| editorials | letters | features | contact | links |
|---|
|
| editorials | letters | features | contact | links |
|---|
It had all started so well. A good close match between Rhein and Amsterdam. Another Monarchs blow-out to the Galaxy. And we had Jim back on form....
Then the Claymores managed to lose to themselves. Sure the Dragons were there to score the points but without the field position handed to them by the fumbles, pass interference and interceptions it was no contest. In their opening weekend the Claymores managed over 400 yards of offence. It should have been a blow out.
Fumbles will be blamed for losing this game. That's a cover story for what actually happened. 400 yards wasn't the story on offence. One touchdown is. That actually came from a fumble so it shouldn't even count. For some reason when ever the Claymores reach the red zone the play calling becomes predictable. Very predictable. So we end up having to kick. That's the coaches fault. Just as the two other critical moments in the game that lost it for Claymores were.
After the touchdown the kicking team went on to kick. There was a penalty and the ball was moved one yard closer to the goal line. With the score 9-0 there was no reason what-so-ever to even consider to go for 2 points. Yet that was the decision. The Two point failed and a vital single point was lost. There was no excuse for that call. A simple extra point was well within Gary Parker's reach after he slotted home his first FG. It would have steadied his nerves a little it would have been the safer call.
Then in the final seconds of the game as the Claymores reached Nationals Field Goal range the last play before Gary Parker came on was a run off left tackle. This resulted in the ball being placed on the hash marks, making the kick just that little bit more difficult. Parker did slip and missed with his kick - but the ball was straight. Why on earth wasn't the running play run up the middle to center the kick ? Then when Parker slips it wouldn't mater the ball would have been straight and good and a win.
The coaching decisions in both cases when combined cost the team the game. They were no-brainer decisions. Not rocket science, not dependant on a difficult play to be executed by the players. Sure the pass interference calls gave the Dragons their 3 touchdowns, but they were on the field reactions. There was time to think about the coaching calls and both times the wrong call was made. Perhaps it's not only the players that need to be sharper. 400 yards on offence and 1 TD from a fumble ? Jim might break passing records in yards but it's TDs we need.
There is already the theory that Parker's miss is linked into the Scotrail sponsorship (remember the good old "We're getting there" slogan perhaps we should revive it for this year ?) - he could have slipped on "leaves on scrimmage line".
Still Cooper should be back to catch those TDs and with Bender running rampant we should be okay. Worldbowl here we come !
I'd just like to point out that I was very very impressed with Gary Parker's kicking (well except for the last one) he certainly has come on in leaps and bounds.
Douglas Adamson