Kill on halftime: "If people don't agree with it, I'm not a very good coach, I guess"

[Mulligan]

:50 seconds and 3 timeouts is an eternity in college football. That was the case when we got a first down at the 36 yard line. A few conservative dump offs or short throws can get you into their territory pretty quickly which would give you chance to get into field goal range.

Of course we can debate it all day long. There is no correct answer. Most think he should have at least tried, some are fine with what he did. But I think pretty much everyone can agree there were a lot of other things that impacted the loss. We even got the lead in the 2nd half so we had our chances. Just too many missed opportunities.

I was among those yelling for them to hurry up and then ticked when they didn't. More than anything it shows his lack of faith in Mitch, I think. As well as he threw the ball today, there were those turnovers. Also, Mitch completed some quick wide passes, but jeez, at least two of them looked like they were very close to being picked off and taken the other way.

But I agree, Jerry didn't help himself with that quote.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Well even the last drive at the end of the game. We had no sense of urgency. I think we took a good 3 or 4 minutes off the clock. I'm not talking conservative play calling. I'm talking laying down with a minute left and two/three time outs.

And you're right, it might not have made a difference in the end, but then again, maybe that might have given us some momentum. More so, I bet it had a deflating influence on the players. My whole point is... you're losing, you have nothing to lose. Why not try?

Good points and I agree.

 

[Maroon92]

If I recall-- the last play before we let the clock run out was a short pass. If indeed Kill wanted to be safe why was he throwing it at that point. I also agree once we got down by 9 we were taking way to much time driving down the field. Last item-- why would you save that trick play for a 4th down must pass situation. There was no way they were going to bite on any run and now you have a WR throwing a pass --ugh easily the worse play call of the year

 

[Stan The Caddy]

If I recall-- the last play before we let the clock run out was a short pass. If indeed Kill wanted to be safe why was he throwing it at that point. I also agree once we got down by 9 we were taking way to much time driving down the field. Last item-- why would you save that trick play for a 4th down must pass situation. There was no way they were going to bite on any run and now you have a WR throwing a pass --ugh easily the worse play call of the year

Correct. That was what was so confusing about the entire situation. Jerry embarrassed himself with how he handled it and responded to the questions. As somebody pointed out earlier, tOSU was in the same situation and promptly scored a TD tonight.

I understand that if Mitch had thrown a pick, people would have been up in arms. My issue was with how it was handled. If you are going to run out the clock. Run the ball. Do not F around with throwing it.

 

[Halsey Hall]

I think Jerry wasn't being passive aggressive with his comment. He was making a very solid self appraisal. (He was also thinking of the two many men on the field call.)

On another note, we have had a string of overly conservative coaches in Minnesota, ones who play not to lose, rather than to win. It all started with Murray Warmath punting on 2nd down so he could have the wind at his back (before the end of the quarter). Holtz wasn't that way but Gutey, Mason and Brewster were. And Kill certainly is.

 

[wdgold]

Did anyone see Ohio States last possession before the half, similar situation Kill was in with a very different outcome. I was at the game today and thought that it was a very poor coaching decision.

 

[RockinRanger]

Did anyone see Ohio States last possession before the half, similar situation Kill was in with a very different outcome. I was at the game today and thought that it was a very poor coaching decision.

And in the end they win by the 7 points they got before the half.

 

[RolGnav]

Someone tell Coach Kill to learn from Urban Meyer. There was a chance Alabama could have gotten an interception but guess what? There was also a chance they could score. Ohio State just scored with less than a minute left and closes the gap to 1 point.

^^

Did anyone see Ohio States last possession before the half, similar situation Kill was in with a very different outcome. I was at the game today and thought that it was a very poor coaching decision.

There are people who say... "Oh, we don't wanna turn the ball over"
Then there are those that say... "We're losing anyways, let's try to score"

 

[mnsportsgeek]

And in the end they win by the 7 points they got before the half.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I never understand the "but what if Mitch throws a pic six?" line of thinking. He could throw an interception that gets returned any time he throws the football, that doesn't mean we should never pass. Just make sure he is coached to know that we are running a hurry up, but not a panic, and that it is still ok to scramble or throw it away because we don't desperately need a score.

 

[goldengophers]

I never understand the "but what if Mitch throws a pic six?" line of thinking. He could throw an interception that gets returned any time he throws the football, that doesn't mean we should never pass. Just make sure he is coached to know that we are running a hurry up, but not a panic, and that it is still ok to scramble or throw it away because we don't desperately need a score.

