dshans, you are a classy dude---I wonder how many other football boards regularly quote great literature. But some are probably thinking that such behavior is why our team is too soft--- shame on us. And, as usual, I'm with Neutered. The old-style coaches took the ball except when the weather dictated a field-position game and they took the "direction". Kelly has confidence that his offense is good enough that even if they don't score they will give the opponent poor field position. If the defense then rises, we will have an even better chance of scoring on second series. If you take the ball, you always have a chance to have it one more time than the opponent. If you refuse the ball, you never do. [we are talking about the first half here]. Thus Kelly's philosophy is to try to give the team a first half advantage, going into the locker room with all the psychology that implies. Of course, if you're a defensive minded coach, you reason the exact opposite way about first half field position. In the end, it is dshans, as usual, who is correct. We have to play the game, regardless.
