Game management vs Atlanta.

[Hawktawk]

I read an article on ESPN that was quite critical of the game management by Bill Obrien and PC last Saturday. I haven't thought much about it but they made some interesting points. I know Pete has gotten burned in the past being too agressive going on 4th, passing on field goals etc . That said he was criticized for a couple of punts on 4th and short and taking field goals deep in the red zone.

As Seattle prepared to punt from their 39 on 4th and 1/2 yard in the second quarter trailing 12-10. I remember wondering if we should go. Seattle had forced one punt in the game at that point.

Despite an excellent punt inside the one we saw what happened as the Falcons picked at the carcass of the lob all the way down the field . Seattle basically killed the final minute after the kickoff after a mistake by Hester put it on the 8.

Atlanta took the opening drive down the field to start the second half . This meant that between the time we punted down 12-10 till we got a real posession it was 26-10.
I'm not trying to point fingers or start crap .just talking ball.
Hindsight is 20-20. But actually I said after their first drive we are not stopping this team today.
We have to outscore them. Pete called the game as though he expected a turnaround or turnover from his d imo.

Any thoughts ?

[RiverDog]

Over the past few years, we've had such piss poor results on 3rd and 4th and one that I almost always cheer the decision to kick a fg or punt. If we're in a sort of no-man's zone, say like around the 35 and it's 4th and 1, then I don't mind. But I certainly don't like seeing us go for it in our own territory in the first half no matter what the score is.

I didn't see any glaring mistakes regarding clock management. Besides, that only factors in when the game is close, and it wasn't. We got our asses kicked.

[Hawktawk]

I didn't quibble with the short field goals at all. But in real time I wondered about the punt on the short 4th at our 39 in the second. As I say hindsight is 20-20. If they go and miss they get crucified in the media and Atlanta scores.
But punting effectively had the same result except for eating up the rest of the first half on a punishing 99.5 yard drive for a TD.

IF however they pick up that 4th(they had considerable success moving the ball at that time in the game) and score, any score, it clearly changes the dynamic of the game greatly.
Down 12-10 halfway through the 2nd to down 26 -10 halfway through the 3rd without possessing the ball speaks for itself.

They got their ass handed to them for sure. My brother tried to tell me they lost because of the ticky tack holding call on the PR but I set him straight.It wasnt one thing. It was everything.