If the Steelers lost a SB like that.....

[Coryea]

You can't use that game as any barometer. Steelers playoff spot was wrapped up and they were playing backups for a lot of the game. Fred McAfee and Steve Avery were in the back field at times for crying out loud. That's . Carry for the playoff matchup, they were a 9 or 10 point favorite. But they choked and the Chargers got *** raped by the Niners.

not making a case for them as being a great team, but Neil played a half, Foster and Morris combined for 16 or 18 carries. All I'm saying is that they were a good team, not some crap team. I don't care what Vegas favored us as. SD had a top five offense and a top 10 defense and played in a tougher division, were the #2 seed and beat Marino and Miami in playoffs.

 

[antdrewjosh]

I myself think the Patriots were done. A run call wouldn't be stopped because they were in shock. Another Super Bowl lost on a miraculous catch. They didn't know if they should let them score or call a timeout. They were done. There was no need to throw.

 

[Steelerfan]

Also remember, if they run out of 11 personnel vs. New England's heavy defense you might actually LOSE yardage.

These are all split second decisions.... Clocks running after the Lynch run.... Do you change personnel? Do you run again with the bad personnel vs. New England heavy defense? Do you pass? Which pass play?

Easiest to do the day after, easier to do from our couch, very hard to do in real time when the lights are on you....

Split-second decisions, yes. But they're paid alot of money to make the right ones. As I said before, if you have to pass, do a fade pattern to the corner of the end zone. Plenty of time to change personnell after that if necessary.

 

[deljzc]

Split-second decisions, yes. But they're paid alot of money to make the right ones. As I said before, if you have to pass, do a fade pattern to the corner of the end zone. Plenty of time to change personnell after that if necessary.

No guarantees on a fade pattern either. Last year Seattle intercepted the 49er's fade pattern to get to the Super Bowl.

I heard on the radio yesterday that there were 106 pass attempts from the 1 yard line around the league in 2014...

66 Ended in Touchdowns
ZERO ENDED IN INTERCEPTIONS

It was just a really flukey and incredible defensive play to get an interception on a 2 second pick/crossing route that is only 1 yard long.

The real issue no one wants to admit is YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME TO RUN THREE TIMES!!!! With the play clock and time clock going down below :30 left, you can NOT run, run, run in an attempt to win the game.

You have to pass on 2nd or 3rd down FIRST to allow enough time to get off a 4th down attempt. There really was nothing illogical about taking the passing shot on that play when you have a great personnel matchup (11 personnel vs. only 3 DB's).

It was a one-in-a-thousand result. In fact, statistically, Marshawn Lynch might have a greater chance of fumbling than (probably 1%) than turning the ball over on that particular play call.

 

[Hines57]

No guarantees on a fade pattern either. Last year Seattle intercepted the 49er's fade pattern to get to the Super Bowl.



It was just a really flukey and incredible defensive play to get an interception on a 2 second pick/crossing route that is only 1 yard long.

The real issue no one wants to admit is YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME TO RUN THREE TIMES!!!! With the play clock and time clock going down below :30 left, you can NOT run, run, run in an attempt to win the game.

.

They only need one of the two running plays they could have run there to have resulted in a TD. 4th down wasn't guaranteed. Guy rushes for 100 yards in the game and they put the ball in the hands of a QB who was 12-20 passing at the time. Give the ball to Lynch and let the man who carried you to this point try and win the game. Don't think you would have the same reaction from the public if Lynch had run and failed.

 

[deljzc]

They only need one of the two running plays they could have run there to have resulted in a TD. 4th down wasn't guaranteed. Guy rushes for 100 yards in the game and they put the ball in the hands of a QB who was 12-20 passing at the time. Give the ball to Lynch and let the man who carried you to this point try and win the game. Don't think you would have the same reaction from the public if Lynch had run and failed.

I think had Seattle mismanaged the clock and not given themselves a 4th down chance because they ran Lynch on 2nd and 3rd down and let the clock expire, the coaches would have been more crucified.

What a surprise.... everyone if overblowing an event that if you actually think it through makes SOME sense. I'm not trying to say it's what I would have done but I understand it. It's certainly not the "worst call ever". Not even the "worst call ever" in a Super Bowl. I still think the silly screen pass Washington tried against Oakland (that they caught them with earlier in the season) with like 20 seconds left in the half that resulted in a interception return for a TD was dumber. A LOT dumber.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

ESPN's "Pardon The Interruption" was playing Larry Foote's interview on 93.7 from yesterday where he said that Carroll and Bevell wanted to "showcase their boy Wilson" instead of giving the ball to Lynch. I was in Applebee's having dinner with the wife and didn't know what they were saying but I'm guessing it didn't go over real well.

