Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2018/2019 - Time For The Tigers to Roar <<<
Well after defending coach Wilson all week he went and made a move I completely disagreed with, but got away with it. This probably would have been a 4-1 game if not for 2 leaky goals in the first RIT would have completely dominated the opening 20.
Most people's problem when they assets a coaches performance is they are all results oriented on Wins an Losses. That approach completely misses the fact that even making the right decision doesn't mean you will win the game. Coaching is a lot less of the trick plays and fancy speaches Hollywood makes it out to be.
In the real world coaching is not unlike poker. Which to play with the best you have to have a master understanding of the mathematics of the game or as in hockey the systems in the game that are constantly evolving. A famous poker player was quoted as its not about winning or losing its about making the right decision. That what coaching comes down to over a season. Cause then comes the other common aspect poker and coaching has which is luck.
Who gets dealt the better hand or team. Who gets lucky bounces or is dealing with injuries. Who comes up with a great game plan then loses cause his team took the night off. Each night ultimately the players decide the game, the coach does everything in his power to put the players in a position to win, while keeping an eye on the fact that he is coaching a season and not just one game.
So let's look at this decision and I do not want to beat up Short, I've said before he is a great kid and think highly of him. However this is a cruel business and you have to focus on winning.
I look at stats to get an idea of how a goaltender is doing. But the biggest thing I look for is not kept in any Stat. I look to see if he is making the saves he should and not allowing any softies. Stealing a big save is gravey. Drackett in my opinion was doing all he could do, his play was not an issue last two weeks.
OK, but as I said we are coaching a season. So some says it's good to throw a change and mix things up. That is true to a point, but still when you have a player like Drackett playing fine I think it becomes a coin flip if your team responds positively or not. The biggest thing to me is how badly do you need this game. I'd argue pretty badly. You got off to a hot start, but 4 straight losses has the RIT world all pressing the panic button. Your players feel that. You need a win going into the break. You then have a good moment and can tell the room hey guys, it's pretty simple for the second half. We shown we can play and do damage and be the best team in this league, but if we fart off we can be bad enough to be at the bottom. That is the margin of error, we have the talent it's up to the guys in the room.
In the end I just saw little upside to starting Short. Yeah they won, but how many want Short in for the next game. I'll just say if they would have started someone else I would have chosen Ian based on the fact I think him and Short has been even and he has 2 more years and will be a factor.
Bottom line, despite positive result it was a bad decision in my opinion. Hopefully it serves its purpose. I'll give Wayne credit for sticking with it, but hey even I can disagree with Wayne.
Thanks for reading, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
. Merry Christmas everyone.
