We need to get Big Walt to whip up the fans at every home game.
During the regular season, after falling behind against lowly Carolina, the Seahawks came to life after Jones briefly spoke at the retirement of #71 during the 2-minute warning at the end of the first half.
Yesterday, Seattle wisely invited Walter to connect with the crowd before the game, by having him raise the 12th Man flag.
The fans and the team responded with their greatest performance in 3+ years.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Beast unleashed
The least respected playoff team in NFL history just eliminated the defending Super Bowl champions.
It was an epic struggle, and for the Seahawks, it did not start well. Olindo Mare's opening kickoff bizarrely sailed out of bounds, granting the Saints excellent field position, enabling them to score on their first drive. On our first possession, one of our receivers bobbled an on-target throw into the hands of a New Orleans defender. The Saints scored again, taking a 10-0 lead.
It looked like we were going to get blown out at home again for the fourth time this season.
Instead, Seattle rallied. Twice in the first half, we recovered from 10-point deficits.
Matt Hasselbeck returned to Pro Bowl form, executing a dynamic game plan featuring formations and plays we've never seen before. Hasselbeck threw for four touchdowns against a Saints defense that surrendered, on average, less than one passing touchdown per game during the regular season.
For the first three quarters, offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was in the zone, calling a creative mix of plays that kept New Orleans off balance and kept our offense moving down the field.
It appears that offensive line combination #10 is a keeper. That's left tackle Russell Okung, the brilliant rookie; left guard Tyler Polumbus, a converted tackle; center Chris Spencer, the unit's veteran leader; right guard Ben Hamilton, whose play continues to improve; and right tackle Sean Locklear, who played well despite missing most of the week's practices while dealing with the deaths of a relative and a close friend.
The group debuted last week against St. Louis, and they looked even better against New Orleans. They created some running room for Marshawn Lynch, and, with help from the tight ends and Justin Forsett, they provided excellent pass protection for our quarterback, allowing only one sack.
Late in the game, our offense began to bog down, due to conservative playcalling by Bates and cautious decisions by Hasselbeck, who protected our lead by refusing to force passes into good coverage. We kept having to punt.
It looked like the game might slip away at that point. With Drew Brees at the helm, the potent New Orleans air attack continued to execute efficient drives and keep the score close.
Leading by five points with less than five minutes remaining, Seattle tried to drain the clock by running the ball. Accordingly, the Saints defense stacked the box. They had stuffed Lynch for no gain on first down on the Seahawks 31-yard line.
We gave it to him again on 2nd and 10. Our O-Line got a good initial push on the left side. Fullback Michael Robinson stuck his block, driving his man outside. Covering the ball with both hands, Lynch charged toward the hole, but Saints linebackers quickly shot the gaps. One of them slammed into the running back and wrapped up. It looked like we would be held to a short gain, setting up third and long.
At this critical juncture, Lynch showed us what he means by going into Beast Mode as a runner.
Powerful legs churning, he fought off the linebacker and veered inside.
Toppled by our linemen, two Saints defenders lunged at Lynch's feet, but the Beast broke through their attempted ankle tackles.
Two more defenders converged upon the runner: a hulking defensive tackle and All-Pro safety Darren Sharper. The Beast busted through their diving arm tackles.
A fleet cornerback caught him from behind, latched on to Lynch's left thigh, slipped down his right leg, and got left behind, having failed even to slow the Beast.
Crossing midfield, Lynch saw another cornerback closing in from the left. Accordingly, the runner angled right, shifted the ball into his right hand, and shot out his left paw. Instead of simply stiffarming the defender, the Beast flung him savagely to the ground.
Disposing of that cornerback had slowed Lynch, giving some Saints a chance to catch him from behind.
However, by this time, several Seahawks had hustled downfield to help block. This convoy included Hasselbeck. Quarterbacks--especially fragile, aged, injured ones--rarely risk trying to block, and rarely do so effectively. But Matt is a consummate competitor, so he was in the mix.
Defensive end Alex Brown was gaining fast on Lynch. He had a good angle.
Sean Locklear tried to intervene, but Brown simply outran him.
Only Hasselbeck had a chance to stop the fleet 260-pound lineman. Running alongside the defender, the quarterback reached out with his fractured left wrist and shoved Brown's shoulder. Losing his balance, the defender desperately lunged at Lynch's feet, to no effect.
As the Beast entered the red zone, Mike Williams peeled back and blocked a defensive back who had been gaining on our runner.
When Lynch crossed the 10-yard line, Pro Bowl safety Roman Harper was the last Saint between him and the end zone.
Fortunately, Tyler Polumbus, a 310-pound guard, had hustled more than 60 yards downfield. For the last 25 yards, he had been stalking Harper. At the 5-yard line, the guard shoved the defensive back outside.
Lynch read the block, cutting inside, behind Polumbus. Harper recovered his balance and dove for the Beast's feet at the 2-yard line.
The running back skipped aside and crossed the goal line. Somehow, after running 67 yards and breaking, thwarting, or eluding nine tackles, Lynch retained enough energy to brandish the ball and execute a backwards somersault before his teammates mobbed him.
That play encapsulates the promise of this team.
