Bevell wasn't as bad as is being said

[Hasselbeck]

Watching the TV Broadcast for the first time.. I thought he actually did a really good job play-calling in the first half. It is very obvious the gameplan - especially in the passing game - revolved around Percy Harvin, with a heavy dose of Marshawn Lynch. As has been stated on here many times, when Harvin went down.. the passing game went with it.

Second half, he had some head scratching calls.. and they did go vanilla.. but hard to blame them considering they were up 16 with really bad weather and the defense was playing out of their minds for the first 50 minutes of the game.

I think if Russell wasn't off on a couple of throws, we're all singing a much different tune about Bevell today. Namely..

- 1st quarter, Russell has Tate wide open on a slant and throws it behind him. That's a throw Russell makes more often than not IMO.. who knows if this drive produces a touchdown, but at the worst it was going to be 1st down inside the 30.

- 2nd quarter.. Bevell dials up a fake read-option/bubble screen to Harvin. At this point it is pouring rain and something goes awry with the play as Wilson just decides to keep it and take the yard. Can't tell if the ball slipped and he just didn't want to throw it or if he over compensated for the rushing end.. but if Russ throws it to Harvin, Percy has two blockers and a lot of space to run... could have been a huge play.

- 2nd quarter .. same drive ironically enough, this time out of an empty set.. and this is more of a result from Wilson making something happen when the pocket breaks down as he scrambles and finds a wide open Kearse for a big gain after the holding penalty on Okung. However, if Russell throws it to Tate instead (who is also wide open and running near Kearse).. this could have been a touchdown since Kearse would have blocked the only man left standing.

- 2nd quarter.. again.. same drive.. Wilson again makes something happen out of sheer panic in the pocket and eventually finds Harvin open in the end zone but throws it too high.. the rest of the story is known as Malcolm Jenkins nails Percy in the back and knocks him out of the game. This is a throw that if it is just a hair lower is an easy touchdown and keeps Harvin alive in the game.

So again.. if Wilson is a bit more accurate throwing the football.. it easily could have been a 24-0 game at the half instead of 16-0. And all this panic over Bevell and for that matter Wilson is much much quieter.

This offense is really close though to putting together a very good game. Hopefully it's coming on Sunday.

 

[Ozzy]

I'm with you. I think he did a good job in the first half and I loved what I saw with how they used Harvin. Second half wasn't a huge fan but I think that's more on Pete and his philosophy.

 

[SonicHawk]

No we wouldn't because Bevell on a consistent basis is uninspiring on 1st, 2nd and 3rd down. There's not a defensive coordinator in the league that couldn't hold us to 100 yards passing.

If Wilson is accurate it makes up a bit for Bevell's horrible play calling.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

- 2nd quarter.. Bevell dials up a fake read-option/bubble screen to Harvin. At this point it is pouring rain and something goes awry with the play as Wilson just decides to keep it and take the yard. Can't tell if the ball slipped and he just didn't want to throw it or if he over compensated for the rushing end.. but if Russ throws it to Harvin, Percy has two blockers and a lot of space to run... could have been a huge play.

I read somewhere in passing that Wilson didn't like the idea of throwing anything like a lateral pass in that wind.

 

[plyka]

1) For the millionth time, this is not just about a half, it's not about a quarter --it's about 6 games now! Russell Wilson's QB Rating was above 100, it was above 100 for all of last year --in the last six games it is in the 60's or 70's I believe.

2) It was due to Harvin leaving. It was the coaching. John Clayton mentioned that the coaching staff did not want to ATTEMPT a pass in the 3rd quarter. ATTEMPT!!! This coaching staff is just playing SCARED or perhaps SCARRED.

3) The playcalling is also bad. But it's a mixture of Bevell, Wilson and Pete. Pete for the anti risk play not to lose mentality.

 

[Laloosh]

1) For the millionth time, this is not just about a half, it's not about a quarter --it's about 6 games now! Russell Wilson's QB Rating was above 100, it was above 100 for all of last year --in the last six games it is in the 60's or 70's I believe.

Aside from the divisional game and AZ, it's been north of 80 all the way back to Indy. It's situational football that he's not doing well in right now. Red zone, 3rd down, 15+ yards, etc. His accuracy has dipped as well but inside the red zone is where it's tanked.

 

[Hasselbeck]

1) For the millionth time, this is not just about a half, it's not about a quarter --it's about 6 games now! Russell Wilson's QB Rating was above 100, it was above 100 for all of last year --in the last six games it is in the 60's or 70's I believe.

