Big Mac

[Patler]

If they were going for TD, they call TO after Cobb pass.

Ya, and instead they hurriedly called another pass play, which seemed to have deep aspects to it because Rodgers waited for it to develop for a decent length of time, then picked up yet another first down and stopped the clock without having to waste a timeout.

Clearly they were going for the tie, because visiting teams always want to rely on overtime on the road, especially in a madhouse like Seattle.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Ya, and instead they hurriedly called another pass play, which seemed to have deep aspects to it because Rodgers waited for it to develop for a decent length of time, then picked up yet another first down and stopped the clock without having to waste a timeout.

Clearly they were going for the tie, because visiting teams always want to rely on overtime on the road, especially in a madhouse like Seattle.

You won't let this go. The use of timeouts on the final drive is one small issue, it is one puckering among many.

Can't you just live with fact that I and some smart football experts disagree with you? If the Packers were attentive to saving time for shots into the endzone, they would have kept playbook open, used all timeouts. There was one play where Rodgers had a clear path to at least 15 yards, even hobbling. There was not enough aggression.

All of these situations are debatable, all 100 of them. My point is not that MM is wrong on all 100 situations, it's the overall tone he set with playing not to lose.

[Patler]

I gave the Packers, Capers and MM plenty of credit. I was also criticizing the play-not-to-lose signs as they were happening, not in hindsight.

If, in fact, you did; then we agree, because I did as well on all those things, but not the 1st FG, I want some points ASAP. That and the last drive, They were positioned perfectly to go for the win, just stopped executing after ARs scramble.

[Patler]

You won't let this go. The use of timeouts on the final drive is one small issue, it is one puckering among many.

Can't you just live with fact that I and some smart football experts disagree with you?

All of these situations are debatable, every last one of them.

No problem with that at all. Doesn't mean I have to agree with you and your experts.

By the way, why won't you let this go? Can't you live with the fact that I and a Super Bowl winning QB and a Super Bowl winning headcoach disagree with you and your media personalities about the final drive?

[Harlan Huckleby]

By the way, why won't you let this go? Can't you live with the fact that I and a Super Bowl winning QB and a Super Bowl winning headcoach disagree with you and your media personalities about the final drive?

You are saying that MM can do no wrong. You can use this argument against any and all criticisms. "Media personalities" like Wilde, Butler, Silverstein, McGinn, Baranzak are more knowledgable than you. I can understand MM's defensiveness, he's not going to publicly admit he did a massive flinch. Your dismissive attitude towards football analysts is the stupidity of arrogance.

[Harlan Huckleby]

If, in fact, you did; then we agree, because I did as well on all those things, but not the 1st FG, I want some points ASAP.

I didn't criticize MM for that decision. The "media personalities" - a.k.a. football analysts and journalists - are split 50-50 on those calls. The fans are split 50-50.

One more time: ALL of MM's decisions are defensible, he made no blunders that I am aware of. The problem is the tone he set with constant caution.

[Freak Out]

I didn't criticize MM for that decision. The "media personalities" - a.k.a. football analysts and journalists - are split 50-50 on those calls. The fans are split 50-50.

One more time: ALL of MM's decisions are defensible, he made no blunders that I am aware of. The problem is the tone he set with constant caution.

Couldn't he have challenged the first INT as a player was offside? Somewhere it was mentioned he could but I'm not sure. That was a huge play.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Couldn't he have challenged the first INT as a player was offside? Somewhere it was mentioned he could but I'm not sure. That was a huge play.

Can't you live with the fact that Patler and a Super Bowl winning QB and a Super Bowl winning headcoach disagree with you and your media personalities about that play?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist the cheap shot at Patler's knees.)

[woodbuck27]

Couldn't he have challenged the first INT as a player was offside? Somewhere it was mentioned he could but I'm not sure. That was a huge play.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/nfl-review-rules1.htm

Reviewable Plays in the NFL

Freak Out:

I believe the answer is ... NO.

[Patler]

I didn't criticize MM for that decision. The "media personalities" - a.k.a. football analysts and journalists - are split 50-50 on those calls. The fans are split 50-50.

One more time: ALL of MM's decisions are defensible, he made no blunders that I am aware of. The problem is the tone he set with constant caution.

and I have never disagreed with that. But the solution isn't to change all of those decisions, it's to change selective ones, because overall they were in a position to win, they just never put themselves in position to seal it away.

Not sure if I brought this up or not, I meant to. At the time of the interception, I wondered what message he was pounding home to the players all week long and what message he gave to them at halftime that caused his two defensive captains to be so timid in a play that could have delivered a coup de grace. Elite athletes are normally neither timid nor conservative. Some may say it was the "smart" thing to do, but stepping on your opponents throat (figuratively speaking) is pretty smart too.

[mraynrand]

and I have never disagreed with that. But the solution isn't to change all of those decisions, it's to change selective ones, because overall they were in a position to win, they just never put themselves in position to seal it away.

Not sure if I brought this up or not, I meant to. At the time of the interception, I wondered what message he was pounding home to the players all week long and what message he gave to them at halftime that caused his two defensive captains to be so timid in a play that could have delivered a coup de grace. Elite athletes are normally neither timid nor conservative. Some may say it was the "smart" thing to do, but stepping on your opponents throat (figuratively speaking) is pretty smart too.

One thing I am certain of is that in the same circumstances, a Ravens db would have done everything possible to take that football to the house, and the other Raven defenders would have been blocking the hell out of the offense all over the field.

[Patler]

One thing I am certain of is that in the same circumstances, a Ravens db would have done everything possible to take that football to the house, and the other Raven defenders would have been blocking the hell out of the offense all over the field.

We saw that from the Packers, too, a few years ago when Woodson was around. It seemed as if they looked at every interception as an opportunity to score and they did score quite a few.

[Rutnstrut]

One thing I am certain of is that in the same circumstances, a Ravens db would have done everything possible to take that football to the house, and the other Raven defenders would have been blocking the hell out of the offense all over the field.

But it probably was one of Peppers plays off, there is no way a game changing pick six is going to interrupt that.

[hoosier]

When I saw Burnett slide I wondered who was about to come into the screen that he could see and I couldn't. When it became clear there was no one around my thoughts quickly turned a shade darker: wasn't Burnett wasting an opportunity to put a 26-7 dagger in the Squawks? Of course I still had no idea then that there was a much, much darker space waiting up ahead. Then I started thinking about the 2010-11 championship game when Shields picked off Hanie to seal the game. Shields tried to run it back and he got to about midfield before he saw MM motioning for him to get down. He slid just before a Bear could hit him, and the ball popped loose but it was ruled DBC. I couldn't help but wonder if that close-call episode might have had some bearing on Burnett's decision to slide.

[Rutnstrut]

When I saw Burnett slide I wondered who was about to come into the screen that he could see and I couldn't. When it became clear there was no one around my thoughts quickly turned a shade darker: wasn't Burnett wasting an opportunity to put a 26-7 dagger in the Squawks? Of course I still had no idea then that there was a much, much darker space waiting up ahead. Then I started thinking about the 2010-11 championship game when Shields picked off Hanie to seal the game. Shields tried to run it back and he got to about midfield before he saw MM motioning for him to get down. He slid just before a Bear could hit him, and the ball popped loose but it was ruled DBC. I couldn't help but wonder if that close-call episode might have had some bearing on Burnett's decision to slide.

So stubby's style of chickenshit football has spread to the defense also?