Our defense did enough to win. We couldn't stop the Saints, but we slowed them. We forced New Orleans to mount methodical drives. We allowed few big plays. Our defenders surrendered several touchdowns, but they forced the Saints to punt and settle for field goals often enough to secure a victory.
For the second consecutive week, we stunned a national television audience by rising to the challenge of a must-win game that no one thought we could win.
We have begun to restore the reputation of Seahawks Stadium and the 12th Man.
We are showing that we are a better team than our record indicates.
We have now officially exceeded expectations. Coach Carroll's goal for the year was to win the division. We achieved that last week.
No one expected us to win a playoff game.
No one imagined that we could stick a fortyburger on the defending Super Bowl champions.
But we just did.
It was an epic struggle, and for the Seahawks, it did not start well. Olindo Mare's opening kickoff bizarrely sailed out of bounds, granting the Saints excellent field position, enabling them to score on their first drive. On our first possession, one of our receivers bobbled an on-target throw into the hands of a New Orleans defender. The Saints scored again, taking a 10-0 lead.
It looked like we were going to get blown out at home again for the fourth time this season.
Instead, Seattle rallied. Twice in the first half, we recovered from 10-point deficits.
Matt Hasselbeck returned to Pro Bowl form, executing a dynamic game plan featuring formations and plays we've never seen before. Hasselbeck threw for four touchdowns against a Saints defense that surrendered, on average, less than one passing touchdown per game during the regular season.
For the first three quarters, offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was in the zone, calling a creative mix of plays that kept New Orleans off balance and kept our offense moving down the field.
It appears that offensive line combination #10 is a keeper. That's left tackle Russell Okung, the brilliant rookie; left guard Tyler Polumbus, a converted tackle; center Chris Spencer, the unit's veteran leader; right guard Ben Hamilton, whose play continues to improve; and right tackle Sean Locklear, who played well despite missing most of the week's practices while dealing with the deaths of a relative and a close friend.
The group debuted last week against St. Louis, and they looked even better against New Orleans. They created some running room for Marshawn Lynch, and, with help from the tight ends and Justin Forsett, they provided excellent pass protection for our quarterback, allowing only one sack.
Late in the game, our offense began to bog down, due to conservative playcalling by Bates and cautious decisions by Hasselbeck, who protected our lead by refusing to force passes into good coverage. We kept having to punt.
It looked like the game might slip away at that point. With Drew Brees at the helm, the potent New Orleans air attack continued to execute efficient drives and keep the score close.
Leading by five points with less than five minutes remaining, Seattle tried to drain the clock by running the ball. Accordingly, the Saints defense stacked the box. They had stuffed Lynch for no gain on first down on the Seahawks 31-yard line.
We gave it to him again on 2nd and 10. Our O-Line got a good initial push on the left side. Fullback Michael Robinson stuck his block, driving his man outside. Covering the ball with both hands, Lynch charged toward the hole, but Saints linebackers quickly shot the gaps. One of them slammed into the running back and wrapped up. It looked like we would be held to a short gain, setting up third and long.
At this critical juncture, Lynch showed us what he means by going into Beast Mode as a runner.
Powerful legs churning, he fought off the linebacker and veered inside.
Toppled by our linemen, two Saints defenders lunged at Lynch's feet, but the Beast broke through their attempted ankle tackles.
Two more defenders converged upon the runner: a hulking defensive tackle and All-Pro safety Darren Sharper. The Beast busted through their diving arm tackles.
A fleet cornerback caught him from behind, latched on to Lynch's left thigh, slipped down his right leg, and got left behind, having failed even to slow the Beast.
Crossing midfield, Lynch saw another cornerback closing in from the left. Accordingly, the runner angled right, shifted the ball into his right hand, and shot out his left paw. Instead of simply stiffarming the defender, the Beast flung him savagely to the ground.
Disposing of that cornerback had slowed Lynch, giving some Saints a chance to catch him from behind.
However, by this time, several Seahawks had hustled downfield to help block. This convoy included Hasselbeck. Quarterbacks--especially fragile, aged, injured ones--rarely risk trying to block, and rarely do so effectively. But Matt is a consummate competitor, so he was in the mix.
Defensive end Alex Brown was gaining fast on Lynch. He had a good angle.
Sean Locklear tried to intervene, but Brown simply outran him.
Only Hasselbeck had a chance to stop the fleet 260-pound lineman. Running alongside the defender, the quarterback reached out with his fractured left wrist and shoved Brown's shoulder. Losing his balance, the defender desperately lunged at Lynch's feet, to no effect.
As the Beast entered the red zone, Mike Williams peeled back and blocked a defensive back who had been gaining on our runner.
When Lynch crossed the 10-yard line, Pro Bowl safety Roman Harper was the last Saint between him and the end zone.
Fortunately, Tyler Polumbus, a 310-pound guard, had hustled more than 60 yards downfield. For the last 25 yards, he had been stalking Harper. At the 5-yard line, the guard shoved the defensive back outside.
Lynch read the block, cutting inside, behind Polumbus. Harper recovered his balance and dove for the Beast's feet at the 2-yard line.
The running back skipped aside and crossed the goal line. Somehow, after running 67 yards and breaking, thwarting, or eluding nine tackles, Lynch retained enough energy to brandish the ball and execute a backwards somersault before his teammates mobbed him.
