The Gift?

[rajncajn]

Not a Carroll apologist - I'm asking because I'm not sure. Most likely, I'm just exposing my ignorance about how long it takes to execute a typical uptempo run play.

 

With 20 seconds and 1 timeout left -- is that plenty of time to execute 3 running plays? or would it have been pretty tight?

 

it was clear from his comments that Carrol didn't like the personnel match-up (3WRs out against NE's goal line D). Maybe he thought a running play there (without the match-up they wanted) would've taken too much time away -- instead of the quick slant.

 

Maybe he thought stopping the clock was worth the added risk a pass play involves?

 

Obviously, it blew up - I'm just trying to figure out what they were thinking.

 

Insane ending going from the Kearse catch to that interception two plays later.

 

 

The thought process was that it would have been too tight to run three. But that doesn't mean you can't run it once, call time out, play-action and then run it again.

[HowboutthemCowboys]

I haven't read the whole thread. IMO, anyone saying they shouldn't have ran the ball there is nuts

[Tripleshot]

And Lockette had perhaps the worst case of alligator arms ever. You could tell he just wasn't comfortable going for the ball in traffic. The good receivers reach out and grab that ball. He not only didn't go after the ball, but he fell down like Vince Wilfork hit him instead of getting bumped by a 190lb defensive back.

[gilthorp]

ESPN had it as "Least Mode"...sounds good.

[stevegrab]

The "nobody would be talking about this if the pass wasn't intercepted"

 

The "we wouldn't be talking about this if Carroll didn't take a big risk with 6 second left in the half to score a TD." (people were probably screaming he was in idiot to do that too, until it worked)

 

Many other posters here have said what I think better, and those got a like.

 

I do agree that the pass play called may have not been the best. But the defender read it and made a great play. Execution of the play wasn't great either.

 

From what I heard, Carroll made the call to pass, Bevell picked the play. And Wilson threw one he probably shouldn't. Sounds like all the key guys in the offense share the blame. Should they all be fired? I mean worst play call and execution ever, certainly deserves to be punished no? If so we'll take all 3 here in Cleveland.

[stevegrab]

After watching what happened to get you down there, the football Gods were showing you with clear intent that ANYTHING can happen when you put the ball in the air. It was a clear warning. Keep the ball on the ground and you win. Simple.

 

The NFL is all about percentages and such. The 99.911111111% you win call was Russell taking the snap, turning left or right, handing the ball off to the best short yardage back in football to get one yard. If that doesn't work, quickly get up to the line and have Russell take the snap and turn left or right, hand the ball off to the best short yardage back in football to get one yard. Now IF by some infinitesimal chance that Lynch didn't score and win the Seahawks their second consecutive SB, call time out. I suspect it would be 4 down and goal with a few seconds left on the clock.

 

In that case, facing 4th down and goal, with the SuperBowl in the balance. The call I make to win or lose it, is:

 

Russell takes the snap, turns left or right and hands the ball off to the best short yardage back in football to win or lose me the SuperBowl.

 

The play call happened on 2nd down, not 3rd. They had 2 (may have been 1) timeouts and plenty of time. And Carroll later said they were going to run on 3rd & 4th down.

Edited February 3, 2015 by stevegrab

[Cowboyz1]

The play call happened on 2nd down, not 3rd. They had 2 (may have been 1) timeouts and plenty of time. And Carroll later said they were going to run on 3rd & 4th down.

 

 

I know that's why I said they should have run it twice then IF they hadn't scored, run it again on 4th down. What I still can't understand is Carroll's explanation that he basically "threw the second down play away" and planned to run it on 3rd and 4th down. Yeah you threw it away alright.

[Cowboyz1]

The "nobody would be talking about this if the pass wasn't intercepted"

 

The "we wouldn't be talking about this if Carroll didn't take a big risk with 6 second left in the half to score a TD." (people were probably screaming he was in idiot to do that too, until it worked)

 

Many other posters here have said what I think better, and those got a like.

 

I do agree that the pass play called may have not been the best. But the defender read it and made a great play. Execution of the play wasn't great either.

