Tag: Richard Sherman

Dissecting 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s flawed overtime decision

Dissecting 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan’s flawed OT decision

The Seattle Seahawks’ primary rival, the San Francisco 49ers, made quite the shocking move when they fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. In Super Bowl LVIII, Wilks’ unit held the Kansas City Chiefs to only 19 points and one touchdown in regulation, looking far superior when compared to San Francisco’s offense. The decision to fire Wilks has only brought further critique to embattled 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, who is still under fire for his near-inexplicable decision in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII.

With both teams tied at 19-19, and San Francisco as the designated “away” team, the 49ers won the toss and chose to receive the ball first. Under the old rules, San Francisco could have won the game with a touchdown. However, the new overtime rules for the playoffs ensures both teams get a chance at possessing the ball, regardless if the first team scores a touchdown on their opening drive. Shanahan defended his position by saying they wanted the ball third, assuming the 49ers and Chiefs would both score, thus creating a “sudden death” scenario for San Francisco to win the game on said possession.

Here’s the thing, though: let’s say San Francisco scored a touchdown on their opening drive, forcing Kansas City to need a touchdown to extend the game. The Chiefs could have scored a touchdown… and attempt a two-point conversion to win the game! Sure, it’s a 50/50 proposition, one play to determine the fate of both team but does anyone seriously doubt Patrick Mahomes and Co. would have been successful? Especially since all Mahomes does is overcome seemingly insurmountable deficits in the playoffs.

If they were successful in this hypothetical scenario, then the whole “we want the ball third” philosophy goes right out the window into the trash heap of history. Essentially, these new postseason overtime rules are a full-field version of college football’s overtime where you’d want to have the ball second to have all the knowledge of what your team needs to accomplish to continue or win the game.

Additionally, Shanahan deserves further flak on account of his team seemingly not knowing the updated postseason overtime rules. Former Seahawks and 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman put the blame on San Francisco’s veteran players, but ultimately, the responsibility for making sure players are coached up accordingly should lie with… *checks notes*… the head coach!

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seahawks supercharge edge rush in this 2024 mock draft

Seahawks fans masterfully trolling this 49ers long snapper

Ranking the NFL’s top 32 QBs going into 2024 offseason

Richard Sherman doesn’t think Commanders will draft Drake Maye

Richard Sherman talks about why he believes Kingsbury was a terrific hire for the Commanders.

On Tuesday’s edition of “Undisputed” on Fox Sports 1, Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson and Skip Bayless discussed the Washington Commanders and their hiring of former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as the offensive coordinator.

Sherman loves the move. And he believes there is more to come.

“I think this is a great hire by them,” Sherman said. “I think Kliff Kingsbury, in my time in the National Football League playing against him, he’s really creative offensively in terms of the passing game and the concepts that they draw up. It’s not the common concepts that you’re used to seeing; it’s not the common quarterback reads that you’re used to seeing. It’s very intricate. I’ve had a couple of times where I’ve talked to him after the game and was like, ‘Bro, I’ve got a lot of respect for the concepts you’re drawing up. It’s some good stuff.'”

What’s the drawback with Kingsbury?

“The run game was pretty pedestrian,” Sherman said. “They didn’t do enough defensively, he didn’t have success, so I don’t know what he is as a head coach, but in terms of a play drawer, he can do it.”

Sherman then praised new head coach Dan Quinn, who was his defensive coordinator with the Seahawks in 2013 and 2014.

Sherman then went on to talk about presumed No. 1 pick Caleb Williams and the Bears potentially trading the pick — if they decide to stick with Justin Fields.

“So if I am (the Bears), I’m talking to the Commanders, and I’m telling them, ‘Hey, I could give him away to Denver or the Raiders or these teams if you guys don’t want to give me what I need to move up.’ I do think the Commanders are saying, ‘We are getting Kliff Kingsbury because we believe, or we want Caleb Williams in the fold. We believe we can get him. We believe we will have access to him.’ That’s why they’re getting Kliff Kingsbury. I don’t think they’re getting Kliff Kingsbury to draft Drake Maye, or anybody else, or Jayden Daniels, either. I think they’re getting him very specifically, and if they don’t get him, it will be a massive disappointment for this franchise.”

Sherman went on to say if he were the Bears, he’d make the trade with Washington, move down to No. 2, and select Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. because he still believes in Fields.

Richard Sherman praises Brock Purdy’s mediocre performance

Richard Sherman praises Brock Purdy’s mediocre performance

Easily the most frustrating thing for fans of the Seattle Seahawks to watch during these playoffs has been the overhyping of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Anyone who actually watches the games can see as plain as day how obviously… we’ll be generous here… “average” Purdy is as a signal caller.

