RiverDog
Well-known member
OrangeGravy":ptzq9qfr said:I don't think there's any debate on who catches more blame from fans, media, whoever, it's Pete hands down. Which isnt really a problem. The only disagreement I have with Pete blame is where it concerns the offense and Russell. I think the assumption that he meddles with okay calling is way over exaggerated. The popular sentiment is the problems are 90%+ Pete, 10% OC/Russ historically. I think it's at best 50/50 and personally feel it's about 80/20 Russ's limitations.
The perfect offense for Russ is the version we had with Marshawn. He can hit big plays and in turn we can close games out with the run. He just cannot sustain a heavily tilted pass offense playing the way he does for an entire season and absolutely won't hold up in the playoffs when teams are good enough to take away option A and often B.
It doesn't matter where Russell goes or who he plays for, the results will be the same.
If it blows up at season's end, I'd be ok with trading him. I'm not married to anyone on the team coaches or players.
I think that's a reasonable take but I'd like to make a few additions/changes.
The head coach gets the blame for everything: Offense, defense, special teams, game management, draft picks, trades. Whether or not Pete "meddles" with the offense makes no difference in the long run. Whether it was a call to pass on 2nd and goal from the one in SB49 or Russell's decision to take two long shots from his own 13 in OT, it's Pete that must accept responsibility.
Secondly, I don't necessarily agree that the perfect offense for Russell was the one we ran when Beast was in his prime. Russell was a lot quicker back then, was a genuine threat in the read option, extremely elusive in the pocket. That is no longer the case. Russell is 32 years old, two years older than the magic age where most RB's hit a wall. He can no longer do his Houdini imitation and get out of near certain sack situations with that reverse spin of his. As we saw on our last offensive play of the Titans game, Russell still hasn't adjusted to the reality of his advancing age and still thinks he can get out of anything.
Like you, I'm not attached at the hip with Russell or Pete. I've long since lost my idolization of professional athletes/coaches and think of them more like depreciable assets rather than some sort of deity as some of my fellow 12's do. I'm all about the team. Do what ever necessary to win games, and if that means firing Pete and/or trading Russell, then so be it.