I have forgiven Coach Carrol & Coach Bevelle

[savvyman]

Somewhere around 3:00 pm today I decided to let the costly decision go and move forward.

Much of their strategy for trying to burn as much time off the clock in that final series I agreed with.

I will rewind back to my own thoughts as the final 1:00 unfolded.

I was actually glad to see Marshawn get tackled at the half yard line (ref made a bad spot at the one) - there was still a minute left on the clock and I did not want to see Brady get that long of time with 3 time outs to boot.

I was pleasantly shocked to see the patriots not use a timeout in the first 10 seconds - I said to my wife "Run as much time off the clock as they can before they run the next play". I figured that would be with 25 seconds left and that would leave very little time for the Patriots.

Now the difference is that I would have handed the ball to Marshawn on second down with the knowledge that the hawks would have to use their final timeout if he was stopped short.

However - the hawks coaching staff came up with what they thought was a better strategy for more options on thrid and fourth down with a high % passing play - If it was successful then we go ahead with only around 20 seconds to go. If UN-successful then we have two more shots with both the run and pass as an option on both plays because we would still have a timeout - (Unlike my strategy which if Lynch was stopped short then the Seahawks would have had to use a timeout and therefore would probably have to pass on third down).

The Seahawk coaching staff had the stats on their side - over 100 passes from the 1 this season and no interceptions. Also they and everyone else including me had complete confidence in Russell Wilson's decision making - and why should we not based on how excellent Russell has been for 3 years in not turning over the ball?

Unfortunately, the coaching staff strategy did not work out. However no one should question their intentions what they were trying to do - and that was to leave no time for Brady on the clock after we scored.

We could not stop Brady and the passing game at all during during the 4th quarter as out entire secondary was playing injured (it was obvious to me early on the 1st quarter that Sherman, Chancellor and Thomas were all banged up quite severely).

The NE player made a great play on the goal line and the UN-imaginable happened. I was shocked and angry with the play call like all of you.

However, a little time has passed, I understand what the coaching staff was trying to do and they have earned my support for a time when things went badly wrong.

So I have decided to move forward and forgive the coaching staff for the bad decision that they made with the best of intentions from a failed strategy. I do not want Bevell to lose his job. My instincts are telling me that now is a time for healing and forgiveness and to reunite with the special team and coaching staff that has brought us fans so much joy over the past three years.

This was the most difficult moment for fans in the entire history of Seattle sports - but we need to heal and move on and unite again along with the top team in sports, their coaching staff and other fans - put on the big boy pants - and move forward from this heart breaking loss to a greater glory in the future.

[Futureite]

Exactly. Best take I've heard yet. All day long in San Diego today I listened to people on the radio berate the coaching staff. But they put the ball in the hands of a QB they are about to pay $20 mil/yr and asked him to throw from a down and distance which had not been picked once this yr. That's about where the 2nd guessing should end.

[NorthHawk]

If you want to run down the clock, you don't throw it as an incompletion stops it and a TD might leave too much time.

The call is still puzzling no matter the intent considering the target WR hadn't run many if any quick slants so to try him then at that point of the most important game is a huge gamble.

In any event, it's over and time to look forward to the draft and Free Agency.

[RiverDog]

If you want to run down the clock, you don't throw it as an incompletion stops it and a TD might leave too much time.

The call is still puzzling no matter the intent considering the target WR hadn't run many if any quick slants so to try him then at that point of the most important game is a huge gamble.

In any event, it's over and time to look forward to the draft and Free Agency.

That's it with me, too. Nothing makes sense to me about that play call or Pete's explanation of it. Why 'waste' a down? There's nothing that says that we have to use all 4 downs to score. He could have ran the clock down to inside 15 seconds on two running plays. He was showing zero confidence in our defense. The Pats would have had to hit on a couple of 25 yard pass plays, something they hadn't done all game, to have had a chance at a game tying FG, and even still, it would not have resulted in a defeat, merely sent the game into OT.

I'll get over it eventually, but this one was really hard to swallow.

