Rob Long: Bevell & Carroll Outsmarted Themselves
I don't PRETEND to know more than NFL coaches. In fact, even though I know a lot about football, some of them have forgotten more about the game than I will ever know.
Having said that, sometimes coaches, in an effort to outsmart the other team, outsmart themselves. That's what Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell and Head Coach Pete Carroll did on the play that led to Malcolm Butler, a rookie free agent out of West Alabama intercepting Russell Wilson to end the Seahawks hopes of repeating as Super Bowl champions on Sunday night.
Marshawn Lynch has EARNED the nickname of "Beast Mode". He earned that name because of the way he abuses opposing defenders. He earned that name because he is known to deliver the blow more often than receiving. It made sense to everyone to hand him the ball with one time out left on the one yard line. It made sense to everyone except Bevell and Carroll that is.
You have to give credit to Butler for reading the play and jumping the route, but you can't help but question why did the Seahawks put themselves in that position in the first place. Okay, question why they threw the ball in the first place, but let's just assume there was a good reason to throw. Wouldn't you want still use Lynch as an option and fake a hand off to him? Then, wouldn't you want to call a play that would put your receiver in position to where he's the only person who could make a play? Say for instance, something to the back corner of the end zone that's either caught or thrown out of bounds? Just a thought.
Anyway, the New England Patriots have now won four Super Bowls under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Say what you want, and I'm sure much will be said, but they are one of the best Head Coach / Quarterback combinations in the history of the National Football League. That's six Super Bowl appearances and four titles.
As far as the Seattle Seahawks are concerned, teams can really fall apart after a loss like that. You saw the beginning of it with the classless display of sportsmanship while the Patriots were in the "Victory" formation. If you hear evidence of finger pointing in the off-season, they could be in trouble. Let's hope not. They are one of the better defenses in recent memory and they have the foundation to be around for a couple of years. After last night, you can't help but question their character.