It certain instances Jerry appears to maintain the FCS/MAC mentality. Hopefully after this embarrassing performance today he will work to overcome it. Both Myer and Pinkel were MAC products themselves.

 

[maxwellsmart]

I agree with your statement. And as another poster mentioned before, he's playing the sore loser card and his emotional anger is showing when he mentions that he must not be a good coach then by running out the clock.

It has nothing to do with his overall coaching ability, rather one coaching decision he made that some people are questioning and criticizing. It just happened to backfire on him after his special teams unit blundered the 2nd half kickoff.[/

Sore loser card? What have all the whiners on here been doing all day?

 

[TheBulldog]

You know, when you make a million dollars a year providing entertainment for people at a price, it's ok if they criticize your performance. Make the ticket free, work for free, you unburden yourself. But these are your customers, Jerry, and you let them down, and then gave them a " how dare you". Well, there weren't a whole lot if d1 schools calling your phone, we took a flyer, don't make it seem like we owe you.

Well said.

I love the guy, and I'm not going to overreact by saying he doesn't have what it takes to beat good teams. He has shown that he can. But, today was pretty bad. The Mizzou coaches toyed with him. He knows it. That's why he's emotional. Everyone was emotional today. It was a huge opportunity for the program, and for the conference, and he put out a clunker in the national spotlight.

A little humility, and a statement that he will tirelessly work to keep getting better, would've gone a long away. His reaction was very unbecoming, and people have a right to be pissed off. About his performance today, and his reaction. But, the guy is human. I'm not going to hold it against him any further than my 30 minutes of seeing red after the loss.

Did he also get let down by some mentally weak play from his kids today? No doubt about it. But when you're the coach, you always take the blame. Especially when you are, at the very least, partially to blame for the loss. You don't rest on your laurels, then basically throw it at the feet of the kids. Especially when, deep down, he knows he was just as awful as some of the players today.

Oh well, go out and land a big recruit in the coming weeks and it will be as if it never happened.

 

[rpgopherfan]

At some point in time Jerry has to learn to trust his players here at Minnesota, the message he sent to the offense at the end of half was I don't trust you. The look that Mitch had on his face when he took his helmet off was priceless, I hope Jerry see's that.

 

[kisarazu]

I generally don't post after a loss. This game doesn't leave me upset. The coaching didn't disappoint me. But the miscues, ouch, yeah they disappointed me. In my opinion, the call to be conservative with a minute left was rational. But I don't like being in that position. I don't like being one-dimensional. It's true though, Missouri had momentum, Missouri has a fantastic D-line, we're playing with a QB who tends to put the ball on the turf (no offense, and no double-entendre intended), and (comparatively) we're lacking in the elite speed, great hands, and fight for the ball departments (again, no offense, and no double-entendre intended - honest). The 12 man thing was my only notable coaching wtf, but overall, I feel we weren't out-coached. Their risks paid off (fake punt, onside kick, etc). Many times, hell, most of the time, they don't. For us, man we had some painful blunders on the field. That game was ours for the taking if we just don't cough up the ball or try to field a bounced kick. Even without those blunders, their strong D forced us to do something other than run. And that's been the problem we haven't solved yet. We know that. The coaches know that. A team stops our run game, brace for turnovers. But the national sports media even understands the piece by piece steps it takes to build a team. We got 4 conference wins last year and 5 this year. We have trophies. Hell, I'm already excited for spring practices. I suppose we can complain about a half-time quote. You got that right. This one doesn't quite have Pelini pizzazz, but this state needs something to complain about. Me, I still got some laughs deep inside from the last Floyd of Rosedale game. ...aaaaaaa....ahahaha.... glorious.

 

[GoldMedalCounty]

I never understand the "but what if Mitch throws a pic six?" line of thinking. He could throw an interception that gets returned any time he throws the football, that doesn't mean we should never pass. Just make sure he is coached to know that we are running a hurry up, but not a panic, and that it is still ok to scramble or throw it away because we don't desperately need a score.

Agreed. This is why I don't understand those fans that want us to maul directional Illinois instead of working on our biggest weakness during the Kill era, the passing game. I really hope we use those games for working on the two minute offense, creating situational awareness, confidence in your QB/WR, etc.

 

[max winter]

Agreed. This is why I don't understand those fans that want us to maul directional Illinois instead of working on our biggest weakness during the Kill era, the passing game. I really hope we use those games for working on the two minute offense, creating situational awareness, confidence in your QB/WR, etc.