That play encapsulates the promise of this team.
Our defense did enough to win. We couldn't stop the Saints, but we slowed them. We forced New Orleans to mount methodical drives. We allowed few big plays. Our defenders surrendered several touchdowns, but they forced the Saints to punt and settle for field goals often enough to secure a victory.
For the second consecutive week, we stunned a national television audience by rising to the challenge of a must-win game that no one thought we could win.
We have begun to restore the reputation of Seahawks Stadium and the 12th Man.
We are showing that we are a better team than our record indicates.
We have now officially exceeded expectations. Coach Carroll's goal for the year was to win the division. We achieved that last week.
No one expected us to win a playoff game.
No one imagined that we could stick a fortyburger on the defending Super Bowl champions.
But we just did.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Decanonize with extreme prejudice... for real this time
We're in the playoffs!
The 7-9 Seahawks, as champions of the NFC West, get to host a wild card playoff game this afternoon against the 11-5 Saints, the defending Super Bowl champions. (When naming the football franchise of a notoriously sinful city, what ironist settled on "the Saints"?)
We are 10-point underdogs. This week's NFL Playbook power trio (Brian Billick, Joe Theismann, Sterling Sharpe) has unanimously predicted doom for Seattle, though they magnanimously concede that the home team has a chance against the Saints. (They needed that asterisk, because they--and nearly every other NFL prognosticator--gave us no chance to win last week. Props to the NFL Network's Rod Woodson, the only analyst I noticed picking Seattle to beat St. Louis last week. The Hall of Fame defensive back understands the power of the 12th Man.)
Although we lost in New Orleans earlier this year, we were uncharacteristically competitive for most of that contest.
Now the battle has shifted onto our turf, and for the first time in recent memory, our opponent's injury report is longer than ours. By a lot.
They are so thin at running back that Julius Jones figures to get significant playing time. Here is our opportunity to punish him for stubborn underachievement, for refusing to learn our zone blocking system, for sucking so badly that we had to cut him, and for laughing all the way to the bank.
Here is our opportunity to punish Reggie Bush for disgracing the Heisman Trophy. (Oh, wait. Our coach had something to do with that, too. Never mind.)
Here is our opportunity to show that we belong in the playoffs.
Drew Brees remains the league's most accurate passer, a clinical dissector of opposing defenses. We'll need a fierce pass rush and smothering coverage to shut him down. I trust that the 12th Man will restrict his options by making verbal audibles impossible.
Our ground game came alive last week with an improved performance by the offensive line and inspired playcalling by Jeremy Bates. Charlie Whitehurst managed the game effectively last week, but Matt Hasselbeck lit it up in New Orleans earlier this season.
My man Leon Washington is overdue to score a return touchdown.
I'm so psyched I can't sleep.
We're the NFC West champions. We've got nothing to lose, but we have a lot to prove.
A chorus of haters complain that we don't even belong in the playoffs, because we don't have a winning record.
So, let's win this one, just to piss them off.
Let's win, to bring back a healthy fear of Seahawks Stadium and the 12th Man.
Let's win, to make a case that this team really is better than its record.
Let's win, to show that last week's triumph wasn't a fluke.
Play loose. Hit hard. Play smart. Wrap up.
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
We dat.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Go, Seahawks!
The 7-9 Seahawks, as champions of the NFC West, get to host a wild card playoff game this afternoon against the 11-5 Saints, the defending Super Bowl champions. (When naming the football franchise of a notoriously sinful city, what ironist settled on "the Saints"?)
We are 10-point underdogs. This week's NFL Playbook power trio (Brian Billick, Joe Theismann, Sterling Sharpe) has unanimously predicted doom for Seattle, though they magnanimously concede that the home team has a chance against the Saints. (They needed that asterisk, because they--and nearly every other NFL prognosticator--gave us no chance to win last week. Props to the NFL Network's Rod Woodson, the only analyst I noticed picking Seattle to beat St. Louis last week. The Hall of Fame defensive back understands the power of the 12th Man.)
Although we lost in New Orleans earlier this year, we were uncharacteristically competitive for most of that contest.
Now the battle has shifted onto our turf, and for the first time in recent memory, our opponent's injury report is longer than ours. By a lot.
They are so thin at running back that Julius Jones figures to get significant playing time. Here is our opportunity to punish him for stubborn underachievement, for refusing to learn our zone blocking system, for sucking so badly that we had to cut him, and for laughing all the way to the bank.
Here is our opportunity to punish Reggie Bush for disgracing the Heisman Trophy. (Oh, wait. Our coach had something to do with that, too. Never mind.)
Here is our opportunity to show that we belong in the playoffs.
Drew Brees remains the league's most accurate passer, a clinical dissector of opposing defenses. We'll need a fierce pass rush and smothering coverage to shut him down. I trust that the 12th Man will restrict his options by making verbal audibles impossible.
Our ground game came alive last week with an improved performance by the offensive line and inspired playcalling by Jeremy Bates. Charlie Whitehurst managed the game effectively last week, but Matt Hasselbeck lit it up in New Orleans earlier this season.
My man Leon Washington is overdue to score a return touchdown.