 

From what I heard, Carroll made the call to pass, Bevell picked the play. And Wilson threw one he probably shouldn't. Sounds like all the key guys in the offense share the blame. Should they all be fired? I mean worst play call and execution ever, certainly deserves to be punished no? If so we'll take all 3 here in Cleveland.

 

 

I would say the play never should have gotten passed being called. Someone, anyone, should have gone crosseyed and stopped the play from being run. Last time out be damned. If Carroll called the pass, then Bevell should have slapped the snot out of his head coach making his headset fly off on national television. If Bevell goes along with the call, someone on the sidelines that heard the two commiserating on throwing the ball and the game away, should have slapped both of them to the ground on national tv.

 

Now if by some crazy chance that doesn't happen, Russell Wilson surely should have looked over to the sidelines wondering why both of them are still standing with headsets on and not slapped silly, then change the call to a run, role out option, or naked boot. Now if that play call gets passed Carroll, Bevell, all the teammates on the sideline, Russell and gets called in the huddle. The entire offense should have stood up and called for the trainers to come in and check Russell for concussion like symptoms.

 

Now if all that takes place and somehow, someway, the Seattle Seahawks line up and run the slant play. They deserve to get beat, laughed at, cursed at, put down and watch the Patriots swim in a sea of Seahawk tears (as another poster put it). Inexcusable call no matter how anyone frames it. The fact that no one stopped it from happening may be Belichicks genius once again. By not calling a time out he didn't allow the Seahawks coaches or players to act on their sure suspicions on how stupid a play call that was and issued a "press to test" if you will on the championship nerve of the Seahawk organization. Needless to say, they FAILED miserably.

Edited February 3, 2015 by Cowboyz1

[Bobby Brown]

After further re-evaluation after the shock of that loss is fading. I'd like to change my opinion a bit. There was nothing wrong with calling a pass on that play, but the slant was just a risky option and a roll out giving Wilson an option of throwing the ball away without a wide open WR would have made more sense.

[HowboutthemCowboys]

HSAC @Harvard_Sports Follow

 

SEA was second in the league in power situations, getting stuffed just 17% of the time. Lynch converted 17 of 20 3rd/4ths & short this year.

 

and the Pats I believe were dead last at stopping those.

And whats with Pete saying he didn't want to run against the GL defense, he could waste a play and run it on 3rd down? Did he think the Pats would bring the dime in if Wilson threw the ball away on 2nd down?

[Chief Dick]

Novana.

[Chief Dick]

Microstopped.

[Chief Dick]

Blue Pick of Death.

[Chief Dick]

Control. Alt. Defeat.

[Bobby Brown]

Not bad^

[Sunday Couch Potatoe]

The Belvedere... Because the butler cleaned up the mess again

[keggerz]

After further re-evaluation after the shock of that loss is fading. I'd like to change my opinion a bit. There was nothing wrong with calling a pass on that play, but the slant was just a risky option and a roll out giving Wilson an option of throwing the ball away without a wide open WR would have made more sense.

 

Pretty much in line with how I feel now. Initially I hated the pass call, now I just hate THAT pass call. I would have had Wilson under center and done play action, read option or straight roll out, then as you say throw it away if nothing is there. Then if you want to run on the next down and are under center they have to play you a bit more straight. Going to shotgun and the slant just makes me scratch my head. I'm pretty sure they didn't complete a single pass all day between the numbers, but hey, lets force one in for the win...or to waste a play.

[HowboutthemCowboys]

No one has given a reason why passing it on 3rd down would have been better than passing it on 2nd down.

 

uh...because there's a very very good chance that Lynch would've scored on 2nd down and the game was over since Belichick inexplicably didn't take a timeout after the run on 1st down

[MikesVikes]

Least mode

 

The Butler did it

 

Oh Mr Wilson!

[MikesVikes]

Micro loft

[heehawks]

It will forever be known and remain in my mind as "The Choke".

[hezagenius]

I know that's why I said they should have run it twice then IF they hadn't scored, run it again on 4th down. What I still can't understand is Carroll's explanation that he basically "threw the second down play away" and planned to run it on 3rd and 4th down. Yeah you threw it away alright.

