Chalk Talk (Was Pete Carroll's play call correct?)

[Coleman Feeley]

 

submitted on Today, 12:44 PM in Texas Longhorns Football By Coleman Feeley
 
For many football fans, the Super Bowl is the most celebrated football game of the year. For this reporter, however, it’s much like Mardi Gras before Lent; one last blowout before the cold and morose time of the year devoid of football. In the months leading up to August, fans will find all the answers: “The Patriots could have done this†& “the Seahawks should have done thatâ€. These kinds of comments always bring me back to one of my favorite coaching colloquialisms: “The dumbest smart kid I knowâ€.

Football is like a chess match where you must consider and weigh your options before making a move. In the final minute of Super Bowl XLIX, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks came face-to-face with a crucial visit to the red zone and a ‘checkmate’ moment. On the one yard line, Seattle lined up in the Gun with three wide receivers, a tight end, and their All-Pro running back, Marshawn Lynch (fig 1).

The obvious call in this situation is to run the ball; however, the Seahawks squandered their opportunity and chose to attack the Patriots through the air. This is an easy call to dispute after the game, but in reality, it’s a much more difficult call to make on the sideline.

New England lined up with essentially seven men on the line of scrimmage, three defensive backs, and the middle linebacker deep in the end zone to cover the middle – exactly what the Seahawks wanted to see from the Patriots. With the ball on the left hash, the formation that the Seahawks presented provided extra space for Jermaine Kearse (#15) and Ricardo Lockette (#83) to find space in the end zone. By running three routes to the left side of the formation, Seattle forced the Patriots to shift most of their coverage to the left, creating a ‘two-on-two’ situation on the offense’s right side. This was the match-up the Seahawks were trying to gain (fig 2).

As Jermaine Kearse ran a pick route, Lockette ran a quick slant and produced a solid opportunity to score (fig 3).

By running the ‘rub’ route, Kearse was able to shift the two-on-two coverage to a one-on-one situation. He also created a one-on-one situation that considerably favored the offense due to the positioning of strong safety, Malcolm Butler (fig 4).

This match up reminds me of another coaching mantra I love: “Sometimes it’s the Xs and Os, and sometimes it’s the Jimmy’s and Joe’s.†Belichick’s pre-game comments that the game would come down to the players was right on the money. Rookie Malcolm Butler’s film preparation was clearly evident on this play as he closed the gap with considerable speed to intercept Russell Wilson and clinch the game with only twenty seconds left.

Sometimes coaches get in their own way. As you can see, on paper, the play call from the Seahawks wasn’t truly as bad as it seemed. However, sometimes coaches need to put the game in players’ hands instead of the playbook. Regardless of the outcome or how “this one play decided the gameâ€, Super Bowl XLIX was one of the best contests of the season. It’s just too bad that “the dumbest smart kid I know†had to show up to the party.

 

[streettopeschel]

Really nice write up. Petes not the first coach to outthink himself.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the best. He had 3 chances from the one with the hardest running back in the game. KISS

 

[JT-in-MS]

The problem with this play is that there is only one apparent receiving option and if the QB's ball placement is off it gives the opportunity for a pick.  Why he didn't at least give Wilson a clear pass-run option is beyond me.  Carroll gets paid millions to make those calls and I don't bet so thankfully it was his money on the line and not mine.

 

[Captain Hookem]

Your analysis is correct, but this is one of those situations where the defensive look just does not matter. You hear it all the time, "Everyone in the stands knew what we were going to do..." It's where you line up your grunts against their grunts and try to drive it down their throats. 

If you look at it another way, Bellichik was successfully able to get the offensive look he wanted also... forcing the Seahawks into a riskier play.

With 20 secs left, 3 plays left, and a timeout there's only one call you make there - either RB/QB dive, maybe RB sweep depending on how fast your RB is, but you don't want to lose yards. You make that play 100 times out of 100 no matter where the defense lines up.

However, if they run the ball and don't score, THEN you run plays like this because at that point you have to get it in the endzone.   

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

How do we know that Russell didn't audible to this play call at the LOS?

Looked to me like Butler just made one helluva play on the ball. Great read and reaction by him. Almost like he knew what was coming.

 

[Captain Hookem]

From everything that was reported, Wilson was running the play that was called. In fact, Wilson has actually taken some heat for not audibling out of it (which I don't agree with). 

Butler makes a spectacular play on what is normally as sure of a thing as a passing play gets. You just don't put the ball in the air in that situation.

 

[chilly52]

From everything that was reported, Wilson was running the play that was called. In fact, Wilson has actually taken some heat for not audibling out of it (which I don't agree with). 

Butler makes a spectacular play on what is normally as sure of a thing as a passing play gets. You just don't put the ball in the air in that situation.

Evidently, the call was the one the coach sent in and not Pete...the OC. Butler was not just in the right place at the righ time...he knew this play from film study. He sussed it out and made the decision to jump the route. Good choice!

Here's my dilemma...Best running back in the game, making three yards a carry without difficulty all game long; Pats on their heels believing Lynch will run the ball and Wilson lines up in a pistol instead of under center; doesn't run a play action with a fake to Lynch; just runs a routine goal line pass play...WTF?

 

[Etex Horn]

First and goal from the 5. Patriots D lined up to stop Lynch, whereupon he powers to the 1 yard line. 2nd and goal.

DUH!! 