I'm so psyched I can't sleep.
We're the NFC West champions. We've got nothing to lose, but we have a lot to prove.
A chorus of haters complain that we don't even belong in the playoffs, because we don't have a winning record.
So, let's win this one, just to piss them off.
Let's win, to bring back a healthy fear of Seahawks Stadium and the 12th Man.
Let's win, to make a case that this team really is better than its record.
Let's win, to show that last week's triumph wasn't a fluke.
Play loose. Hit hard. Play smart. Wrap up.
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?
We dat.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Go, Seahawks!
Unlucky
Tomorrow afternoon, Seattle will host our first playoff game in three seasons.
And this Seahawk diehard won't be watching the game.
Well, I won't see it live.
We're starting a new reading program at my school, and we have a training tomorrow. I'd beg out of it, except I'm the principal, and that would be bad form. (The district administration put the workshop on the calendar without so much as consulting the NFL playoffs schedule. ¡Que Barbaridad!)
So, I'll be DVRing the game, and hurrying home to watch it.
It will be the first time since December 2005 that I have failed to watch a Seahawks game live. At the time, I was home for the holidays (Federal Way), Xmas shopping with a dawdling girlfriend who didn't understand how urgently I needed to get to a TV. (Obviously, our relationship didn't work out.)
I did miss some of the January 2007 wild card playoff game that the Cowboys played in Seattle. I scheduled a flight before the football season, figuring that the Seahawks would be strong enough to win a bye that year (wrong), and assuming that even if we had to play in the wild card round, what were the odds that the game would conflict with my flight? (Rather good, actually. In the end, p equalled 1.)
The flight meant that I missed the first third of the game. After deplaning, I found a bar in the Tucscon airport that was showing the game. But the bar shut down at halftime!
So, I hurried through the airport, debating whether to leave my luggage and come back for it after the game. Making the wrong decision, I waited impatiently for the luggage carousel to retch up my suitcase, then went outside and waited for the shuttle to take me to long-term parking (c'mon!). Firing up the fierce engine of my mighty Ford Taurus, I drove off to find the nearest place that might be showing the game. Well, not the nearest place, because that was a strip club, and educator contracts require us to maintain high standards of personal behavior. Moreover, since I'm not really a drinker, my alcoholic geography of Tucson was too poor to navigate me to the closest tavern. So I drove--legally, but aggressively--to a sports bar that I knew of a few miles away.
By the time I got there, it was late in the fourth quarter. The joint was crowded, and almost everyone in there was sporting Cowboys regalia. The Dallas fans razzed me as I swaggered in, wearing my Seahawks jersey (#71, in honor of Walter Jones and Bryan Millard).
I ended up sitting with a heavily tattooed and multiply pierced cholo, a Steelers fan who was rooting against the Cowboys. I annoyed the waitress by ordering a Diet Coke. (After the game, I faced a 90-minute drive home.)
The Seahawks led, 21-20, but Tony Romo had led the Cowboys into the red zone. On third down, Jason Witten caught a pass, but Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson savagely stuffed him just outside the 2 yard line. My heart sank when the officials awarded Dallas a generous spot and a first down. (Screwed by the officials, again!) But a booth review corrected the mistake: Fourth and inches.
Dallas coach Bill Parcells elected to attempt a field goal. From the two. A chip shot, from extra-point distance.
I was certain that Martin Gramatica would nail it, but I didn't care. With 1:19 remaining on the clock, I knew the Seahawks would have time to drive down the field and get close enough for Josh Brown to kick a game-winning field goal.
But that wasn't necessary, because Tony Romo botched the hold. Gramatica never got a chance to kick the ball. Romo snatched up the pigskin and tried to run for the first down, but Big Play Babs ran him down from behind and ankle-tackled him, just inches shy of the bright yellow line.
I high-fived the cholo, dropped a nice tip, and swaggered out of the bar, passing with a wide grin through a sea of slackjawed, dejected Dallas fans.
And this Seahawk diehard won't be watching the game.
Well, I won't see it live.
We're starting a new reading program at my school, and we have a training tomorrow. I'd beg out of it, except I'm the principal, and that would be bad form. (The district administration put the workshop on the calendar without so much as consulting the NFL playoffs schedule. ¡Que Barbaridad!)
So, I'll be DVRing the game, and hurrying home to watch it.
It will be the first time since December 2005 that I have failed to watch a Seahawks game live. At the time, I was home for the holidays (Federal Way), Xmas shopping with a dawdling girlfriend who didn't understand how urgently I needed to get to a TV. (Obviously, our relationship didn't work out.)
I did miss some of the January 2007 wild card playoff game that the Cowboys played in Seattle. I scheduled a flight before the football season, figuring that the Seahawks would be strong enough to win a bye that year (wrong), and assuming that even if we had to play in the wild card round, what were the odds that the game would conflict with my flight? (Rather good, actually. In the end, p equalled 1.)
The flight meant that I missed the first third of the game. After deplaning, I found a bar in the Tucscon airport that was showing the game. But the bar shut down at halftime!
