I think the offense ought to be very aware of when they need to drain the clock to give the D a few more breaths. It's something I'm always aware of when I'm "coaching". Two run plays that take up most of the play clock gives you, essentially over a minute of time. I think, really, getting a first down is 'a big deal', too, but, managing the clock appropriately for all aspects of the team is very important.
If we catch the opposing team in a bad package for the kind of running we'd like to do, I'd just do no-huddle and run, just staying a the line a long time (not setting down, but just to more or less 'hold the defense' on the field). This is somewhat more common strategy in playoff these days, but, it more or less requires a certain offensive packaged being able to run multiple 'run plays', etc.
Could be, but I think at points during Southern Miss and UCLA our defense looked tired, and I thought that maybe it was part due to the offensive tempo and then not being able to convert.
I believe in this. The faster you go, the more likely someone is going to make a mistake. I think you need to regulate it. You want it to be fast enough to wear the defense down, but you don't want it to be so fast your players make mental mistakes.