[Hawktawk]

I dont necessarily believe God picks winners and losers but something happened Sunday that defied explanation, much as the game vs GB in Clink. Fail Mary or whatever too. RW and these Seahawks have lived a charmed life the last 3 seasons which is a by product of their own hard work and talent. But Sunday the light shined on someone else for once.Someone else got the breaks, made the right guesses on play calling, executed one play better. I think for PC and the team they will be humbled which will be a good thing from a bad loss. They will be more focused than ever next year. And they dont have to hang their heads, they were equal to the task and gave it all. I'm proud as a fan and I definitely have no axe to grind against anyone. Another great season with family and friends cheering my Hawks.GO HAWKS!!!!

[Oly]

Great post, savvyman. I've been thinking along the same lines, but you lay it out really nicely.

That said, I have the same lingering doubts that RiverDog has, so I'm not quite to forgiveness. I might not be angry now, because I understand it, but I still think it was the wrong call and I'm not sure I'll ever forgive them for it.

[c_hawkbob]

I haven't "forgiven" anything and likely won't.

The play truly was inexcusable. I'm not willing to pretend what happened is OK or can be forgotten about. I hope Pete and Russ and Bevell remember that play for the rest of their careers, it is an important learning experience as much for an old head coach as it is for a young QB.

For Pete and Bev, I can see the value of a "throw away play", we really did score a little too early for comfort in the NFCCG and it forced us to overtime, could have cost us the game ... from the 1/2 yard line a hand off to beast could be too quick a score (still exactly the rout I'd have chosen), but if you must use a pass play to wast one you make it a back of the end zone route that can easily be thrown high if the receiver isn't the only guy with a chance at it. NOT a pass at the near edge of the goal line in the middle of the formation!

For Russ, while I love his fearlessness and hope he keeps it (he will, it's the baseball player way of looking at things) he needs a little caution for balance and he has to understand the importance of that possession! It's not in the middle of a game in the middle of the season, it's the play that could win ot lose us the Super Bowl! You're the field general, feel free to check out of a play like that!

I don't really think forgiveness is what's needed. I have accepted what happened and moved on from it. We lost this one, hopefully we'll win the next.

Now I'm looking on to the draft.

[mykc14]

Good post Savy. I heard another stat on the radio this morning that was a bit surprising. Lynch was 1-5 this year in runs from the 1 yard line. I am not saying that knowing that I wouldn't have given him the ball, but there is no doubt that for some reason, in that position on the field, we have had trouble getting him in the endzone.

[mykc14]

[quote="c_hawkbob"]I haven't "forgiven" anything and likely won't.


For Pete and Bev, I can see the value of a "throw away play", we really did score a little too early for comfort in the NFCCG and it forced us to overtime, could have cost us the game ... from the 1/2 yard line a hand off to beast could be too quick a score (still exactly the rout I'd have chosen), but if you must use a pss play to wast one you make it a back of the end zone route that can easily be thrown high if the receiver isn't the only guy with a chance at it. NOT a pass at the near edge of the goal line in the middle of the formation!

[quote]

This is also something that I keep coming back to as well. A play to the corner of the endzone where only your guy has a chance to catch it is what I would have hoped for if they were going to pass. With that being said the play call they had was pretty high percentage and rarely gets picked off. Great play by Browner and #21 for them. Even as they played it perfectly it was still a very tough INT. I haven't brought myself to re-watch it yet but I believe he caught it with one hand and the ball just stuck in there.

[NorthHawk]

That play may rarely get picked off, but the chance increases when the receiver is not experienced in running it, and is not used to running into traffic knowing he will probably be hit hard.
It was a lot to ask of Lockette in that situation and the pass had to be absolutely perfect for that player, but probably not as much for someone like Baldwin. Unfortunately he was taken out of the picture by Revis.

The Draft and Free Agency will be interesting.
We have a potential for a lot of loss on the OL, with Carpenter maybe not returning depending on any offers from other teams, Okung's last year of his contract as well as Sweezy.
Those are potentially 3 OL starters we might have to replace in 2 years so we have to address it beginning this year.
As well, we need another WR with Richardson coming back from an ACL tear. It often takes a full year to get back to speed, so another WR will be required.
Matthews might fill some of the void for a while, but like I said in another thread there was a reason he didn't start all year.
A big WR, a TE to fill Millers spot, and conceivably a WR that played like Tate did would all help.
We also need someone who can return punts and kickoffs.

