9/2/02- (NFL Preview) “Seattle (8-8) should be better than 24-25 entering Mike Holmgren’s fourth year, right?”
9/16/02- “Mike Holmgren is 24- 27 in Seattle, and he just lost his home opener to the Arizona Cardinals. There’s not a lot to be positive about with the Seadogs this morning, and I fear there will be many a curdled latte in the Northwest today.”
10/21/02- “I don’t see how you avoid saying right now that Mike Holmgren is in serious employment trouble.”
11/04/02- “Mike Holmgren, that is one ugly offense you’ve got there.” King should add a quote to his Monday Morning column, something along the lines of, “Hey Mike Holmgren, are you even trying to win football games?”
Just last week, I wrote in my column, “No NFL coach is going to go for a touchdown on the last play of the half unless they are on the one-inch line. It simply does not happen.” Of course only one week after I wrote that, Holmgren decided to prove me wrong. Down 14-3, with 17 seconds remaining in the first half, on fourth and goal from the two, Holmgren elected to go for it. It was a ridiculous decision, and I would be writing that even if the play had worked to perfection. He should have kicked the field goal, and made it a one possession game at 14-6.
That being said, his decision to go for it at the end of the first half looked brilliant when compared to some of his moves in the second half.
Still down 14-3 with just 2:04 remaining in the third quarter, Seattle had driven down to the Washington 36 and was faced with a fourth and six. This is a tough decision. Do you go for it? Or do you try a long field goal to try to make it a one-possession game? I think it depends on your kicker and how good you think he is. So what does Holmgren decide to do? He punts! I simply don’t get it. Go for it or try the long kick, but please don’t punt.
But there’s more. Once again, in the beginning of the fourth quarter, the never-say-die Seahawks marched down the field, only to find themselves stopped once again, not by the Redskins, but rather by their walruslooking coach. With a fourth and four at the ‘Skins 39, STILL DOWN 14-3, AND NOW WITH ONLY 11 MINUTES REMAINING IN THE GAME, HE PUNTS! EXCUSE ME? SAY WHAT? THAT’S RIGHT, HE PUNTS! Anybody who has even a remotely plausible reason for why he could punt in that situation rather than going for it, I am begging you to please email me at jwgold@mail.colgate.edu. Is he determined to lose this game 14-3?
Oh, but wait my friends, we are not done with Mike Holmgren’s bizarre coaching decisions. The good ole ‘Hawks drove down the field with fervor once more in the fourth quarter. Does this team ever quit? You simply cannot question the heart of the Seattle Seahawks. With 2:34 remaining, STILL DOWN 14-3, the fighting birds drove down to the Washington 15 and faced a fourth and four situation. Why not kick the field goal and pull to within eight? Does Holmgren even know there is a twopoint conversion allowed? A touchdown and the two-point conversion combined with a field goal makes 11 points!! They were only down 11. What is this guy thinking? But of course, he decides against the field goal, and this time he decided to go for it, and the play was unsuccessful. Honestly, I was shocked he just didn’t punt from the 15.
