The All-22 of the oft discussed Burnett pick and slide

[kearly]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... rnett-pick

 

[Hasselbeck]

Like I said yesterday, Burnett at the worst gets deep into FG range. It would have been the death blow IMO.

 

[Bprez3]

GB played this game to conservative. They should have gone for it on 4th and Goal both times. Pete would have done it especially twice this past Sunday. The Burnett INT and picture shows what GB lacked this game. Killer Instinct.

 

[kearly]

If Peppers had turned around to make a block instead of telling Burnett to slide, I think Burnett returns the ball far enough to reach field goal range. But Peppers doesn't, so it's probably more realistic to say that without the block Burnett could have probably reached the Seattle 45 realistically.

I thought at the time that sliding was a mistake and it still seems that way, but I think it's also being overblown a bit. There is logic to the slide. There is a small chance Burnett could have fumbled. We've seen fumbles on plays like this in the playoffs before.

He should have ran it back, but I don't think Burnett should be crucified for it, especially since this seemed like a coached move.

 

[marko358]

If anything he should've ran it diagonally towards the far sideline if he didn't want to get the ball knocked out. Zero killer instinct as others have pointed out.

 

[HawkFan72]

If Peppers had turned around to make a block instead of telling Burnett to slide, I think Burnett returns the ball far enough to reach field goal range. But Peppers doesn't, so it's probably more realistic to say that without the block Burnett could have probably reached the Seattle 45 realistically.

I thought at the time that sliding was a mistake and it still seems that way, but I think it's also being overblown a bit. There is logic to the slide. There is a small chance Burnett could have fumbled. We've seen fumbles on plays like this in the playoffs before.

He should have ran it back, but I don't think Burnett should be crucified for it, especially since this seemed like a coached move.

There's a small chance Chancellor could have fumbled on his pick 6, but he cared more about putting the game away.

Burnett saw green grass and decided to play it safe.

 

[seedhawk]

What it was is, by that point in the game, GB was playing to NOT LOSE. And it didn't quite work out the way they, and most everyone else thought it would.

 

[KatarHol]

There were plenty of people in position to make a tackle. That is not the type of interception that normally gets taken to the house. Lineman make plenty of tackles during your average int return. And don't forget, Sweezy is a former Defensive tackle.

Even if they run the ball into fg range, what changes? Do you have any doubt that GB would be any less conservative? They would run the ball three straight times and kick a fg instead of a punt.

So then when we pull off our 15 point run with 1:30 left on the clock, the game would be tied. Do you think the ultra conservative Packers coaching staff would have a gimpy Rodgers (who up to that point had a sub 50 passer rating) chucking the ball around in wet weather and high wind conditions starting from their own 20? Doubtful, but maybe, but I also suspect our guys would be playing tighter defense. In that final packers drive we were mainly playing to keep them out of the endzone.

But hey, if they get to jump into a time machine, so do we. Go back to the first interception and have Wilson take off running instead of throwing it to Kearse. GB doesn't get the easy fg, Baldwin doesn't fumble the kickoff return. The mounting turnovers don't cause Wilson to press negating the second and third interception. Hell, we blow them out!


These national media guys, Dan Hanzus included, have been openly lamenting the Green Bay loss. F*** them. They control the narrative and they have forever made this story about Green Bay choking rather than the Seahawks fighting against impossible odds. Don't give them any of your attention or clicks.

 

[purpleneer]

If Peppers had turned around to make a block instead of telling Burnett to slide, I think Burnett returns the ball far enough to reach field goal range. But Peppers doesn't, so it's probably more realistic to say that without the block Burnett could have probably reached the Seattle 45 realistically.

I thought at the time that sliding was a mistake and it still seems that way, but I think it's also being overblown a bit. There is logic to the slide. There is a small chance Burnett could have fumbled. We've seen fumbles on plays like this in the playoffs before.

He should have ran it back, but I don't think Burnett should be crucified for it, especially since this seemed like a coached move.

There's a small chance Chancellor could have fumbled on his pick 6, but he cared more about putting the game away.

Burnett saw green grass and decided to play it safe.

You're both right, but I would clarify it as "safe," because it isn't actually safe. He absolutely should have returned it, even if he slows down to carry it more securely and goes down quickly once a Hawk is near. Seeing Peppers implore him to go down is an indicator that it was coached to them before the drive started (unless JP did it on his own, in which case he should be lambasted). It seems either way, Burnett should take less heat, but it's not being overblown, as it is one more instance of the overly conservative mentality of that staff.

 

[ivotuk]

It makes for a great talking point, but hindsight is 20/20. If Russell WIlson had punched the ball out (There's a reason Burnett is a DB and not a WR) and Seattle recovered, then the shit storm would have been out of this world.

This same scenario has happened before and in one instance cost San Diego a trip to the Superbowl. San Diego intercepted Tom Brady and instead of getting down, the player started running and fumbled the ball back to the Patriots who ended up going to the Superbowl in the Chargers place.