On Defense, we should get Mebane back as well as Jordan Hill and Cassius Marsh, but we will probably have to replace Maxwell on the back end.
Whatever happened to Jesse Williams? He got hurt early but I haven't heard if he looks like he can make a push to get to the starting lineup.
There are a couple of CBs that could fit and be there late 1st/early 2nd - and maybe they can pull the rabbit out of the hat again and get another Sherman in the later rounds.
Hopefully Kam, Sherm, and ET will be 100% come Training Camp.
The LBs are still pretty good with Pierre-Louis being good insurance and maybe push for a starting spot this year if we lose Malcolm Smith.

Still, they surprise us every year with their picks so maybe the first one will be a DT!

[mykc14]

That play may rarely get picked off, but the chance increases when the receiver is not experienced in running it, and is not used to running into traffic knowing he will probably be hit hard.
It was a lot to ask of Lockette in that situation

I don't disagree with this but they really had no other options. They weren't going to throw it to Balwin, like you said because of Revis. They couldn't throw it to Kearse because there is no way Browner would be playing any coverage other than right on the line against him. There weren't really any other viable options to put out there on that play. They wanted to run 11 personnel so no TE's (putting another TE wouldn't have been 11 personnel and wouldn't have given them the desired effect that they wanted, to spread out the D). The only other options are Walters or Norwood. They clearly liked that play and I am sure they had practiced it with Lockette. Great play by there D. If they are going to run that play (which I didn't like) then your only option was Lockette.

[NorthHawk]

You don't put Lockette inside on a quick slant where he has rarely, if ever played. You do that the first series of the year, not the last one in the Championship game.

[Hawk Sista]

Well done, SavvyMan. I forgive them too and take it a step further and thank them.

It is a game and they did what they thought at the time would give us the best chance to win. It is very easy to sit, rumps on couches, and critique their calls. (I'm not saying we cannot discuss the call, we can never question them or that they are always right - hell, NOBODY is). I'm sure they would like a do-over more than anyone. Was it the right play? I don't think very many people think it was (though I heard Kurt Warner and Heath Evans each make a really good case for it). At this point, the question is moot. We LOST and I am not going to accept all the wonderful things that have come from their philosophy and cherry pick the bad. We made it to back to back SBs folks....BECAUSE OF, not IN SPITE OF - Pete's philosophies and trust in players doing what they are supposed to do. I realize the raw emotion and anger of losing in the way that we did - I feel it too. Yesterday sucked ass and I am working my way through the grieving process.

What bugs me is this undercurrent of us knowing more than dudes who do this for a living and not respecting how difficult it is to be as successful as we have been. If it is so easy, why are none of us making serious cheddar as O coordinators? Because we just ain't that smart. Who here wants to return to the 90's? anyone?? Well - this "we need to fire this guy or that guy" thinking will get us there in a hurry. Ask Browns fans if they'd rather be us or them. We would have NEVER been in the position to win that game (or even in the super bowl) were it not for these hard-working men making the calls they made. The balls it took to go for a TD before the 2nd half, is a primary example. We accepted that risk because it produced a TD. Everyone would be calling for Pete's head had that one been an INT or the 6 seconds ran off the clock leaving no time for a FG. But that one went our way.

Now, if it ripples and impacts our options in resigning players or getting players to buy in, then we have an entirely different set of worries.

Win, lose or tie, 12 till I die!

[NorthHawk]

It isn't just us fans who are second guessing that play call.
Experienced coaches and players have as well.

There is now a comment in PFT about the split in the locker room being revived with this last play.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... nto-focus/

[Hawk Sista]

I don't make a habit out of following what the national media has to say. I learn more from the local guys. The national narratives have been: "it was the worst play in the history of the NFL" - "RW is a game manager" - "Pete Carroll is too Rah-Rah for the NFL" - "The Seahawks are mediocre offensively" and on and on and on. Marshall Faulk, Irvin, Emmit Smith....meh. Eff em. It's all of this Twitter and immediate reaction info that is setting the table for this to continue. Bruce Irvin questioned the call to the reporters 10 minutes after being thrown out of a super bowl that his team lost (that he thought was going to win). A few other players made similar comments and the discussion today on Brock and Salk is all about how this one play call could impact next season.

