I think he took one look at man on man coverage and said to himself... undrafted free agent who wasn't even on the film of the Ravens' game, barely played against the Colts... I'm gonna throw it at him.
There was no penalty on the play, but I think you're streching it to say it was a great defensive play. The play lends itself to being well-defended. That's why its such a high risk play. I'll give NE credit for not being totally flummoxed by the stupidity of the call, and doing what was there for them to do, since such a pass is more likey to be defensed than it is to be completed. And, btw, its doubtful he would've crossed the goal line even if he caught it, since I think he was behind the line of scrimmage when the ball reached him. No, the Pats were the beneficiary of the stupiest play call ever
Maybe that was the thought process but unless that is an elite WR with serious size (Dez, Calvin, Marshall, etc.), I am not even thinking of that pass play. Lockette would not make most NFL rosters. He might not make some teams' practice squads. You have to know your personnel.
Yeah I'm not claiming to have any special insight .... Butler said that right before the play Wilson made eye contact with him... young QB mistake.
I voted no only because it's basically unanimous the other way. All commentators are saying the same thing, that it's the worst SB game decision of all time. But with 6 seconds left in the 1st half Wilson completed a last second red zone TD pass. And that play call I feel was too risky. Pete Carroll trusted their passing game and their style was to take chances. It's what got them there. Ok I as a more conservative game watcher would have run the ball. But it's not the worst all time decision in SB history. And also after that circus catch which was lucky and that win against the Packers they though the gods were with them against the cheaters.
Ft I am not so sure it was the worst call ever, as some have said. It certainly had quite adverse repercussions, but that is not the measure. Where I think it can be fairly criticized is how it was too cute. Aimed at their weakest receiver, an inside slant that did not take advantage of Wilson's mobility and that was made more difficult due to his shorter stature. And of course that it was one that did not make use of Lynch who had been playing very effectively. When teams run the expected play in certain situations and it fails, fans and critics complain because they did not try to fake out their opponent. Here it was as if Seattle faked themselves out by doing the opposite of what the most obvious choice would have been. (or choices if you prefer) It was quite simply too cute.
But that's what makes it so bad By all objective standards. There was nothing good about the play. And, at the risk of inflaming our Pats fan visitors, it will be viewed as the reason why the Pats won.
It's just so anticlimactic to have basically won the game and then just give it away. I mean what happened will NEVER happen again. You will never see a team in that situation at the end of a SB hand the game away again like that. It was crazy to watch that go down.
Good point and a possibility. Also to debunk the criticism for throwing to Lockette because he's basically a reserve receiver and smaller. Edelman is only 5-10 but was Patriots star player of the game. Plus a Seahawks rookie Chris Mathews with zero catches all season long was Seattle's star player with over 100 yards receiving.
Scoring a td even from the 1 isn't that easy. I've seen teams get stoned a number of times. I've seen the Jets D do it too, I think this season. And NEP has a good run defense with Woolfork, etc. Sure they should have given it to Lynch. But he could have fumbled, too. I've seen that, too.
Even Belichick has made completely idiotic moves in the Super Bowl before. He killed them against the Giants. People make mistakes... if they make that completion or he gets stopped at the line of scrimmage and I wonder if anyone would have ever mentioned that play today.
I'd really just love to know what was going through their mind but I think maybe they just didn't ever consider it was a risky move? Caught up in the moment? Emotion makes you stupid... I don't care if it's love or hate or anything else - nobody makes good decisions when they're emotional. Logic works 100% of the time. There is no "feeling" it. He kind of preaches that emotional feeling it bullshit... maybe that got the best of them?
Its hard to belive they really called that play in that situation,it almost feels like they wanted Russel Wilson to get the MVP instead of Lynch ......what a disaster
I think it's easy for most to realize that Lynch was the best player at their position on the field last night. He really is ridiculous, receiving too.
Lynch took the high road today. When asked he actually answered and gave an impressive answer when he said "it's a team game." Earlier in the year after a similar call on a red zone play when the OC called a pass play instead of giving the ball to him he was accused of giving Bevell the finger.
You have the hardest running back to take down in the NFL your on the goal line with the Superbowl on the line and you call a slant?They had a time out they should have atleast ran it once before going with the worst play call in Superbowl history