Purdy benefits from playing in the most quarterback-friendly offense in the league, surrounded by elite players at nearly every position – such as running back Christian McCaffrey. His only discernable skillset is the fact he does not make the soul crushing mistakes his predecessor, Jimmy Garoppolo, was wont to do. As such, he is able to do his part while letting his incredibly talented team do the heavy lifting for wins.

The latest example came on Saturday night, when the San Francisco 49ers narrowly survived the No. 7 seeded Green Bay Packers in a 24-21 victory. Purdy looked terrible for most of the night, but provided adequate enough play at the end on the game-winning drive, which was capped off by a McCaffrey touchdown run. Folks who love the 49ers were more than impressed, such as former cornerback Richard Sherman.

While there is something to be said about coming up big in the moments that matter most, one can hardly say Purdy was mind-blowing on the final drive. When looking at how it played out, Purdy attempted only one pass that traveled 10 yards in the air.

On one hand, I can understand a former player being supportive of his former team. It is clear Sherman still respects the 49ers and enjoyed his time with the organization. But it is more than a little difficult to stomach listening to him praise Purdy when you remember how brutally harsh he was about another former quarterback of his: Russell Wilson.

For all the warts that came with Wilson, even during his peak, I won’t even bother making a comparison to him and Purdy as it would be so disrespectful to Wilson. When watching Purdy, it is the football equivalent of “born on third, thinking he hit a triple.”

The 12th Man will most assuredly be rooting for the Detroit Lions next Sunday in the NFC Championship. They are the only hope at preventing another San Francisco appearance in the Super Bowl.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seattle fans react to news OC Shane Waldron is leaving

Seahawks starting second round of interviews with 5 candidates

Today is the 10-year anniversary of Richard Sherman’s famous tip

A superstar was born and the Seahawks were on to the Super Bowl.

The NFL hasn’t seen a rivalry quite like the one the Seahawks and 49ers shared last decade. While they are still bitter division rivals, the animosity and the competition were on another level between these two when Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll were roaming the sidelines while Marshawn Lynch and Frank Gore were crashing into equally-lethal defensive fronts. The games were always close and intensely physical, the sobering sound of each tackle echoing an era of more brutal football.

10 years ago today was the peak of that rivalry – culminating in the 2013 NFC Championship game. Seattle clinched the win thanks to a tipped pass by Richard Sherman in the end zone that was intended for Michael Crabtree. A superstar was born and the Seahawks were on to the Super Bowl.

Fast forward a decade and Sherman is now a part of the media class he so relentlessly mocked during his career, Colin Kaepernick has been blackballed since 2016, Harbaugh is a distant contender to replace Carroll as Seattle’s head coach and nobody’s heard from Crabtree in years.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Ranking 4 free agents the Seahawks should re-sign in 2024

10 pending free agents Seattle should allow to leave in 2024

2024 NFL mock draft: 5 QBs come off the board in Round 1

Seahawks share cartoon tribute to Pete Carroll that leaves out Earl Thomas

One face that isn’t included is that of Earl Thomas, who was arguably the best player on an all-time great defense.

The Seahawks shared a cartoon tribute to Pete Carroll last week on social media and then later deleted it. The cartoon includes a bunch of players from today’s team, including Bobby Wagner, Geno Smith, Devon Witherspoon, JSN, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Quandre Diggs, Jason Myers and Nick Bellore.

There are also a bunch of legends from the Legion of Boom days, including Russell Wilson, Red Bryant, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Marshawn Lynch and Doug Baldwin.

via Seahawks

One face that isn’t included is that of three-time All-Pro free safety Earl Thomas, who was arguably the best player on an all-time great defense.

It was an ugly split between ET and the front office, but there’s no reason to erase him from history like this. Deleting it was the right call.

Update:

Welp, the team has shared the cartoon again. Still no Earl Thomas.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seahawks fans share their ideas for head coach search on Twitter

8 quotes from John Schneider’s first presser in post-Pete Carroll era

Odds for the top 10 candidates to replace Pete Carroll as head coach

Tracking the Seattle Seahawks’ 2024 head coach interview requests

Richard Sherman: Pete Carroll to Chargers is a ‘match that needs to happen’

If Carroll does decide to jump ship and take another job in the NFL, he couldn’t do any better than the Chargers.

The Seahawks are keeping Pete Carroll on in an as-yet unspecified “advisor” role after removing him as head coach. Carroll clarified in his last press conference that he won’t have any control over the search to replace him and said his role is to be general manager John Schneider’s biggest fan.