 

[Steel G]

ESPN's "Pardon The Interruption" was playing Larry Foote's interview on 93.7 from yesterday where he said that Carroll and Bevell wanted to "showcase their boy Wilson" instead of giving the ball to Lynch. I was in Applebee's having dinner with the wife and didn't know what they were saying but I'm guessing it didn't go over real well.

That's not what they were discussing. They were talking about Foote's comments that said Lynch's actions during SB week were a bad message to his inner city kids because they already don't want to listen to authority figures like teachers and the police.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Thanks, I couldn't hear it. Anyway, it was on "Around The Horn".

 

[SteelerFan448]

Thanks, I couldn't hear it. Anyway, it was on "Around The Horn".

Both shows talked about it and a lot of agreement with what Foote had to say.

 

[keslerclan]

IMO, nobody is talking about the play call...if it succeeded.

Many things went right for the Hawks on the play:
Lockette was open and Butler was the ONLY player in position to stop a score BUT he was 5 yards away from Lockette who was 2 yards out at the time of Wilson's release.

It was literally a 5 yard pass (maybe 10 with the angle) which is generally considered a low risk.

What made it fail were the mechanics AND Butler's knowing the play (Butler admitted to knowing the play right after the SB)

Typically, the ball on this pass is directed at the WR's midsection (keeping it low to avoid a tipped ball)

Wilson has a "low" release because of his height and cannot throw to the midsection or risk getting batted at the line which might end up with the same result.

His throw is a tad late and higher in trajectory which enables the CB to break a step before the throw is released.

Had Ben or Brady thrown the ball you can bet it is coming in hard and low allowing the intended target the only shot at the catch.

It doesn't much matter now but this could have been a successful play if Wilson delivers the ball a split second sooner, lower or at the WR instead of in front of him.

Butler knew what was coming...he said it himself. How he knew is conjecture and speculation. Great preparation or someone told him if they line up in a "stack", this guy does this and the other does that 9 times out of 10 or whatever. Having a employee on the staff to comb through a season or mores worth of formations and giving the coaching staff a ratio of likely plays IS a HUGE advantage.

I won't say it's illegal because according to the rulebook, it is not defined.

It IS however going to be considered UNETHICAL unless/until ALL teams play with the same advantage.

The NFL is powerless to do or say ANYTHING about it without potentially opening up a colossal series of bettor's lawsuits against it. That is why the evidence was destroyed. Common sense.

 

[Steel G]

IMO, nobody is talking about the play call...if it succeeded.

Many things went right for the Hawks on the play:
Lockette was open and Butler was the ONLY player in position to stop a score BUT he was 5 yards away from Lockette who was 2 yards out at the time of Wilson's release.

It was literally a 5 yard pass (maybe 10 with the angle) which is generally considered a low risk.

What made it fail were the mechanics AND Butler's knowing the play (Butler admitted to knowing the play right after the SB)

Typically, the ball on this pass is directed at the WR's midsection (keeping it low to avoid a tipped ball)

Wilson has a "low" release because of his height and cannot throw to the midsection or risk getting batted at the line which might end up with the same result.

His throw is a tad late and higher in trajectory which enables the CB to break a step before the throw is released.

Had Ben or Brady thrown the ball you can bet it is coming in hard and low allowing the intended target the only shot at the catch.

It doesn't much matter now but this could have been a successful play if Wilson delivers the ball a split second sooner, lower or at the WR instead of in front of him.

Butler knew what was coming...he said it himself. How he knew is conjecture and speculation. Great preparation or someone told him if they line up in a "stack", this guy does this and the other does that 9 times out of 10 or whatever. Having a employee on the staff to comb through a season or mores worth of formations and giving the coaching staff a ratio of likely plays IS a HUGE advantage.

I won't say it's illegal because according to the rulebook, it is not defined.

It IS however going to be considered UNETHICAL unless/until ALL teams play with the same advantage.

The NFL is powerless to do or say ANYTHING about it without potentially opening up a colossal series of bettor's lawsuits against it. That is why the evidence was destroyed. Common sense.

Looked to me that even if the pass was completed, he wasn't getting in the endzone on that play because of how fast Butler got there.

 

[keslerclan]

^^^ You might be right based on how Lockette was knocked back BUT if he was moving lower to make the catch he could nearly fall into the endzone which is how the play is supposed to work.

Brady and Bellicheat are getting ALL the glory but they would have had one more loss IF Butler doesn't know/make the play he did.

 

[obxsteeler]

Looked to me that even if the pass was completed, he wasn't getting in the endzone on that play because of how fast Butler got there.

You don't think every team doesn't go through every formation and every play during the season? I thought that was called scouting and preparation. Baffled as to why you consider it "illegal".

 

[Vader]

All teams do that. McCain picked off a pass against Jax because he recognized the formation from last year when he was a Texan. Still a stupid play by Carroll and the seachickens.