I think the problem for McCarthy last year in some of these games boiled down to the inconsistant pass blocking. The prime scenario for this came against Houston after we got screwed on the holding call backing the ball up to the 30+ yard line. McCarthy does call pass there and Arod never has a chance. Sack. Out of FG range.
Against the Vikings Arod got the dog pressured out of him the whole game. You can say well, throw it quick then, but you don't think the Vikes know that's all he's going to be able to do and won't be ready for it? I could see what McCarthy was worried about there. We send Arod back to pass and he get's sacked we're out of FG range. I mean that was going on the whole game. Clifton barely touched Allen that night.
I thought the Bears game was more of a clock management decision. When your inside the opposing 30 with under two minutes to go you run the clock down but hope somebody breaks loose. You throw a couple incomplete passes there even if you then hit the FG you leave the other team with time for a FG to win. I absolutely believe McCarthy calls this differently if there were three, four minutes left in this game.
I don't think this makes him a bad or conservative play caller at all. He called the three plays in those two games that with the time left and circumstances gave the team the best and most realistic chance to win.
"The train is leaving the station."