I really like kill but I thought he should have shown more faith in his team at the end of the half.

 

[Some guy]

Did he really say that?

That is the comment someone on a message board would say
Needs to work on his cliches

 

[MN4LYFE]

At some point in time Jerry has to learn to trust his players here at Minnesota, the message he sent to the offense at the end of half was I don't trust you. The look that Mitch had on his face when he took his helmet off was priceless, I hope Jerry see's that.

Kill certainly deserves everything the fans are hurling at him. When the fans and the team are upset about the decesion, it's not a stretch to suggest it was the wrong call. I love Kill and the staff, not many I would trade them for but there's no need to go after posters who don't agree with Kill's performance today. Kill's offensive philosophy arguably lost the game, it's fair to question if Kill will ever get us where we want to with his philosophy. That's not not just the opinion of a "internet, arm chair, keyboard" or whatever kind of coach you want to call a guy on this forum. Kill has lost AJ Barker, Max Shortell, Andre McDonald, Jamel Harbison, Phillip Nelson, Donovahn Jones, and will lose two more 2014 offensive recruits in the next few days. 1 or 2 left for reasons not related to football, but there is still a trend. The defense hasn't lost a player to transfer since Kill has been here, but have lost several offensive guys. There's strength in numbers and it's not unfair to suggest that those guys shared some of the thoughts being expressed today.

 

[Seany]

I'm pretty disappointed to read that Kill actually said something like that, as it seems so unlike him to respond to a question in such a defensive manner as that. I'd have appreciated had he been much more circumspect and reflective in response to a valid question like that. As others in this thread have noted, I take that as being a measure of him being really upset with what happened yesterday, but still. It's unbecoming of him, and if he's the type of person I believe him to be, he probably wishes he could take it back. Hey, haven't we all in the heat of emotion said things we might later wish we never had?

Anyhow, I agree with those who opine that fundamentally, that sequence at the end of the first half seemed to show a lack of faith, or confidence, or trust in his players to be able to successfully run a few plays to at least try and get into FG range, and so his players had every right to feel angry about that, and I was glad to see they were. This is not week one of the season. The training-wheels are already off, Jerry, so let your team play. If the unthinkable happens in that situation, utter disaster strikes and your QB throws a pick-six, well then hey and ah well, at least you went down fighting and trying as opposed to sitting on the ball, and you showed your players that you trusted them enough to give them the chance to try. If a coach can't trust his players to be able to execute simple football plays in an end of half situation like that by this point in the season, to me that just begs the question, when will he ever?

 

[5$BitsOfBrokenChair]

Kill certainly deserves everything the fans are hurling at him. When the fans and the team are upset about the decesion, it's not a stretch to suggest it was the wrong call. I love Kill and the staff, not many I would trade them for but there's no need to go after posters who don't agree with Kill's performance today. Kill's offensive philosophy arguably lost the game, it's fair to question if Kill will ever get us where we want to with his philosophy. That's not not just a "internet, arm chair, keyboard" or whatever kind of coach you want to call a guy on this forum. Kill has lost AJ Barker, Max Shortell, Andre McDonald, Jamel Harbison, Phillip Nelson, Donovahn Jones, and will lose two more 2014 offensive recruits in the next few days. 1 or 2 left for reasons not related to football, but there is still a trend. The defense hasn't lost a player to transfer since Kill has been here, but have lost several offensive guys. There's strength in numbers and it's not unfair to suggest that those guys shared some of the thoughts being expressed today.

You can see into the future bro?! Quick, hook it up with the power ball #'s!

 

[MN4LYFE]

You can see into the future bro?! Quick, hook it up with the power ball #'s!

Not the thread for this but it's already been confirmed by 247 and Ryan Burns, nice try though.

 

[5$BitsOfBrokenChair]

My bad bro. Misread it. Thought it was 2015 recruits. Ill hang my head in shame.

 

[Deleted_User]

If Coach Kill was commander of the Pacific fleet in WWII during the period before the planned Japanese Midway strike, we would all be speaking Japanese. Kill would have withdrawn to Pearl Harbor with the remaining flat tops. That was the prudent thing to do and relatively risk free. It is almost un-American to go through life risk free.

 

[beavergopher]

At some point in time Jerry has to learn to trust his players here at Minnesota, the message he sent to the offense at the end of half was I don't trust you. The look that Mitch had on his face when he took his helmet off was priceless, I hope Jerry see's that.

Well said. Generally, the aggressor in football wins and Mizzu was the aggressor. The end of half is a pattern for him and his staff. Hope this will change, but I don't think it will.