All the DB would have had to do was sit down, and they would have won the game. It's very likely that Burnett has been taught this throughout his career as has Julius Peppers. Based on score and time remaining in the game, they made what was probably the correct decision. No way could they have foreseen the improbable finish.

But hindsight is 20/20 and pundits everywhere are also saying McCarthy should have gone for it on 4th down instead of kicking the field goals. Of course had he done so, and the League's #1 defense had stopped them for no points, then everyone would be on his ass for going for it. After all, they were getting nowhere to begin with, and McCarthy knew it.

All-22 is fine and dandy, but Burnett doesn't have a bird's eye view of the field so made the best decision he could, given the time and circumstance.

 

[Hasselbeck]

All-22 is fine and dandy, but Burnett doesn't have a bird's eye view of the field so made the best decision he could, given the time and circumstance.

You don't need the All-22 to see he has the whole left side of the field open with blockers in front. Also lets say he only gets to the 40 as kearly alluded to.. that's still 5 yards away from field goal range.

 

[HawKnPeppa]

Who cares... Can we let this game go away? GB deservedly lost and now they are licking their wounds while thinking about the off season.

 

[Threedee]

If Peppers had turned around to make a block instead of telling Burnett to slide, I think Burnett returns the ball far enough to reach field goal range. But Peppers doesn't, so it's probably more realistic to say that without the block Burnett could have probably reached the Seattle 45 realistically.

I thought at the time that sliding was a mistake and it still seems that way, but I think it's also being overblown a bit. There is logic to the slide. There is a small chance Burnett could have fumbled. We've seen fumbles on plays like this in the playoffs before.

He should have ran it back, but I don't think Burnett should be crucified for it, especially since this seemed like a coached move.

Sounds like the Da Bears managed to hose the Packers.

 

[Seahawk Sailor]

Hmm. We crucify Burnett for sliding down when he's coached and told to, but crucify Bostick for not blocking when he's coached to do so and tries for a recovery instead. Interesting.

 

[EMTHawkfan]

Did Mike McCarthy or any of his staff ever come out and say this was coached? For all we know Burnett was simply following instruction from Peppers on that play. Given the lead, time left on the clock, and being around mid field it's not uncommon to see players slide down in that instance. Clearly he could have advanced the ball 10-20 yards without any real threat and slid down or ran out of bounds. Would it have made any difference?? I guess we'll never know and at this point it doesn't matter.

 

[seahawks08]

So many hypothetical scenarios for sure. Who knows what would have happened, the better team definitely won and will keep on winning. Thank you Seahawks, for making us believe again and again. Your hard work, preparation and belief will always be appreciated. GO HAWKS.

 

[Hawk-A-Loogie]

He should have ran regardless. Be "conservative" and slide once there are defenders nearby. Even if it's only for 10 yards.

 

[gulliver]

The slide is NOT AT ALL insane.

First, Peppers gestures for Burnett to go down.

Second, you just recorded your 4th INT--and 5th turnover--in the game, up 12, with under (?) 5 minutes to go, and your opponent has not recorded a legitimate offensive TD (only the gimmicky ST trick play). It's completely reasonable to think you can go into your 4 minute offense and run out the clock.

Third, does no one remember what happened to Dallas after recovering a turnover against Detroit? Can't remember who, but I believe a DL picked up a fumble (?) in the 4th quarter and started returning it. When he got tackled, he lost control of the ball and it went right back to Detroit. You think Burnett wanted that on his resume; that he got greedy instead of playing it safe and running out the clock?

 

[Trenchbroom]

This need by the media and fans to blame Packers players is unbelievable! We already know that our win probability was around 5% at that time Burnett intercepted the ball. I don't blame Burnett in the slightest for doing the safe thing and laying down (OK he should have ran it a bit more but Peppers was telling him to slide). It was more likely that we would spark a comeback from a turnover if he ran it then if he didn't.

Same with Bostick. Ball is right in your face with people all around you. Split second decisions have to be made. I don't care if your job is to primarily block--IT'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU! Playing the odds, If he would have ducked out of the way then it would have given Matthews a better shot to get the ball (as opposed to Bostick catching it) so he did what was right. Yes, the guy screwed up and it bounced off of his helmet, but to try for it was still the right thing to do.

If he wouldn't have tried for it and we ended up with the ball it would have been "OMG BOSTICK IT WAS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING DUCKING OUT OF THE WAY!?!?!?!?!" Poor kid was screwed either way.

 

[olyfan63]

So true, both of the last couple posts.

It's sad to see Green Bay and their media and fans throwing anybody and everybody under the bus. Coach McCarthy throwing Bostick under the bus. Media throwing Burnett under the bus without mentioning he was following orders, or that Peppers should have been blocking, and made the decision FOR Burnett.

That's the difference between our two teams. One stays together, one comes unglued under pressure.