...nah they dont need to be brain off. they are just thinking too many steps ahead... and i've seen that happen to good players, suddenly they try to think too much and yeah, like you say, do daft things like stop moving or pass to the wrong guy or whatever.

maybe theres an optimum thinking level... but to be honest i dont think so, i just think when players get stuck in that frame of mind it's generally because they are trying too hard.