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Over the past six seasons, pretty much everything that can be said about Darrell Bevell, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, has been said. In favor and in opposition. But let me see what we can pack into ten paragraphs anyway.
Bevell’s offenses are prolific, year after year after year.
By points scored, as measured by points per drive instead of total points: 25th in 2011, then 7th, 9th, 9th, 5th, 15th.
By efficiency, as measured by yards per play instead of total yards: 27th in 2011, then 9th, 9th, 6th, 5th and 12th.
But how much of that success is due to landing a mobile quarterback who can run the read-option in 2012-2014 while the league catches up? Look at how much worse the 2011 ranks are.
Then again, how much credit does Bevell deserve for successful implementation of a briefly revolutionary offense?
Then again again, look at the talent. Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Doug Baldwin, Jimmy Graham, and a defense that leads the league in scoring dang near every year, facilitating any OC’s job.
But then again again again again, et cetera, other teams have scary weapons too (Cincinnati and New Orleans come to mind) and fail to leverage those into better offenses than Seattle’s.
Bevell’s also subject, by virtue of his position, to the usual criticisms any coordinator endures. “He gets too cute.” “He’s a predictable play caller.” “Why won’t he just run the fucking ball.”
Then, there is the play. I’m going to post it because it’s been a while — 29 months — since it happened. In order to live in this world where not everything goes as planned every single day, it is good to confront reality from time to time.
If you’d care to read what I wrote in February 2015 about the disaster pictured above, please do. The short of it, is I found eight centers of “blame” for the play’s failure. Some of those are actually credit for blowing it up (thanks BB and BB).
With the involuntary therapy/anger management portion of the post complete, please take out your frustrations or express your gratefulness in the poll, which sounds just like the ones we did for Tom Cable and Kris Richard earlier in the week.
Poll
How about Darrell Bevell’s job as offensive coordinator? Which answer lines up best with your assessment?
This poll is closed
-
7%
I support him enthusiastically
(140 votes) -
25%
I think he’s all right or kind of good
(506 votes) -
16%
Neutral one: It’s Pete Carroll’s team and Bevell runs it the way Carroll wants so it’s pretty hard to grade Bevell individually
(330 votes) -
15%
Neutral two: The talent on hand drives Bevell’s performance more than the other way around
(308 votes) -
5%
Neutral three: Can’t really tell, or don’t really want to tell, next poll please
(112 votes) -
12%
Not good. Makes too many bad decisions
(241 votes) -
17%
Wish they had already fired him
(349 votes)
But look at all the “neutral” options. Let me ransack the nuance right out of there and give you two ultra-clean options.