It freakin makes me sick. As if it weren't bad enough that we lost the game.

[Hawk Sista]

Who is the best QB of all time?

Who is the best QB now?

What defense was the best ever?

What was the worst call in the history of the NFL?

All of these are debated to death and the trouble is they are subjective. There are so many answers to each of these questions. Tom Brady came 2 inches from losing his 3rd straight super bowl but a rookie CB (who used to work at Popeyes - BTW) made him the BEST EVER! Now there is no doubt that Brady is the best ever, the papers all say. Whatever, man.....It's all just opinion. Had the LOB been healthy, we win that game. period, end of story. Even if we just had lane in there so Maxi didn't have to go inside. Simon was a liability. But, they were not healthy and that is the way it goes in the NFL. It is what it is. The Pats won fair and square. I tip the hat. My point is, irrespective of the call, if we win that game, all the talk is about how RW is the winningest QB and the only 3rd year guy to get 2 super bowls....is he gonna be the BEST EVER? 2 inches changes all of that?? Jeeez. I need a vacation

[I-5]

I don't disagree with this but they really had no other options. They weren't going to throw it to Balwin, like you said because of Revis. They couldn't throw it to Kearse because there is no way Browner would be playing any coverage other than right on the line against him. There weren't really any other viable options to put out there on that play. They wanted to run 11 personnel so no TE's (putting another TE wouldn't have been 11 personnel and wouldn't have given them the desired effect that they wanted, to spread out the D). The only other options are Walters or Norwood. They clearly liked that play and I am sure they had practiced it with Lockette. Great play by there D. If they are going to run that play (which I didn't like) then your only option was Lockette.

You didn't mention Matthews, who was playing lights out.

I agree with savvy, though. It hurts, but he sums up the thought process I had, too.

[Hawktawk]

More and more coaches and commentators are coming out in defense of the call, especially with emotions cooling and analysis being done that showed a pass had a higher statistical probability of success than a run. The kid made as great a play as anyone in SB history ever has or its likely touchdown Seahawks. Hindsight and Monday morning QB is the same thing, 20-20.I know the guys and gals on this forum well enough to bet nobody would be happy with the outcome had we pounded it into the line 3 times without success and second guessing would be happening anyway.
We lost, it sucks ass. But I remember no playoff wins for 21 years including the first 6 years of Holmgrens tenure, a period of time when he was also hopelessly mangling the roster.
PC won his first year. Playoff wins in 4 seasons and back to back SB trips. He and Bevell are literally 50 seconds of football from possibly having 3 Lombardi's and the team is already the favorite to go back to their 3rd SB in a row.
I'm all in, all good with these guys leading the franchise.

[mykc14]

You didn't mention Matthews, who was playing lights out.

I agree with savvy, though. It hurts, but he sums up the thought process I had, too.

I didn't mention him because I doubted they had practiced him in that personnel package too much, but there is no way for me to know that for sure. IMO it would be much more dangerous to try it with him if they hadn't practiced it with him even if he was playing amazing. I would have loved him to be out there, in the same formation, and then had them throw a fade to him, but that is another story.

[Hawk Sista]

More and more coaches and commentators are coming out in defense of the call, especially with emotions cooling and analysis being done that showed a pass had a higher statistical probability of success than a run. The kid made as great a play as anyone in SB history ever has or its likely touchdown Seahawks. Hindsight and Monday morning QB is the same thing, 20-20.I know the guys and gals on this forum well enough to bet nobody would be happy with the outcome had we pounded it into the line 3 times without success and second guessing would be happening anyway.
We lost, it sucks ass. But I remember no playoff wins for 21 years including the first 6 years of Holmgrens tenure, a period of time when he was also hopelessly mangling the roster.
PC won his first year. Playoff wins in 4 seasons and back to back SB trips. He and Bevell are literally 50 seconds of football from possibly having 3 Lombardi's and the team is already the favorite to go back to their 3rd SB in a row.
I'm all in, all good with these guys leading the franchise.