So, I hurried through the airport, debating whether to leave my luggage and come back for it after the game. Making the wrong decision, I waited impatiently for the luggage carousel to retch up my suitcase, then went outside and waited for the shuttle to take me to long-term parking (c'mon!). Firing up the fierce engine of my mighty Ford Taurus, I drove off to find the nearest place that might be showing the game. Well, not the nearest place, because that was a strip club, and educator contracts require us to maintain high standards of personal behavior. Moreover, since I'm not really a drinker, my alcoholic geography of Tucson was too poor to navigate me to the closest tavern. So I drove--legally, but aggressively--to a sports bar that I knew of a few miles away.
By the time I got there, it was late in the fourth quarter. The joint was crowded, and almost everyone in there was sporting Cowboys regalia. The Dallas fans razzed me as I swaggered in, wearing my Seahawks jersey (#71, in honor of Walter Jones and Bryan Millard).
I ended up sitting with a heavily tattooed and multiply pierced cholo, a Steelers fan who was rooting against the Cowboys. I annoyed the waitress by ordering a Diet Coke. (After the game, I faced a 90-minute drive home.)
The Seahawks led, 21-20, but Tony Romo had led the Cowboys into the red zone. On third down, Jason Witten caught a pass, but Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson savagely stuffed him just outside the 2 yard line. My heart sank when the officials awarded Dallas a generous spot and a first down. (Screwed by the officials, again!) But a booth review corrected the mistake: Fourth and inches.
Dallas coach Bill Parcells elected to attempt a field goal. From the two. A chip shot, from extra-point distance.
I was certain that Martin Gramatica would nail it, but I didn't care. With 1:19 remaining on the clock, I knew the Seahawks would have time to drive down the field and get close enough for Josh Brown to kick a game-winning field goal.
But that wasn't necessary, because Tony Romo botched the hold. Gramatica never got a chance to kick the ball. Romo snatched up the pigskin and tried to run for the first down, but Big Play Babs ran him down from behind and ankle-tackled him, just inches shy of the bright yellow line.
I high-fived the cholo, dropped a nice tip, and swaggered out of the bar, passing with a wide grin through a sea of slackjawed, dejected Dallas fans.
Russell Okung, warrior
It can't be easy to be the guy drafted to replace Walter Jones, the Canton-bound left tackle who was the greatest Seahawk ever, and who reigned for a few years as the league's greatest player.
Russell Okung has had a frustrating rookie season, fighting a series of high ankle sprains (first one leg, then the other!). He has missed several games. In one contest between ankle sprains--when he was fully healthy--Okung performed brilliantly on the road against Chicago, shutting down Julius Peppers, one of the NFL's most dominant defensive ends.
Playing hurt for most of the season, Okung has struggled to achieve competence. We have generally run the ball better when he is in the lineup, though not that much better. His pass protection has been good, though not perfect.
Instability at the neighboring left guard position has not helped. Ideally, a rookie on the O-Line would receive the sage guidance of stable veteran linemen, but the Seahawks have fielded ten different offensive line combinations this year, which has prevented the unit as a whole from developing the complex chemistry and coordination required to execute at a high level. The left side of the line has been particularly unstable, so Okung--when he has been healthy enough to play--has had to get used to working with several different left guards, each with different abilities and tendencies. On the line, when you don't know how your neighbor will handle what the defense is doing, it makes it difficult to succeed in a zone blocking scheme.
However, last week, in a do-or-die duel for the NFC West championship, the rookie rose to the occasion. For most of the game, Okung had to deal with Rams defensive end James Hall, a veteran who entered the game with ten sacks on the season.
The rookie held his own against Hall until the second quarter, when he got hurt again. It looked like Okung aggravated his high ankle sprain. In obvious pain, he hobbled to the sideline.
In his absence, the line struggled. His replacement--Chester Pitts--got flagged for holding. Then Pitts sustained a head injury that forced him out of the game.
At that point, Okung re-entered the game. Although clearly impaired by the injury, Okung gutted it out and finished.
In the end, the rookie held Hall to zero sacks. In fact, none of the Rams defenders ever managed to sack Charlie Whitehurst. Partly, this was due to the quarterback's mobility. But it also reflected an improved performance by the whole offensive line.
The O-Line also stepped up their run blocking.
Okung hasn't missed any practice this week. He's playing through the pain, because he's a warrior. Because it's the playoffs.
Russell Okung has had a frustrating rookie season, fighting a series of high ankle sprains (first one leg, then the other!). He has missed several games. In one contest between ankle sprains--when he was fully healthy--Okung performed brilliantly on the road against Chicago, shutting down Julius Peppers, one of the NFL's most dominant defensive ends.
Playing hurt for most of the season, Okung has struggled to achieve competence. We have generally run the ball better when he is in the lineup, though not that much better. His pass protection has been good, though not perfect.
Instability at the neighboring left guard position has not helped. Ideally, a rookie on the O-Line would receive the sage guidance of stable veteran linemen, but the Seahawks have fielded ten different offensive line combinations this year, which has prevented the unit as a whole from developing the complex chemistry and coordination required to execute at a high level. The left side of the line has been particularly unstable, so Okung--when he has been healthy enough to play--has had to get used to working with several different left guards, each with different abilities and tendencies. On the line, when you don't know how your neighbor will handle what the defense is doing, it makes it difficult to succeed in a zone blocking scheme.