 

[echeese]

Really nice write up. Petes not the first coach to outthink himself.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the best. He had 3 chances from the one with the hardest running back in the game. KISS

While I agree with most of what you said, I think he only had 2 chances due to burning a TO after the wacky catch.   :26 seconds were all that was left.

But I'd have gone play action/zone read to the Beast and put the ball in Wilson's hands with a run pass option. . .that way if the play is blown up, throw it away and stop the clock.

The other option would have been fade to the tall guy.

PS,

Even if Wilson completes that pass, doubtful he scores anyway, DB was on him and coming up.

 

[streettopeschel]

Good point on the TO situation. And yes, Wilson on a rollout or a boot would make sense too.

 

[Captain Hookem]

While I agree with most of what you said, I think he only had 2 chances due to burning a TO after the wacky catch.   :26 seconds were all that was left.

But I'd have gone play action/zone read to the Beast and put the ball in Wilson's hands with a run pass option. . .that way if the play is blown up, throw it away and stop the clock.

The other option would have been fade to the tall guy.

PS,

Even if Wilson completes that pass, doubtful he scores anyway, DB was on him and coming up.

Absolutely had 3 chances left... 26 secs and a timeout is way more than enough time to get off 3 plays. 

Let's say a run play takes 8 secs before the timeout is called. Then you basically have 17 secs to run one play, being that all you really need is 1 sec left for the final play. You even had time to run on 3rd down with no timeouts and line up again for a 4th down play. However the safer option at that point is to throw on 3rd down and make sure it's a TD or in the 3rd row. 

Some articles give credit to a crafty Belichik for not calling a timeout and forcing Seattle into a quick play call decision. Most coaches would've called a time out there to give the offense a chance, which would've given Seattle more time to think about their next 3 plays instead of having the game clock run down.

Either way, at that point Seattle had more than enough time for 3 plays if called correctly.

 

[echeese]

You might be able to get 3 plays off but as you pointed out, it forces your hand to the type of playcalls but Belicheck was an IDIOT for not calling TO..

He was basically allowing Seattle the last play from the 1. . . this wasn't Indy with no running attack, the idea that Seattle would turn the ball over was a million to 1 shot.

 

[Coleman Feeley]

Your analysis is correct, but this is one of those situations where the defensive look just does not matter. You hear it all the time, "Everyone in the stands knew what we were going to do..." It's where you line up your grunts against their grunts and try to drive it down their throats. 

If you look at it another way, Bellichik was successfully able to get the offensive look he wanted also... forcing the Seahawks into a riskier play.

With 20 secs left, 3 plays left, and a timeout there's only one call you make there - either RB/QB dive, maybe RB sweep depending on how fast your RB is, but you don't want to lose yards. You make that play 100 times out of 100 no matter where the defense lines up.

However, if they run the ball and don't score, THEN you run plays like this because at that point you have to get it in the endzone.   

I totally agree.

The formation the Seahawks were in limited the potential play calls, and if you're running a play that EVERYONE knows then it should be a straight up Dive Play not a quick slant...

really, if EVERYONE in the stadium knows that you're passing it better be in a 2min drill or a Hail Mary situation.

 

[tejasrulz]

No. Next question?

 

[Epictetus]

How do we know that Russell didn't audible to this play call at the LOS?

Looked to me like Butler just made one helluva play on the ball. Great read and reaction by him. Almost like he knew what was coming.

Hitting on the "wrong play" avoids recognizing that the NE player flat out made a bigger play than Seattle's offense. 

Run play, option play, pass play.... whatever. 

The fall back of "you obviously should have called this play," always avoids the fact the opposing team just flat out out-played you on whatever the hell play you called.

The real problem on the play... rewind if 3 or 4 times in a row... watch how nonchalantly the receiver waltzes toward the ball with body language as if running pre-game drills. He and Wilson got punked on the play. Butler was a baller who took his body square into the route and right at the ball. The receiver did nothing to protect the incoming ball. He arrogantly thought he only had to walk right through the route, receive the ball and step across the line, no big deal. 

Carroll thought he'd shock everyone by calling the play when everyone the universe just KNEW it would be a Lynch run play... and it was supposed to be so easy. It would make Pete and Seahawks look like... well like Belichick and the Patriots. 

Problem is just one -- NE outplayed them on the play. And that is really all it was about. New England had a baller who went heads up and gave it everything he could with a swift move and just took the pass from the receiver.

The sin was Seattle arrogance that they could complete the pass with hardly an effort. I loved the outcome!! 

Know how Texas won with 19 sec to go in the Rose Bowl? USC's All-American linebacker made a fatal step to the inside and allowed Young a split-second move to take it to the corner. That LB holds his position and doesn't take a step... who knows. But that was failure of one of their best players to make a game-saving play. In the Super Bowl, a defender asserted himself and made a game-saving play. 

Whoever outplays the other team on any given play... gets it done. Deserves got nothing to do with it. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

^^^ Really good post, David.

 

[tejasrulz]

Like the post & love the picture! One of my favorite movies.

 

[Coleman Feeley]

Carroll thought he'd shock everyone by calling the play when everyone the universe just KNEW it would be a Lynch run play... and it was supposed to be so easy. It would make Pete and Seahawks look like... well like Belichick and the Patriots. 

The sin was Seattle arrogance that they could complete the pass with hardly an effort. I loved the outcome!! 

BINGO!

"Dumbest smart kid I ever met..."  (might have to start calling the Kanye syndrome, you know, being VASTLY overconfident)

...Had to Leave Unforgiven on there for good measure