Great post.

This repetition that it was the worst call in history is just stupid. Like it or love it, it just wasn't the lamest call ever. But we have evolved into a people who need immediate information and we tweet and retweet what any booger eatin moron has to say about it.

[monkey]

I haven't "forgiven" anything and likely won't.

The play truly was inexcusable. I'm not willing to pretend what happened is OK or can be forgotten about. I hope Pete and Russ and Bevell remember that play for the rest of their careers, it is an important learning experience as much for an old head coach as it is for a young QB.

This^^^
The only addendum I would add to that is, while I will never get over that inexcusably stupid call, I also have to give Pete and even Bevell credit for getting us to two straight Super Bowls! So while I'm not going to ever let that call go, I'll always remember that as a Super Bowl we should have won, I will also give credit where it's due, and recognize that with Pete and even Bevell, the good has FAR, FAR, FAR outweighed the bad.
Pete brought us our first Super Bowl win, and has put together a team unlike ANYTHING we have ever seen before in Seattle.
That goes a LOOOOONG way with me!
No one is perfect, that was the worst time ever to completely abandon the teams entire identity, to try to get cute with the play calling, but...well...I can't stay made for too long when I look at the teams roster, and remember that shiny Lombardi from last season.

[Hawk Sista]

Love my boys. Listen to Pete's on air interview w/ Brock & Salk. Nobody hurts more than he does and Bevel does. None of us can relate to what they were going through and thinking and the MMQB thing is easy. If you are soooooooo great at play calling, go volunteer your services. There are only 32 o coordinators on the planet and ours was right there.

HEAL MY BROTHERS. FEEL THE SLAP IN THE FACE AND HEAL.

[HumanCockroach]

Not sure I'll ever be able to "forgive" Bevell, for me the way he handled it afterwards, isn't something I can forgive, or pretend didn't happen. Never been an enormous Bevell supporter, but I have indeed stood up for him on multiple occasions, and have never asked for his head so to speak, but while I can and do, forgive Carroll, a LARGE part of that, was him accepting responsibility, NOT throwing anyone ( including Bevell, and his foolish play selection)under the bus, while Bevell spent his entire interview accepting no blame, and instead laying the blame at the feet of a ST receiver that belonged on that field as the primary receiving option about as much as I do...

Sorry, that decision is IMHO going to follow him around for the rest of his career, as well as how he aquitted himself after the fact, and I'm sure while I can accept the guy moving forward, forgetting? Forgiving? Nah, I don't think so. That play is going to stick with me forever, it's like a chicken bone stuck in my throat that I continue to choke on, and I think that isn't going anywhere, anytime soon..

[HumanCockroach]

This repetition that it was the worst call in history is just stupid. Like it or love it, it just wasn't the lamest call ever. But we have evolved into a people who need immediate information and we tweet and retweet what any booger eatin moron has to say about it.

Thing is Sis, most of us were calling that, without seeing one bit of what the booger eating morons had to say about it. I didn't in anyway need anyone from the media, or twitter or FB to tell me it was a stupid call, because that conclusion was simple to come to instantly ( at least for me, and the 20 or so people also watching the game). So while I may BE one of the booger eating morons, I stand by my assertion that it was a horrible call, and that hasn't ( and won't) shift, well, ever.

Sorry to dissapoint..

[RiverDog]

Love my boys. Listen to Pete's on air interview w/ Brock & Salk. Nobody hurts more than he does and Bevel does. None of us can relate to what they were going through and thinking and the MMQB thing is easy. If you are soooooooo great at play calling, go volunteer your services. There are only 32 o coordinators on the planet and ours was right there.

HEAL MY BROTHERS. FEEL THE SLAP IN THE FACE AND HEAL.

I sure as hell hope that Bevell is feeling the pain. Even after reading all the analysis and explanations, I STILL think that given the importance of the stage it occurred on that it was the worst play call in the history of the game. He'd be an uncaring robot if he didn't hurt more than any of us.