However, last week, in a do-or-die duel for the NFC West championship, the rookie rose to the occasion. For most of the game, Okung had to deal with Rams defensive end James Hall, a veteran who entered the game with ten sacks on the season.
The rookie held his own against Hall until the second quarter, when he got hurt again. It looked like Okung aggravated his high ankle sprain. In obvious pain, he hobbled to the sideline.
In his absence, the line struggled. His replacement--Chester Pitts--got flagged for holding. Then Pitts sustained a head injury that forced him out of the game.
At that point, Okung re-entered the game. Although clearly impaired by the injury, Okung gutted it out and finished.
In the end, the rookie held Hall to zero sacks. In fact, none of the Rams defenders ever managed to sack Charlie Whitehurst. Partly, this was due to the quarterback's mobility. But it also reflected an improved performance by the whole offensive line.
The O-Line also stepped up their run blocking.
Okung hasn't missed any practice this week. He's playing through the pain, because he's a warrior. Because it's the playoffs.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Awesome.
The Seahawks decisively seized the NFC West championship tonight.
Members of the team who had disappointed in the past stepped up when the playoffs were on the line.
Our offensive line opened some holes, allowing our running backs to combine for more than 100 rushing yards. On a few occasions, we managed to execute the power right play--which until tonight had only worked only against Carolina--even on downs where St. Louis expected it.
Charlie Whitehurst turned in an inspired performance. He made good decisions, passed accurately, threw the ball away at the right times, and used his mobility to good effect. (He does need to learn how to slide better so he can avoid some of those big hits.)
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates--whom I have often maligned for being predictable--rose to the occasion with an aggressive game plan, throwing often when the defense expected runs. Late in the game, Bates capitalized on his reputation for predictability, calling power right repeatedly, challenging St. Louis to learn how to stop it, and then faking power right to set up a big bootleg left run for Whitehurst.
Our receiving corps--despite lacking Brandon Stokley--proved good enough. Mike Williams, Ben Obomanu, and Ruvell Martin each made a few critical plays.
Seattle's defense smothered St. Louis, forcing them to punt nine times.
We held them to less than 50 yards rushing.
Our linebackers and defensive backs limited the Rams' gains on screen passes. Marcus Trufant--hampered by injury and unreliable in recent weeks--came through in the clutch, tying Lofa Tatupu for the team lead in tackles.
Coming into the game, St. Louis led the league in converting short yardage downs, but our front seven stuffed several such attempts.
The defensive line got their big paws up to tip and bat down several balls.
There was no quit in our defense today. When Lynch coughed up a fumble, giving the Rams the ball in the red zone, the defense rallied and forced them to settle for a field goal.
Late in the game, when Bradford had to throw downfield, Raheem Brock mounted a ferocious pass rush, recording 2.5 sacks.
Our special teams coverage units effectively contained Danny Amendola, one of the league's better punt and kick returners.
Olindo Mare? Absolutely clutch, a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals.
We had a little luck. Bradford's receivers dropped a few on-target throws. The officials made a few bad calls that went our way (most egregiously, the very generous spot on the Michael Robinson run), but they made some other questionable calls that favored St. Louis (like the holding penalties against Craig Terrill and Mike Gibson). So, all in all, the officiating was a wash.
Seattle left little to chance tonight. They fought hard and they got it done. The division championship is ours.
Bring on the Saints.
Members of the team who had disappointed in the past stepped up when the playoffs were on the line.
Our offensive line opened some holes, allowing our running backs to combine for more than 100 rushing yards. On a few occasions, we managed to execute the power right play--which until tonight had only worked only against Carolina--even on downs where St. Louis expected it.
Charlie Whitehurst turned in an inspired performance. He made good decisions, passed accurately, threw the ball away at the right times, and used his mobility to good effect. (He does need to learn how to slide better so he can avoid some of those big hits.)
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates--whom I have often maligned for being predictable--rose to the occasion with an aggressive game plan, throwing often when the defense expected runs. Late in the game, Bates capitalized on his reputation for predictability, calling power right repeatedly, challenging St. Louis to learn how to stop it, and then faking power right to set up a big bootleg left run for Whitehurst.
Our receiving corps--despite lacking Brandon Stokley--proved good enough. Mike Williams, Ben Obomanu, and Ruvell Martin each made a few critical plays.
Seattle's defense smothered St. Louis, forcing them to punt nine times.
We held them to less than 50 yards rushing.
Our linebackers and defensive backs limited the Rams' gains on screen passes. Marcus Trufant--hampered by injury and unreliable in recent weeks--came through in the clutch, tying Lofa Tatupu for the team lead in tackles.
Coming into the game, St. Louis led the league in converting short yardage downs, but our front seven stuffed several such attempts.
The defensive line got their big paws up to tip and bat down several balls.
There was no quit in our defense today. When Lynch coughed up a fumble, giving the Rams the ball in the red zone, the defense rallied and forced them to settle for a field goal.
Late in the game, when Bradford had to throw downfield, Raheem Brock mounted a ferocious pass rush, recording 2.5 sacks.
Our special teams coverage units effectively contained Danny Amendola, one of the league's better punt and kick returners.
Olindo Mare? Absolutely clutch, a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals.