2) It was due to Harvin leaving. It was the coaching. John Clayton mentioned that the coaching staff did not want to ATTEMPT a pass in the 3rd quarter. ATTEMPT!!! This coaching staff is just playing SCARED or perhaps SCARRED.

3) The playcalling is also bad. But it's a mixture of Bevell, Wilson and Pete. Pete for the anti risk play not to lose mentality.

1) Again.. if Russell connects on a couple of throws he should make.. it's 24-0.

2) I'm sure the wind played a big role in that decision.. that and the way the defense was playing and how Lynch was running the ball.

3) Pete preaches no turnovers sure.. and I think thats where the vanilla approach in the 2nd half arose from.. but watch the tape.. Bevell called a good first half. A couple plays I wasn't crazy about, namely the toss play on the 4.. but again.. if the previous plays were executed that could have been an afterthought too.

 

[ClumsyLurk]

- 2nd quarter.. Bevell dials up a fake read-option/bubble screen to Harvin. At this point it is pouring rain and something goes awry with the play as Wilson just decides to keep it and take the yard. Can't tell if the ball slipped and he just didn't want to throw it or if he over compensated for the rushing end.. but if Russ throws it to Harvin, Percy has two blockers and a lot of space to run... could have been a huge play.

I read somewhere in passing that Wilson didn't like the idea of throwing anything like a lateral pass in that wind.

Very well could be. On the screen to percy to the right where he kept the ball because the edge was closing in on him quick; the defender was between the two which would probably call for a lofty toss - a strong gust could turn that into a backward pass.

 

[Bigpumpkin]

The predicted weather for this Sunday might take away any excuses for Russell Wilson. 50° with typical winds. I'm thinking that if we are to win, Russell will need close to 200 yards in the air......and our team will need about 200 yards running.

 

[NorthDallas40oz]

Bevell has had an entire season to create an offense without Percy Harvin; to blame Harvin's injury on Saturday as an excuse for Bevell/the coaching staff, is absurd. This isn't an issue that just began in the 2nd half of our most recent game.

 

[TwistedHusky]

The OP is actually are making the point of those of us with issues with Bevell, in his attempt to defend him.

He had a plan. If the players executed well it MIGHT have worked. However, clearly some of the plan involved using a piece of the team that then was unavailable due to injury.

At that point he went vanilla.

So you are stating that when his original plan did not work and when one of the pieces was missing, he suddenly was left with a giant hole in the plan and could not adjust? Exactly the point brought up repeatedly. He does not adjust to contingencies, he cannot adapt to the circumstances or environment, and then he goes on low risk/vanilla mode (which is not exactly THAT low risk as have little impact as an offense eventually provides the other team extra chances to both catch up and tire our defense - both of which happened).

The issue with Bevell is that he comes up with a Plan A. If things go wrong or it doesn't work? Plan A. If the other team is shutting it down? Counter with a hefty dose of Plan A. Whether that is being stubborn or confident or just unable to adjust is all subjective. Maybe that is his willingness to keep banging on the door because he knows it is his strength. But it isn't always good. I

 

[hawks4thewin]

I just don't know what to think.
we either are playing protect the football
or
Wilson is injured.
or
bevel sucks
Something I noticed though.. Wilson does Not SELL the play action like he used to.
last year he put everything into the fake.. this year... its like he isn't even trying

 

[gonzhawk]

I think the failures in the redzone with regards to passing are true culprit here.

I mean how many games have we settled for 3 instead of 7 and we were inside even the 10 yard line?

If he throws the same 108 yard game, but has 2 or even 1 TD this looks much better doesn't it?
or even over the last several games stats like 175 yards and 3 td's?

The failures in the redzone amplify the passing game struggles. Maybe its more common sense, but to me
I am trying to look at how to fix this.
go hawks!

 

[Seafan]

The problems have been more with RW than Bevell. But Saturday the problem was the wind which forced an even more conservative approach. I have no problem with that. It worked.

 

[mikeak]

My issue was that Lynch gained a LOT of yards up the middle with a cut.

Lynch lost / got to the LOS every time we ran wide

So on 3rd down, in redzone etc should one call wide running plays or something else.....

I get the limited throwing but just couldn't understand the running calls in critical situations....

 

[Hasselbeck]

The OP is actually are making the point of those of us with issues with Bevell, in his attempt to defend him.

He had a plan. If the players executed well it MIGHT have worked. However, clearly some of the plan involved using a piece of the team that then was unavailable due to injury.

At that point he went vanilla.