Our forgiveness isn't really the issue, Sis. The issue is whether or not the team can forgive him. Calls like that can rip a team apart, and there's a rumor out there that Beast isn't coming back unless Bevell goes. The entire coaching staff, including Pete, have some bridges to rebuild, and I don't know if they can do it with Bevell in the mix. The only reason I'm advocating that we keep him is the fact that we're also losing our DC, and I don't like the idea of that much change on what has been a very successful formula. If it wasn't for that, I would have bought him a one way ticket the minute that game ended.

[RiverDog]

I haven't "forgiven" anything and likely won't.

The play truly was inexcusable. I'm not willing to pretend what happened is OK or can be forgotten about. I hope Pete and Russ and Bevell remember that play for the rest of their careers, it is an important learning experience as much for an old head coach as it is for a young QB.

For Pete and Bev, I can see the value of a "throw away play", we really did score a little too early for comfort in the NFCCG and it forced us to overtime, could have cost us the game ... from the 1/2 yard line a hand off to beast could be too quick a score (still exactly the rout I'd have chosen), but if you must use a pass play to wast one you make it a back of the end zone route that can easily be thrown high if the receiver isn't the only guy with a chance at it. NOT a pass at the near edge of the goal line in the middle of the formation!

For Russ, while I love his fearlessness and hope he keeps it (he will, it's the baseball player way of looking at things) he needs a little caution for balance and he has to understand the importance of that possession! It's not in the middle of a game in the middle of the season, it's the play that could win ot lose us the Super Bowl! You're the field general, feel free to check out of a play like that!

I don't really think forgiveness is what's needed. I have accepted what happened and moved on from it. We lost this one, hopefully we'll win the next.

Now I'm looking on to the draft.

Excellent post. That's exactly how I feel about it, except that I have yet to accept it and move on. That was a punch to the gut worse than any sporting event that I have witnessed in my 50+ years of following sports. Losing teams like the Pilots and Sonics, the Mariners losing to the Yankees in 2001, losing playoff games by a dropped pass and a pick 6, even losing XL doesn't come close to what I experienced last Sunday. I can't so easily put that behind me as I still have some venting to do. But kudos to you for having that ability.

[Hawk Sista]

I'm trying to convince myself more than anything. I'm surprised how much it hurts - I think I was thinking I was bookending my year w/ cancer w/ super bowl wins. I really thought it was gonna happen.

I was screaming about the play too. My early posts ?? It and call it the dumbest thing to do. In hind-sight, Knowing Beast was 1 of 5 from 1 yard out w/ goal to go, hearing Pete's explanation of their thinking, knowing it was this very philosophy that made the score what it was is helping me accept the loss. The banged up D that gave up 2 long TD drives in the 4th quarter is upsetting too. The what ifs. Ahhhhhh

[HumanCockroach]

If that is the goal Sis I recomend looking at the all 22 breakdown, the play was there, it probably SHOULD have been a TD, so if you ( unlike me) can get past the call of the play, it should be easy to move past.

[Seahawks4Ever]

It was a game for the ages. We were ALL saying that at the party we were at, every one of was saying that, and that was in the first half!

The last play of the first half was the ballsiest play I have EVER seen in a similar situation. We were ALL screaming for a FG and to play it safe, as we had all season long. But that isn't what Bevell and Carroll called, was it? They knew it was important to go in at half time with the score tied especially after our offense had done next to nothing for most of the first half. We said that we had taken their best shot and now we were going to impose our will on them.

We all kept up the mantra, "we ARE a second half team"! We tacked 10 points on the Pats and then we waited for that last TD to put even more separation between us and the Pats. It never happened. The Pats are a second half team too. We let them hang around, and hang around, and hang around until they took the lead.

But, as we had done since the Russell Wilson era began he bought the team all the way down the field, almost too fast, until we stood on the threshold of immortality. We had the game in the palm of our hands yet let it slip away.

But, we WILL BE BACK. This was the most watched T.V. show of all time, the most watched Super Bowl of all time!

It would not surprise me if these same two team play in the next Super Bowl and this time we return the favor and take the crown off of their heads!