We had a little luck. Bradford's receivers dropped a few on-target throws. The officials made a few bad calls that went our way (most egregiously, the very generous spot on the Michael Robinson run), but they made some other questionable calls that favored St. Louis (like the holding penalties against Craig Terrill and Mike Gibson). So, all in all, the officiating was a wash.
Seattle left little to chance tonight. They fought hard and they got it done. The division championship is ours.
Bring on the Saints.
How to beat the Rams
With a win at home today, Seattle can salvage the season. The Seahawks can exorcise the demons of three disappointing years and reclaim the division title.
Almost no one expects this to happen. Vegas oddsmakers list St. Louis as 3-point favorites. In a rare instance of unanimity, the NFL Network's NFC Playbook triumvirate (Brian Baldinger, Shannon Sharpe, and Joe Theismann) and GameDay Morning foursome (Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp, and Michael Irvin) all foretold doom for the home team. Even Seattle Times reporter Danny O'Neil--normally a homer--picks the Rams to win by 6.
This is understandable. In order to compete today, the Seahawks must arrest and reverse the gravitational force of a three-game losing streak exacerbated by two losing trends: we've lost six of our last seven games, and three of our last four home games.
Moreover, when these teams last met in October, the Rams beat us like a redheaded stepchild mounted on a rented mule that's straddling a dead horse. Playing with the fury of a hungry young team determined to break a 10-game losing streak against Seattle, St. Louis beat us, 20-3.
In that game, neither team managed more than 90 yards on the ground. So, it came down to quarterbacks. Rams rookie Sam Bradford, though pressured early by Seattle and sacked four times, threw for two touchdowns and nearly 300 yards and led his team to victory. Seahawks veteran Matt Hasselbeck--also sacked four times--threw for fewer than 200 yards and zero touchdowns. Both quarterbacks threw an interception.
If Seattle wants to win this game, they need to shut down the Rams' ground attack again. That will be tougher this time. Early this season, Seattle boasted one of the league's best run-stopping defenses. Since then, injuries have taken a toll on our defensive line, transforming our rushing defense into one of the NFL's worst. So, Coach Carroll and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley need to find a way to stop Stephen Jackson, a Pro Bowl running back. Since we've gotten so thin on the defensive line, but remain strong at linebacker, I wonder if the solution might be to sit one of our defensive tackles (Craig Terrill?) and insert an extra linebacker (Will Herring?).
Fortunately, a focus on stopping the run shouldn't hurt our pass defense very much. The St. Louis coaches have sensibly customized their air attack to protect their rookie quarterback from mistakes and maximize his chances for success. (Seattle's coaches should consider similar customization of our offense to the capacities of our starting quarterback.)
Thus, the Rams rarely throw downfield, relying instead on short passes to move the ball. They scorched us with several running back screens in our first meeting. St. Louis also likes to throw bubble screens and slants to Danny Amendola, their best wide receiver. Rams coaches rarely ask their rookie quarterback to stretch the field.
So, we should trust our corners and Earl Thomas--our excellent rookie free safety--to stop the deep ball, and bring strong safety Lawyer Milloy in close to stuff the run and sniff out screen passes.
In search of a compelling story to sell an underwhelming matchup to a national audience, the media has fixated on Sam Bradford, who has indeed put together one of the greatest seasons ever for a rookie quarterback in the NFL. However, he has slid into a slump over the last month, throwing just one touchdown against five interceptions.
Thus, by shutting down the run, Seattle can put the game on the arm of a slumping rookie quarterback. If we deny them the short pass, we can force Bradford to throw deep, let our pass rushers tee off on him, and challenge our defensive backs to grab some picks.
When the Seahawks have the ball, they must find a way to gain traction on the ground. Since we have the league's worst rushing offense, this won't be easy.
Why can't we run the ball?
The problem isn't our running backs. They make the most of the opportunities they are given. If there's a hole, they'll find it. Justin Forsett only needs a few inches of daylight. Marshawn Lynch makes his own holes. If just half the line blocks, he'll gain yards.
But on most downs, our O-Line gets no push. In an effort to address this, Seattle will likely field its tenth different starting offensive line combination, trying Tyler Polumbus at left guard. It couldn't hurt.
However, the greatest menace to our run attack is the predictable playcalling of offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, who seems to think that God will smite him if he doesn't dial up a handoff to Marshawn Lynch on every first down.
Every once in a while, Bates will get in a groove and call an inspired drive. A few times this year, he has put together a complete game. We need that offensive coordinator to show up today. (If the front office has any sense, the jobs of both Bates and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley should be on the line today.)
In this case, calling a good game means mixing the run and pass in unexpected ways. It also means giving the Rams some of their own medicine. They've got a great defensive line, so we need to call some running back screens to punish them if they try to put too much pressure on our quarterback.
Moreover, calling a good game means geting our tight ends involved in the passing game, because our injury-depleted wide receiver corps simply isn't that good.
Which brings us to the quarterback question. Will it be Hasselbeck or Whitehurst? I appreciate how hard Matt has worked to recover from last week's injury and play today. Nevertheless, I'll take a healthy Whitehurst with a week of practice under his belt over a gimpy Hasselbeck who's had limited reps. Plus, if we rest Matt this week, he'll be that much healthier when he starts a home playoff game next week.
