Big 12 coaches explain decisions behind in-game gambles

Three down-to-the-wire Big 12 games pivoted on coaching decisions; some worked, some didn’t.

Statement Saturday turned into Soporific Saturday unless you paid attention to three Big 12 games. West Virginia at Texas, Oklahoma State at Baylor and Oklahoma at Texas Tech had the elements of exciting offense and/or close scores.

All three contests also featured the types of coaching decisions that swell the ranks of the Second Guessers Fan club. Some of the choices worked, some didn’t. Here is some behind-the-scenes background to explain what went into the final verdicts.

Dana Holgorsen goes for game-winning 2-point conversion

The Mountaineers fell behind 41-34 with 2:34 remaining but as their ensuing drive unfolded and moved toward a game-tying touchdown, coach Dana Holgorsen decided that overtime wasn’t an option. After Will Grier’s exquisite 33-yard touchdown pass to Gary Jennings Jr. made it 42-40, FOX’s cameras captured Holgorsen asking Grier “Hey, you wanna win the game? Let’s f***ing win the game.”

West Virginia’s first two-point try from an empty backfield, five-wide formation was successful but short-circuited by Texas coach Tom Herman calling timeout before the snap. Grier found David Sills on an easy slant/pass/catch.

After another timeout, Texas put its best coverage corner, Kris Boyd, on Sills. WVU stayed in the same formation – a move that Herman said after the game surprised him – with Sills split wide left, three receivers in a triangle set far right and Jennings in the slot. Grier was the “final option” and could keep on a stick/draw concept.

Instead of a slant, Sills ran a fade which took Boyd out of run coverage. McCulloch and defensive end Ta’Quon Graham were pulled toward the middle when Grier took a step forward, faking a quarterback draw. Texas had failed to set the right edge of their defense and Grier ran to his left and went in untouched.

“I knew (Herman) would call a timeout there and I almost decided to run a dummy play on the first two-point try,” Holgorsen said Monday during the Big 12 coaches teleconference. “The second play has a lot of options and Grier sees the field better than any quarterback in the country. I was confident putting the ball in his hands to win it.”

Holgorsen said that scheming two-point plays “is one of the hardest things we do as coaches” and that he has made the 90-mile drive to Pittsburgh to pick the brain of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

“We have 2-point play competitions in practices every week,” Holgorsen said. “It’s a combination of scheming during the week but also a gut feeling with how the game is going on the goal line.”

A decision made late in the first half was overshadowed by the WVU game-winning two-pointer. The Mountaineers lined up for a 44-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining. Herman called a timeout at the snap and Evan Staley’s kick missed wide right. With two timeouts remaining, Herman didn’t call a timeout on the re-kick, which was successful. A crucial three points.

“On the first one, we thought that (junior linebacker) Jeff McCulloch found a soft spot in their line,” Herman explained. “The plan was to call all three timeouts, but we thought on the second try we might be able to block it based on what we saw on the first one.”

Kliff Kingsbury empties 2-point conversion playbook

Texas Tech, which jumped to a 14-0 lead, was matching No. 7 Oklahoma point for point deep in the fourth quarter. It was a noble and notable effort considering the Red Raiders played the second half without starting quarterback Alan Bowman.

With just under seven minutes remaining, Texas Tech scored on a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass to pull within 42-40. To forge a tie and further ignite the home crowd, the Red Raiders went for two. A reverse to receiver (and former quarterback) Seth Collins resulted in a roll-out pass that OU’s Robert Barnes intercepted in the end zone and returned for a defensive two-pointer. A four-point play in a game decided by five points was significant.

Coach Kliff Kingsbury called the second of his three two-point plays for the touchdown pass on the previous play. In the first quarter, after the Red Raiders intercepted Kyler Murray, Kingsbury used another of his scripted two-pointers for his team’s first touchdown.

“Those plays we scored the touchdowns, we were comfortable with and had repped a ton,” Kingsbury said. “We like plays where the quarterback has options to make a play. Sometimes if we see something in game prep we might install something we pick up on film.

“We broke ‘em out for some crucial plays but I’ve never used all three (two-point plays) before. We’re gonna have to restock this week.”

Matt Ruhle plays for the win

Mike Gundy gave Baylor a chance for a game-winning drive when he decided against punting on fourth-and-two from the Bears’ 36. Taylor Cornelius – who the previous week had clinched a victory over Texas with a quarterback keeper – was sacked for a loss of nine. Baylor took over on its 45 with 91 seconds remaining, remaining, no timeouts and the wind at its back.

“You get a chance to get a first down, the game’s over,” Gundy said after the game. “If you punt it, they are going to get it on the 20. I would have liked for Taylor to have thrown the ball away, is what I would have liked to happen on that particular play.”

The Bears’ drive was helped by Gundy calling two timeouts plus a defensive pass interference call. Baylor had a first down at the Cowboys’ 23 – field goal range – with 43 seconds remaining but played for the win. The Bears ran four plays, a run and three passes, the third of which was the game-winning touchdown.

“As we moved the ball, we were able to take a couple of shots at the end zone and the one running play with (quarterback Charlie Brewer) was similar to the play Will Grier ran for West Virginia’s two-point conversion,” Baylor coach Matt Ruhle said. “With no timeouts, we thought we’d have time to clock it if need be.”

Brewer hit Chris Mims on a six-yard touchdown throw with seven seconds remaining for the win instead of the tie.

“We (the offensive staff) were talking about options as we were driving, it was a very calculated drive,” Ruhle said. “At the end of the day, I have to make a decision.”

As did some of his peers.