It was asked, now that Hairball has left the 49ners. who is going to be our rival?? My guess is that our main rival is going to be the N.E. Patriots and this rivalry has only just started. Peyton Manning has been vanquished, by Brady and by us so who else is going to be standing in the way of Brady and the Pats.? Who else but the Seattle Seahawks and this defeat was but the first chapter and there are many more chapters to write!

I got over it pretty quick because we literally just handed the win to them, they didn't beat our team down and take our crown. We gave it to them. Now, for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey used to say, will be even more exciting than what we saw on Feb. 1st. so don't give up people, because you know our team isn't going to give up!

GO SEAHAWKS!!!!!!

[Zorn76]

Among the few issues I take with Pete is his misplace loyalty.

And in this case, it's clearly misplaced if he decides to keep Bevell. The guy needs to go - even if we had won Sunday.

Just like a team does with it's roster of players, coaches need to be evaluated and challenged. And the Darell Bevell show needs to have the plugged pulled.

We can do better.

Pete has plenty of contacts, and this is one of the most desirable places to come and coach that exists in the league right now.

Forgiveness helps with peace of mind, but it's not going to make Bevell any smarter.

[NorthHawk]

Home field is big for us, so we have to win the NFC West first and get HFA, too.
I think our rivalry will always be within the NFC West and specifically the Cards and maybe the 49ers depending on how the coaching changes affect that team.
The Rams again this off season look to only be missing a few pieces so they can steal a few wins from all of us.

In my mind, the Cards with Ariens' boasting and bravado are the team I want to beat the most.

[Zorn76]

North - I agree mostly.
The glaring problem with each of those teams is at quarterback, among other things.

The Cards may get Palmer back, be he's primarily a band aid at this point in his career, mainly because he himself can no longer be banked on to stay healthy.

Sam Bradford was put into a tough situation from the get go, and has gotten the crap beat out of him ever since he arrived in St. Louis. Furthermore, I think it's just time for them to part ways. In any event, they are lacking a franchise QB, unless Sam returns healthy and starts tearing it up game wise instead of his own body. The Rams also don't have enough playmakers on offense. Their D is very good, playoff calibre even, and Jeff Fisher has those guys believing. They just don't have enough talented guys at skill positions.

The 49ers right now, all things considered, are headed for potential disaster. Tomsula, Chryst, and Mangini?
Sounds like a bad law firm.

Jed York is also quickly establishing himself as one of the least desired owners to work for, along with Baalke as GM. We very well could see this team catch the 8-8 flu for several years running.

They do have some good talent, and if they are completely healthy have a shot at the playoffs next year, but I doubt very much it works out that way. I do believe Kaepernick still has upside that has yet to be found, but he goes into 2015 as a question mark for now.

We have a clear and distinct advantage over all of our division rivals right now. We are going to continue to get better, while the rest of the West tries to solve their issues regarding the most important position for any team.

[Hawktawk]

The challenge in the division is the Rams. They beat us there and shut us out in the first half at home. 9ers are toast get ready for a total implosion. Tards are saddled with Palmers deal and a mid 30s guy with 2 knee rebuilds.
The second season is our domain for a while.

[RiverDog]

I agree with Zorny and HT. Blaming the OC for play calls is about as easy of a thing to do as blaming your dog for eating your homework, and I've never been nearly as disenchanted with DB as others have. But this is different. There has been a huge trust factor that was broken between our coaching staff and the players with just that one play call. Pete has some big time bridges to rebuild, and I don't know if that is possible with Bevell in the fold. The only reason I would ever even consider advocating him staying would be due to the fact that we're also losing our DC. The problem is that Pete has already come out in support of Bevell.

The division is not as strong as we were led to believe at the start of the season. The Cards started out like gangbusters but crashed and burned in the end. They are in the market for a QB. The Rams pose huge matchup issues for us and are our biggest threat to the division title but they, too, have a problem at the helm. Niners don't look good at all.

So we'll have to see how it all unfolds. Pete has a huge challenge ahead of him, perhaps as big of a challenge as rebuilding the team itself and a much bigger challenge than defending our SB title last season.

[savvyman]

Its amazing how this 25 year old kid gets it so right so much of the time....

https://twitter.com/DangeRussWilson/status/564519868423086080

[Zorn76]

You know RW is going to be more focused than ever for 2015.

