QUOTE(B&G @ Nov 27 2006, 09:49 PM)
There is no right answer to this one guys...It's a matter of opinon and coaching philosophy. I remember back in 1995 Barry Switzer ran Emmitt Smith on 4th down on an off tackle play late in the 4th quarter vs Philly when he could have kicked the field goal. Dallas ended up losing the game. The media crucified him for the call, and he had to defend himself for several days afterwards. The same thing would have happend to Nolan if they did not pick up the first down. I think he made the right decision. I just hope the O-line understands it.
Naturally its easier after the facts to say what the coach should have done.
Football is such a violent game in which players do things that should not come naturally for humans...such as running full speed into someone who may be bigger than you, while they are running full speed into you.
The biggest challenge for any coach is keeping their team playing at 100% of their capabilities at all times. Because football requires players to physically impose their will onto other players....one can NEVER afford to let down. When Nolan elected to kick the field goal...instead of having his team impose their will onto the Rams to win the game....he let down and gave the Rams the chance to win the game.
The 9ers have Larry Allen, probably the strongest guard in all of football and they (9ers) were more afraid of failing than trying to gain the one inch needed for the first down. By NOT trying the dynamics of the game and momentum changed and this enabled the Rams to impose their will onto the 9ers and win the game.
Nolan should have tried to win the game by going for the 1 inch on fourth down. Even if the 9ers failed by trying and lost the game, they would have won in the long run.
A coach expressing that he believes in his players by trying will always be better in the long run, than loosing one game in a season.
It is interesting to note in the example you give above regarding Dallas....I believe it was Dallas who won the Super Bowl that year....maybe it was the coaches faith in his team that motivated his team to win!
It will be interesting to see how the 9ers react next week.