Bob:
I figured you wouldn't have too many races left this time of year. View these last two races as the most important of the year.
Maintain your intensity and cut down the volume. Don't do too many intervals though. Only you know how much intensity you can recover from in a few days before your race.
Take care of life responsibilities during these lighter training weeks so you won't have anything to worry about that will interfere with your racing. Let friends and family know how important the next two weeks are to you. Don't take on big commitments unless you are superman.
Ideally, if you live close to the course(s) you will be racing on, train there for your intervals. Warm up for 10 laps or so, then figure exactly where you will attack. If your cadence is usually in the 90's use something like a 53x13 for your 20-30 second acceleration (30 mph at 94 rpm), then settle into your 6-7 lap pace, which should be at least 26.5 mph, in a 53x15 around 95 rpm. These gears are just suggestions, modify as necessary.
It might be even better to just do 3-5 60 second efforts or so, 20-30 seconds at 30+ mph, then practice immediately shifting into your 15 cog and holding your breakaway pace for race-day specificity the remaining 30-40 seconds.
Doing it this way will give you additional confidence, since you know the gears you choose will work out and get the job done with the course layout, and the timing of your attack will be perfected.
The 60 second efforts are so you don't get too tired with only a few days left to recover, not so much for a training effect other than the initial anaerobic accelerations. Do long recoveries between efforts, at least 10-15 minutes or longer to ensure maximum quality of the next effort.
The shorter efforts will also allow you to put more quality into the initial accelerations, which may be even more important at this point than anything else. It's going to be tough to maintain the pack pace or ride above it.
The only thing that might keep you off the front is the initial gap. You can do some "generic" 3-5 minute efforts also to maintain/improve general high-performance fitness. I would do these after the 60 second efforts or not, it's up to you and how you feel.
You could also just do 3-5 minute efforts after the accelerations, but again, the greater length might impact the quality of the initial 20-30 second burst. I would stand and sprint hard for 5-10 pedal strokes, then quickly sit and hold your acceleration until your gap is properly established. The inital gap is most important. If you accelerate half heartedly, you will get caught.
On race day sit in 100% until you make your move. Don't do any work at all, just suck wheels and rest. Pretend you are not on form and tired. Even tell other riders you feel bad if you get the chance. This is as much a game of poker as it is racing.
Maybe you should take a chance and time your strike with 4.5-5 laps to go instead of 6-7. Since you don't have a lot of time to improve, you stand a greater chance of surviving to the line. Either way, you must give it 100% concentration and effort or you will be caught. 4.5-5 laps to go might work.
Write down on a piece of paper that you will make your break stick and you will not fade until the race is over and you have won. Write down something like "I will win the 'xyz' crit this weekend with a solo break. I will survive to the line and win." You have to believe in yourself more than anything.
As far as coaches go, you have to find one that suits you. Kind of like a finding a girlfriend. If you don't get along or whatever, don't expect to make a lot of progress. I coach, lots of others on this board coach, and I think there are a lot of coaches lurking in the shadows as well.
I have never met or talked to Carl, but I think he is a good guy and has had lots of success. In reality a coach is just a guide. You are ultimately the captain of your own ship, and must sail the waters yourself. Coaches help you chart the right course.
As far as this weekend and next go, I think you can do it. Take care of obligations ahead of time, focus on your racing, and by all means get lots of rest. You have worked hard this season. Expect only the best for yourself these next two weeks. You can do it!!!
Good luck!!!