[Futureite]

North - I agree mostly.
The glaring problem with each of those teams is at quarterback, among other things.

The Cards may get Palmer back, be he's primarily a band aid at this point in his career, mainly because he himself can no longer be banked on to stay healthy.

Sam Bradford was put into a tough situation from the get go, and has gotten the crap beat out of him ever since he arrived in St. Louis. Furthermore, I think it's just time for them to part ways. In any event, they are lacking a franchise QB, unless Sam returns healthy and starts tearing it up game wise instead of his own body. The Rams also don't have enough playmakers on offense. Their D is very good, playoff calibre even, and Jeff Fisher has those guys believing. They just don't have enough talented guys at skill positions.

The 49ers right now, all things considered, are headed for potential disaster. Tomsula, Chryst, and Mangini?
Sounds like a bad law firm.

Jed York is also quickly establishing himself as one of the least desired owners to work for, along with Baalke as GM. We very well could see this team catch the 8-8 flu for several years running.

They do have some good talent, and if they are completely healthy have a shot at the playoffs next year, but I doubt very much it works out that way. I do believe Kaepernick still has upside that has yet to be found, but he goes into 2015 as a question mark for now.

We have a clear and distinct advantage over all of our division rivals right now. We are going to continue to get better, while the rest of the West tries to solve their issues regarding the most important position for any team.

I still think the play call was fine. I've seen endless QBs throw TDs on that exact same route from almost the same down and distance. Being a Niner fan, I've seen quite a few of the Alex 1 or 2 yd TD crossing routes, especially on the Chiefs. You don't expect an INT on that play (it almost never happens), so I disagreed at the time with the scrutiny the OC is catching. I still disagree.

Our talent is great. We'll be fine, competing for the division again. We saw the same thing happen to the Hawks when injuries hit. They struggled. In fact, a good argument could be made that they lost to the Pats because of the injuries to the secondary. If the Hawks had lost the equivalent of what we lost all at the same time - say, Sherman, Thomas, Wagner and Mebane - and a host of other supporting cast players - they'd not have faired much better. True, their O has been better than ours. But it's never been able to carry your team either. The last two games of their season proved that.

Anyhow, Hawks had a great season and there is nothing to hang your head about over that play. It happened, it's done. I'd like to follow the Warriors right now, but all I get is Kings games here in Sac. So now we repeat the draft cycle all over again.

[NorthHawk]

The play call was really bad in my opinion.
We have one of the most athletic QBs, one of the most creative QBs, and one of the most successful running QB but they took that away from the Offense with that play call.
Add to it the primary receiver rarely if ever runs that play in short yardage situations let alone at the goal line and the Defense was stacked to stop the run.

They should have had Wilson roll out if they wanted to throw a pass. He would have had the option to pass, run it in, or throw it away.
The play that was called meant 2 of those options were eliminated.

[HumanCockroach]

The challenge in the division is the Rams. They beat us there and shut us out in the first half at home. 9ers are toast get ready for a total implosion. Tards are saddled with Palmers deal and a mid 30s guy with 2 knee rebuilds.
The second season is our domain for a while.

I guess I personally just refuse to put to much worry into a challenge from a team that didn't and hasn't had a winning record for over a decade... They can worry me when we have to play them that week, but overall, until a team can actually beat other teams regularily they aren't a challenge for the division. The Rams right now as of this moment are the Cleveland Browns, they can sneak up and bite a division leader, or division rival if they take them lightly, but they can't consistently play well enough outside of the division, to win enough games to be much of a threat.

[Hawktawk]

I'm talking about 2015.I dont know the situation with Bradford and the QB situation but the Rams give the Hawks hell. If they have a signal caller they will be a team to be aware of.

I guess I personally just refuse to put to much worry into a challenge from a team that didn't and hasn't had a winning record for over a decade... They can worry me when we have to play them that week, but overall, until a team can actually beat other teams regularly they aren't a challenge for the division. The Rams right now as of this moment are the Cleveland Browns, they can sneak up and bite a division leader, or division rival if they take them lightly, but they can't consistently play well enough outside of the division, to win enough games to be much of a threat.[/quote]