Some Thoughts on Pete Carroll’s Fateful Decision

Perhaps I needed a day or two to reflect on what was an incredible finish to the 49th Super Bowl, in particular the Seahawks’ decision to throw and not run Marshawn Lynch at the New England one yard line with the NFL title at stake in the last half minute of play.

Of course I seriously question coach Pete Carroll’s decision, feel it was a bad one, yes for not running Lynch but perhaps more so for trying a difficult “slant pass.”

Compounding the “mistake” (not many, if any would have criticized if it went for a touchdown–not that many would have if the pass was incomplete and not intercepted) was the formation used and that there was no “play action” before the play unfolded.

It is pretty obvious, not 100 percent “etched in stone brought down from Moses,” however, Seattle should have run Lynch and if he failed to get in, have two downs left albeit, with no timeouts.

So much happened in the game and as far as strategy, Seattle essentially wasted two timeouts on the last drive, certainly another factor in the game’s outcome.

However, in conclusion it was a bad decision by Carroll and the Seahawks.

They had a great two year run, three in fact as they lost a gut wrenching divisional round game at Atlanta (Falcons) two seasons ago. In that game, coincidentally, Lynch scored, in effect “too soon” and Atlanta won with a subsequent field goal.