If that’s a statement on the level of influence that Carroll will have over this team going forward, then it’s hard to imagine him sticking around for very long. Carroll thrives on competition and clearly still wants to keep coaching based on his comments over the last few days.

If Carroll does decide to jump ship and take another job in the NFL, he couldn’t do any better than the Chargers, who we rank the second-best team among those that are in the market for a new head coach. Seahawks great Richard Sherman for one would love to see that match take place, claiming Carroll would change the culture and actually draw fans.

Carroll is an all-time great coach but it might take something otherworldly to actually get people to buy tickets to a Chargers game – apparently having one of the best young quarterbacks in the league isn’t enough.

Imagining Carroll wearing a Chargers hoodie and slacks on the sidelines, chewing gum and wearing his Monarchs is just too bizarre to conjure. Strange times, indeed.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Ranking the NFL’s top 25 QBs in EPA at season’s end

7 moves that the Seahawks can make to create cap space

Former Seahawks players share their appreciation for Pete Carroll

Here’s how former Seahawks are reacting.

Wednesday was an emotional day for the Seattle Seahawks, their coaching staff, their players and their fans. In the most stunning development in franchise history, the team removed Pete Carroll as their head coach. Carroll will still be in the building, but things will never be quite the same without him calling the shots and whoever replaces him has a large pair of Monarchs to fill.

What set Carroll apart from just about every other football coach on the planet was his idea that it could be fun – and his players loved him for it. Since the news broke that Carroll is out as head coach, we haven’t heard from any current players, who may be stunned into silence. However, many of his former players have been singing his praises on social media.

Here’s how former Seahawks are reacting.

Richard Sherman ‘very surprised’ by Seahawks’ decision with Pete Carroll

Former Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman says he’s very surprised that the Sehaawks did what they did.

If you’re shocked that the Seahawks decided to move on without Pete Carroll as their head coach, you aren’t the only one. Today’s news that Carroll is stepping aside as head coach and into an advisory role for Seattle is the most-surprising news in franchise history – certainly an even bigger splash than when they traded Russell Wilson.

Former Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman says he’s very surprised that the Sehaawks did what they did. Watch.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Twitter reacts to Pete Carroll being removed as head coach

Top 5 potential replacements for Pete Carroll as head coach

23 Seahawks who are about to become free agents in March

Richard Sherman still not sold on Lamar Jackson as league MVP

Now Sherman is selling 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey over Lamar Jackson.

Lamar Jackson just decimated the Dolphins defense to the tune of five touchdowns and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Many NFL analysts now have Jackson as their pick for MVP with one week to go in the season. However, some folks still have other favorites. That includes Seahawks legend Richard Sherman, who has at least abandoned Brock Purdy as his MVP pick.

However, now Sherman is selling 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey as MVP over Jackson. Watch.

Well, it’s certainly a take.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Twitter reactions show 12s are ready for major changes

Power Rankings Week 18: Seahawks and Dolphins drop

Richard Sherman makes Josh Allen MVP case to disagreeing ‘Undisputed’ cast

Richard Sherman makes Josh Allen MVP case to disagreeing ‘Undisputed’ cast

Josh Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and in the middle of a three game win streak after beating the Chiefs and the Cowboys, two of the NFL’s best teams, there have been talks more recently that Allen should be win MVP this season from rival quarterbacks and national media.

And Richard Sherman joined the media as he made Josh Allen’s MVP candidate case for the 2023 season on Fox Sports’ talk show ‘Undisputed’.

Last year, Allen finished 3rd in MVP voting as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes almost unanimously won the MVP. This year, the Bills beat the Chiefs and Allen performed as well as the Chiefs quarterback in their matchup against each other. After the win against the Chargers this Sunday, the Bills quarterback made NFL history as the first player ever to have 40+ touchdowns in 4 consecutive seasons.

And Sherman is presenting Allen’s MVP case now. On the talk show, the former cornerback who was once the interceptions leader in the league pointed out to host Skip Bayless and co-panelist Keyshawn Johnson that Allen was responsible for 83% of his team’s touchdowns, which is more than any other quarterback who won MVP in previous years.

The MVP conversation has recently started to focus on Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson, who now has the best odds to win MVP. Sherman pointed out that Allen has been responsible for more of the Bills touchdowns that Jackson has for the Ravens.

Now, this show is about hot takes and incessant arguing, but you can watch the full clip here, including Sherman backing up Allen’s MVP case with numbers and data (you can also watch it for the entertainment of Johnson storming off and Bayless shaking his head) here:

[lawrence-related id=129441,129444,129442]