Go, Seahawks! Blast the Lambs off the line of scrimmage!
Scream your lungs out, 12th Man! I want so much noise that St. Louis players are bleeding out of their earholes.
It's time to seize the division championship.
Almost no one expects this to happen. Vegas oddsmakers list St. Louis as 3-point favorites. In a rare instance of unanimity, the NFL Network's NFC Playbook triumvirate (Brian Baldinger, Shannon Sharpe, and Joe Theismann) and GameDay Morning foursome (Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp, and Michael Irvin) all foretold doom for the home team. Even Seattle Times reporter Danny O'Neil--normally a homer--picks the Rams to win by 6.
This is understandable. In order to compete today, the Seahawks must arrest and reverse the gravitational force of a three-game losing streak exacerbated by two losing trends: we've lost six of our last seven games, and three of our last four home games.
Moreover, when these teams last met in October, the Rams beat us like a redheaded stepchild mounted on a rented mule that's straddling a dead horse. Playing with the fury of a hungry young team determined to break a 10-game losing streak against Seattle, St. Louis beat us, 20-3.
In that game, neither team managed more than 90 yards on the ground. So, it came down to quarterbacks. Rams rookie Sam Bradford, though pressured early by Seattle and sacked four times, threw for two touchdowns and nearly 300 yards and led his team to victory. Seahawks veteran Matt Hasselbeck--also sacked four times--threw for fewer than 200 yards and zero touchdowns. Both quarterbacks threw an interception.
If Seattle wants to win this game, they need to shut down the Rams' ground attack again. That will be tougher this time. Early this season, Seattle boasted one of the league's best run-stopping defenses. Since then, injuries have taken a toll on our defensive line, transforming our rushing defense into one of the NFL's worst. So, Coach Carroll and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley need to find a way to stop Stephen Jackson, a Pro Bowl running back. Since we've gotten so thin on the defensive line, but remain strong at linebacker, I wonder if the solution might be to sit one of our defensive tackles (Craig Terrill?) and insert an extra linebacker (Will Herring?).
Fortunately, a focus on stopping the run shouldn't hurt our pass defense very much. The St. Louis coaches have sensibly customized their air attack to protect their rookie quarterback from mistakes and maximize his chances for success. (Seattle's coaches should consider similar customization of our offense to the capacities of our starting quarterback.)
Thus, the Rams rarely throw downfield, relying instead on short passes to move the ball. They scorched us with several running back screens in our first meeting. St. Louis also likes to throw bubble screens and slants to Danny Amendola, their best wide receiver. Rams coaches rarely ask their rookie quarterback to stretch the field.
So, we should trust our corners and Earl Thomas--our excellent rookie free safety--to stop the deep ball, and bring strong safety Lawyer Milloy in close to stuff the run and sniff out screen passes.
In search of a compelling story to sell an underwhelming matchup to a national audience, the media has fixated on Sam Bradford, who has indeed put together one of the greatest seasons ever for a rookie quarterback in the NFL. However, he has slid into a slump over the last month, throwing just one touchdown against five interceptions.
Thus, by shutting down the run, Seattle can put the game on the arm of a slumping rookie quarterback. If we deny them the short pass, we can force Bradford to throw deep, let our pass rushers tee off on him, and challenge our defensive backs to grab some picks.
When the Seahawks have the ball, they must find a way to gain traction on the ground. Since we have the league's worst rushing offense, this won't be easy.
Why can't we run the ball?
The problem isn't our running backs. They make the most of the opportunities they are given. If there's a hole, they'll find it. Justin Forsett only needs a few inches of daylight. Marshawn Lynch makes his own holes. If just half the line blocks, he'll gain yards.
But on most downs, our O-Line gets no push. In an effort to address this, Seattle will likely field its tenth different starting offensive line combination, trying Tyler Polumbus at left guard. It couldn't hurt.
However, the greatest menace to our run attack is the predictable playcalling of offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, who seems to think that God will smite him if he doesn't dial up a handoff to Marshawn Lynch on every first down.
Every once in a while, Bates will get in a groove and call an inspired drive. A few times this year, he has put together a complete game. We need that offensive coordinator to show up today. (If the front office has any sense, the jobs of both Bates and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley should be on the line today.)
In this case, calling a good game means mixing the run and pass in unexpected ways. It also means giving the Rams some of their own medicine. They've got a great defensive line, so we need to call some running back screens to punish them if they try to put too much pressure on our quarterback.
Moreover, calling a good game means geting our tight ends involved in the passing game, because our injury-depleted wide receiver corps simply isn't that good.
Which brings us to the quarterback question. Will it be Hasselbeck or Whitehurst? I appreciate how hard Matt has worked to recover from last week's injury and play today. Nevertheless, I'll take a healthy Whitehurst with a week of practice under his belt over a gimpy Hasselbeck who's had limited reps. Plus, if we rest Matt this week, he'll be that much healthier when he starts a home playoff game next week.
Go, Seahawks! Blast the Lambs off the line of scrimmage!
Scream your lungs out, 12th Man! I want so much noise that St. Louis players are bleeding out of their earholes.
It's time to seize the division championship.
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