Coach Drink--Second Half Clock Management

[ComebackShack]

While we could have kept our foot on the accelerator, Coach Drink aced his first test in clock management yesterday:

First, with a gassed defense, riddled by cramping issues, we took possession with 1:19 remaining in the 3rd Quarter. We ran two running plays, and allowed the clock to run out for the quarter break. Although ZT was sacked on the next play and we went three and out, the extended break allowed our defense to force a punt on the next possession.

Then, on our next possession, we took over with 10:16 remaining in the game. We ran 7 running plays and took another 4:44 off the clock.

On our final possession, we took over with 3:01 left, picked up a key first down, made the Heels use all three of their timeouts and took the clock down to 0:30 after the punt.

After the 43 yard bomb to Malik Williams that set up the deciding touchdown, we DID NOT attempt a single pass over the final 20 minutes of the game.

AND UNC was the only ACC name to LOSE an out of conference game yesterday!

He did a great job but Drink said himself 24 hour rule. We need to end UNC game talk now. #BeatCoastal

CCU has plenty to talk about and we can't overlook them. Nothing we can talk about from this past weekend that changes anything.

Coastal Carolina has a decent win in Kansas but still they have not played a strong schedule. Teams like this still scare me. They are looking for their first win against us and we are now the hunted for the next several weeks. This could be a tougher game than we like.

That is for the team. It's silly that the fanbase can't discuss a big win from the weekend on monday, lol.

[hapapp]

To me, this is Drinks biggest upgrade over Satt.

Satt would of blown this game somehow, just like UT and PSU.

Let's celebrate Drink guiding us there without making assertions that under Satt we lose the game.

[NeersBy90]

The slide that Zac did for the last First Down was good heads-up playing by staying in bounds. Sometimes it is the little things that are really the big things.

Well, not only Zac's slide, but the call itself was pure genius. We had just run two plays straight ahead, and had not called a QB run the entire game, as I recall. And, the tight end sealed the DE up with a big time block. Clearly UNC was focused on another run up the middle.

I couldn't agree more. The read option was a perfect play call. Everyone in that stadium knew a run was coming. I don't think we had WR lined up on the right side of the field (I could be wrong) so there wasn't a DB in the area. The DEnd sold out and bit hard. So impressed all day with the game Drink called.

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

If anyone was wondering why Drink called a timeout with 5 seconds left, it’s because there were 12 men on the field for us.

That five yards for a penalty could have made all the difference in how the kick was delivered and us blocking it or not. Game of inches.

[App91]

I agree that he managed the clock through his play calling excellently in this game. My only gripe was our final third and two. Still would have run the ball, I just think we could have gotten Evans on the edge and picked up two for the first down. I don't think we are going to have repeated games where we question Drinks calls during the final two minutes, he knows how to manage a clock to win the football game.

This exactly. After the ZT run for first, went back to up the middle. Think the edge or counter could have gotten those 2 yards.
Yes we have to keep it on the ground there, but not up the gut each time. But, that was his first time in that position and passed with flying colors.