So you are stating that when his original plan did not work and when one of the pieces was missing, he suddenly was left with a giant hole in the plan and could not adjust? Exactly the point brought up repeatedly. He does not adjust to contingencies, he cannot adapt to the circumstances or environment, and then he goes on low risk/vanilla mode (which is not exactly THAT low risk as have little impact as an offense eventually provides the other team extra chances to both catch up and tire our defense - both of which happened).

The issue with Bevell is that he comes up with a Plan A. If things go wrong or it doesn't work? Plan A. If the other team is shutting it down? Counter with a hefty dose of Plan A. Whether that is being stubborn or confident or just unable to adjust is all subjective. Maybe that is his willingness to keep banging on the door because he knows it is his strength. But it isn't always good. I

I've been one of Bevell's critics all year.. all I'm saying is the gameplan in the first half was very good. No idea why they abandoned it in the second half, whether it was Harvin's injury.. the weather.. or just trying to smother a 16 point lead.. who knows.. but the first half game plan was very good and could have been a lot better with a little better execution from Russ.

 

[The Outfield]

When RW has to repeatedly ask Bevell for a chance to make a play like the first down throw to Baldwin in the 4th... then you know there's a problem with Bevell.

 

[DavidSeven]

When RW has to repeatedly ask Bevell for a chance to make a play like the first down throw to Baldwin in the 4th... then you know there's a problem with Bevell.

Where are you getting this from? I watched Russell's presser today, and he said they were both in agreement on that play call and said they would go with it if NO showed cover-0. Said Bevell had the exact same thought he did.

Anyway, to all: they went conservative in the second half because they were nursing a 16 point lead in high winds. That's all there is to it. And it worked. My gawd. Why does a victorious strategy need to be justified? If Russell throws a deep ball in the third qtr that gets blown into an INT, we could be talking about an L right now, and everyone would be killing the coaches for not being conservative enough. This has to be the only place where if you lose, you're a goat, but if you win... you're still a goat.

 

[Lady Talon]

My problem with Bevell has little to do with the NO game, and isn't overly focused on his game calling.

It doesn't have to do with conservatism or Pete's vision, whether RW is 100% (nobody in the playoffs is at 100% face it), or if everyone's dropping balls, or the O-line is manned by folding chairs.

It's creativity within the constraints of conservatism that has me frustrated. Pete, Russell, and WRs aren't making Bevell run such formation errors as not trying to spread out the defense on 3rd and short when constricting our formations is only piling up defenses right where we're running the ball. Sure, we spread the defense is when we line up in an empty set (when our chances of running is zero), or when Percy is being used as a decoy (when he isn't watching from home).

So either we're far too often bunching up in our 3rd down offense, limiting routes and compressing the D which limits our chances of being 3rd down efficient, or we're spreading the defense with an empty set, but allowing the D line to pin their ears back and rush/contain Wilson which they have been doing pretty reliably because our receivers (minus Percy) are not very dangerous without a credible running threat.

Now I'm not saying we should scrap empty set formations, but if we would merely tinker with something every OC in the league is tinkering with and attempt to win the spatial battles with a defense, we wouldn't need to tip our hands either way. As it is, Bevell is putting unneeded stress on our offense by ignoring such principles, leading to 3rd down inadequacy, and big surprise here, but Bevell makes the same errors with his red zone/goal line formations.

It's almost as bad as a turnover when our offense cant eat some clock and get 2-3 first downs fairly reliably before needing to punt.

 

[The Outfield]

When RW has to repeatedly ask Bevell for a chance to make a play like the first down throw to Baldwin in the 4th... then you know there's a problem with Bevell.

Where are you getting this from? I watched Russell's presser today, and he said they were both in agreement on that play call and said they would go with it if NO showed cover-0. Said Bevell had the exact same thought he did.

Anyway, to all: they went conservative in the second half because they were nursing a 16 point lead in high winds. That's all there is to it. And it worked. My gawd. Why does a victorious strategy need to be justified? If Russell throws a deep ball in the third qtr that gets blown into an INT, we could be talking about an L right now, and everyone would be killing the coaches for not being conservative enough. This has to be the only place where if you lose, you're a goat, but if you win... you're still a goat.

It was in his post game interview with Erin Andrews. He said something along the lines that he kept begging for Bevell to let him make a big play like that and he finally did. Unfortunately my DVR of the game was cut short and I can't seem to find the video or a transcript online.

All I know is that I'm not the only one that heard it. Here's someone else that tweeted about it.
https://twitter.com/BrianMFloyd/status/ ... 6485635072