 

[go4ergold]

Kill certainly deserves everything the fans are hurling at him. When the fans and the team are upset about the decesion, it's not a stretch to suggest it was the wrong call. I love Kill and the staff, not many I would trade them for but there's no need to go after posters who don't agree with Kill's performance today. Kill's offensive philosophy arguably lost the game, it's fair to question if Kill will ever get us where we want to with his philosophy. That's not not just the opinion of a "internet, arm chair, keyboard" or whatever kind of coach you want to call a guy on this forum. Kill has lost AJ Barker, Max Shortell, Andre McDonald, Jamel Harbison, Phillip Nelson, Donovahn Jones, and will lose two more 2014 offensive recruits in the next few days. 1 or 2 left for reasons not related to football, but there is still a trend. The defense hasn't lost a player to transfer since Kill has been here, but have lost several offensive guys. There's strength in numbers and it's not unfair to suggest that those guys shared some of the thoughts being expressed today.

Good post. Can't really add anything.

 

[beatles]

Well said. Generally, the aggressor in football wins and Mizzu was the aggressor. The end of half is a pattern for him and his staff. Hope this will change, but I don't think it will.

I couldn't agree more. The last minute of the first half was a loser mentality and players can see that. Look at what UW did in the last 30 seconds of the first half against us in Madison after Cobb's fumble. They had less time than we had and less timeouts but their coaches trusted Stave and he completed two passes and they got a field goal and changed the momentum of the game.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Kill certainly deserves everything the fans are hurling at him. When the fans and the team are upset about the decesion, it's not a stretch to suggest it was the wrong call. I love Kill and the staff, not many I would trade them for but there's no need to go after posters who don't agree with Kill's performance today. Kill's offensive philosophy arguably lost the game, it's fair to question if Kill will ever get us where we want to with his philosophy. That's not not just the opinion of a "internet, arm chair, keyboard" or whatever kind of coach you want to call a guy on this forum. Kill has lost AJ Barker, Max Shortell, Andre McDonald, Jamel Harbison, Phillip Nelson, Donovahn Jones, and will lose two more 2014 offensive recruits in the next few days. 1 or 2 left for reasons not related to football, but there is still a trend. The defense hasn't lost a player to transfer since Kill has been here, but have lost several offensive guys. There's strength in numbers and it's not unfair to suggest that those guys shared some of the thoughts being expressed today.

To be fair I think that is a trend in college football as a whole and not just with this team. You're almost always going to have players on the offensive side more upset because they don't just want to play, they want to get the ball.

Also, we have lost defensive players as well. Owen Salzwedel and Jordan Hinojosa are two that came to mind quickly.

You're right though, I think it is fair to suggest a few of these guys may have left because of the things you're talking about. I just also think this is college football now days. You're going to have a lot of transfers.

 

[LakerFan]

He should be able to take some criticism about the non decision he made to end the first half. I'd have less of a problem if they had come out and taken a knee three times, that's a decision. Throwing the ball to the flat with the potential for that to get picked of or be a backwards pass and fumbled doesn't jive with the decision to be conservative. You either make the decision to go for points and try to move the ball downfield, or you take a knee or at most put the ball in the hands of the running back least likely to fumble and hope for a miracle. At the least you let your team know what the plan is, clearly Leidner had no idea what the goal was at that point in the game and was visibly frustrated that he decisions weren't being made.

We lost the game, Kill got a little out coached, special teams let us down and we had a few costly turnovers. Doesn't mean Kill isn't a great coach or this wasn't a good team or a great season. I'm pretty happy replaying Maxx's touchdown in my head for the off season and the performance of the secondary was fun to watch. Mitch put on a passing performance that should quiet most of his critics. The most disappointing part of the game for me was watching replays on the big runs up the middle and similar to big runs up the middle all year our LB's didn't get blocked out of position they ran themselves out of position. That might be just a by product of making the decision to be aggressive on defense and paying the price occasionally for committing to gaps too early but overall having that be a successful scheme.

 

[goldengophers]

I couldn't agree more. The last minute of the first half was a loser mentality and players can see that. Look at what UW did in the last 30 seconds of the first half against us in Madison after Cobb's fumble. They had less time than we had and less timeouts but their coaches trusted Stave and he completed two passes and they got a field goal and changed the momentum of the game.

Agreed, both games were very similar in that way. You just wish the we could've played like we had house money as we had punched both higher ranked teams in the mouth. You've got to take risks and be willing to step on the gas in big games like that.