 

 

I found that statement odd as well. They were going to throw it on 2nd and then run on 3rd and 4th to leave no time. I guess I would rather put points on the board, and if you leave NE with 20s and they somehow march down the field, then so be it. If your vaunted D can't stop them from going 80 yards in 20s, then you should lose.

 

IMO, they should have ran it on 2nd. If they didn't get in, call a TO and then throw into the endzone on 3rd. If that didn't make it, then you can do whatever you want on 4th.

 

Carroll's multiple explanations after the game seemed like he was trying to convince himself that he made the right call. If he honestly felt he made the right call, I think his answers would have been much more terse and brief. Something like "Based on what we saw in their D, we knew the run play would be tough. We went with a pass to leave us with some time on the clock just in case. NE made a hell of a play and we lost. Next?"

[Goopster24]

Micro loft

 

 

Love it

[Cowboyz1]

The way I see it, Seattle broke one of man's cardinal rules. Let me explain.

 

Your out with the fellas on a Saturday night and it's late. You're with a strong 6 who could probably be a 7 pushing 8 with makeup but is comfortable with herself so doesn't where much. So call it a Saturday Night 7 using the Saturday night shots and impaired judgment scale. Basically, it's a done deal. After working down 4 Maraschino cherries while staring at you and overhearing her tell her girlfriends that they can leave without her followed by the stare and giggle, the night is going to end well. Basically a bird in hand Scenario.

 

Then it happens. A 9 walks in with her slightly above average friend who hangs around for leftovers. You know the one. The same 9 that you could have closed last week if not for a drunken wingman. She walks by and with one glance says, hi, I remember you, you're going home with that, to bad, as she walks towards the restroom knowing you're staring at her ####. It's amazing how one inviting glance can contain so much information. In just seconds the game has changed. From "Bird in Hand" scenario to a "What if" scenario just that quickly.

 

Then on the way back she say's "Hi" to you only, as if there were no one else at the table.

 

At that moment you have two choices. You could play it safe by saying "she's hammered", hand off the tab to your wingman, wave off the fellas, take her by the hand and escort her out to a cab that has instructions to take you straight home where a celebration of mounting options await. A simple hand off and your home free.

 

Or

 

You could throw caution to the wind and go for the upgrade. The decision is made you decide to get cute. You head to the bar to get another round for the table. Now this choice is fraught with risk. You could get picked off by an unexpected guy meeting her that hasn't arrived yet. You could get stuffed by her wingwoman with a plea to rush home. The clock is ticking as last call is on the lips of the barkeep so you have to work fast. The decision is made.

 

You go for it all by saying "I remember you from last week, and you've been on my mind ever since".

 

Wait for it.............."Yeah", she replies. "I remember you too, Russell, right?"

 

"You remembered me?" you say surprised.

 

"Your not easy to forget either" is her response.

 

And there it is. You're stunned. Like a prayer of a pass caught in the SuperBowl and has you just outside the goal line. You can't believe that immaculate line was caught out of the air like Jackie Robinson's left field runner. You look back at the 6 who has succumbed to the inevitable by looking away as if she doesn't notice. The fellas are in awe of the feat and almost forget to cover you by detracting the 6 you left. You're on the precipice of making all Pro Puller in the eyes of all who witness this late in the game push for pulling immortality. The clock is ticking. She gazes into you eyes for the one thing that closes the deal and thrusts you into the end zone. The most simplest of calls to make. Like handing off to your unstoppable power back in the biggest game of the year which sends you to the promised land.

 

Her name...........Call her name and you win. If you could only remember her name.

 

Well we all know how that worked out................Bird in the hand folks. Bird in the hand.

Edited February 5, 2015 by Cowboyz1

[stevegrab]

Belichik doesn't think Carrol made a bad call (stop laughing I think he's serious)

 

http://www.cbssports...m-for-play-call

 

Clarification - there were 26 not 20 seconds left with that 2nd play occured. There were 20 seconds left after the play. So running 3 plays in 26 seconds may have been doable, but still with just 1 time out they probably had to pass once to be able to run 3 plays.

Edited February 4, 2015 by stevegrab