Once again the armchair GMs strike! After a supposed “bad” call in Super Bowl 49 by Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, everyone from avid fans to the person who tuned in for Katy Perry, decided they knew what was best for Seattle to win the game. Their decision? BEASTMODE! I’m here to explain and justify the slant route on the goal line.
With one timeout remaining, the Seattle offense was held up on the 1 yard line on 2nd down. With arguably the best RB in the backfield most would gamble the house that Marshawn Lynch runs the ball into the endzone four straight plays. The reality is that just cannot happen in a NFL game let alone the Super Bowl.
Yes, logic points to the fact Lynch is virtually unstoppable late in the game, he can basically demolish defensive lines single handedly. Football intelligence though will speak differently. For Pete Carroll the call is simple, 2nd and 1, one timeout left, less than 30 seconds on the clock, line up for the slant route and try to stop the time. Say he does run Lynch on that play, Pats stop him and Seahawks have to use their final stoppage. Now what? Continue to run the ball with less than 25 seconds now and hope you can line up in time to get your next few plays in. The probability of them completing the drive having the Pats stop them on 2nd and 1 is beyond minimal. Especially when Wilson connected with rookie Matthews so many times throughout the game. The matchups on the line were perfect and Pete seen an opening.
It reminds me of when Joe Flacco and company called a streak route for Torrey Smith vs the Pats in the AFC championship. They hit the receiver earlier in the game and thought they could do it again. If Joe hits the touchdown no one says anything, the exact thing that would have happened had Wilson scored on the slant route.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d most likely call the Lynch power run at that position. That’s why I’m not a NFL coach. If you look at the statistics teams on the 1 yard line have attempted 109 passes with zero interceptions. That’s right, ZERO. That’s all season, numerous scenarios and several different teams. Another mind blowing stat is the fact that Lynch carried the ball 5 times in that scenario from the goal line, only once did he score, all year!
So say what you will, judge and cast doubt upon the coaching staff in Seattle. The truth is and always will be that they get paid the big bucks to do what we all could never do. A split second mistake cost an entire team their chance at history. Recovery is a distant goal. The bitterness will run deep and live long inside most of the fans and players alike in the Seattle organization. Luckily us other fanbases can sit back and be thankful we don’t have to endure the pain and agony associated with such an unfortunate situation.
