is one of the best of this generation, despite the fact that he hasn’t yet won a championship ring.

Others think that he is lacking in some important areas.

Stephen A. Smith created a small firestorm online with his latest comments about Butler.

“You think about superstars and what we usually get from those superstars in terms of offensive production, that’s not Jimmy,” Smith said on First Take.

.@stephenasmith doesn't think Jimmy Butler can be the best player on a championship team
"You think about superstars and what we usually get from those superstars in terms of offensive production, that's not Jimmy." pic.twitter.com/x2ejL8VjMV
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 9, 2023

This comment from Smith immediately got people talking – and almost everyone online came out in support of Butler.

Some people felt that this was just what Butler needed to hear to motivate him before Friday’s pivotal Game 3.

Jimmy's dropping 40 tonight for sure.
— Jason Romano (@JasonRomano) June 9, 2023

Meanwhile, others said that Heat fans would have the last laugh after Butler and Miami win the Finals.

Keep all the Receipts Heat fans !!
— Shifu (@tee_louwee_91) June 9, 2023

Several people noted that Butler and his Heat are the only team in the league to reach the Finals twice during the era of Stephen Curry and LeBron James.

They may not have won yet but the Heat have been competing against some of the best of the best for years now.

Saying this when he is one of the only players to make it to the Finals TWICE in an era dominated by Curry and Lebron is certainly a choice…
— Socialmediauser34 (@SMUser34) June 9, 2023

And many others were calling out Smith because Butler has done what other players haven’t been able to.

No matter what his offensive production is, Butler is in the Finals again while players like Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant sit at home.

Yo @stephenasmith what makes a superstar? Since Jimmy Butler came up the heat they have been in the finals twice and ECF 3 times. I don’t see KD Embid or Jason Tatum there. Do you?
— Jacqueline S (@JPS0410) June 9, 2023

Butler has had his issues and his team has certainly fallen short in the past.

But it’s clear that he is definitely one of the most important parts – if not the most important part – of this Heat roster.

The post Fans React To What Stephen A. Smith Said About Jimmy Butler appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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Minnesota Vikings release Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook

Published

7 mins ago

June 9, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

The Vikings have released veteran running back Dalvin Cook, bringing an end to his six-year tenure in Minnesota.

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Jaguars HC Shared A Bold Trevor Lawrence Prediction

Published

11 mins ago

June 9, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

(Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)

The Jacksonville Jaguars took a step in the right direction when they drafted Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence drew comparisons to Peyton Manning and was deemed as the most complete quarterback prospect in recent years after dominating in High School and a nearly-perfect career at Clemson.

But the early results were kind of concerning, even if young QBs should always expect some growing pains in the first couple of years.

Now, after a season under HC Doug Pederson and taking a major leap forward, his coach believes he’s on the verge of joining the list of elite QBs in the league.

Will Trevor Lawrence make the leap to elite status this season? pic.twitter.com/fAN2hH9x9g
— PFF (@PFF) June 8, 2023

To be fair, it’s not like he was put in a good position when he first entered the league.

The Jaguars hired Urban Meyer as their HC, and he made a strong case for being not only the worst coach in franchise history but also one of the worst coaches the NFL had ever seen.

A toxic workplace culture, a poorly-built roster, flawed game-planning and decision-making, and a lack of leadership made it tough for Lawrence to be at his best in his first season.

The Jaguars won the AFC South division title in Pederson’s first year in charge of the team, and they look poised to go back-to-back this season as well.

Lawrence now plays for a quarterback’s coach and the physical traits, work ethic, and mechanics are all there, so there’s no reason to think he can’t be a legit MVP candidate in his third campaign in the National Football League.

The post Jaguars HC Shared A Bold Trevor Lawrence Prediction appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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