Today/s game exposed the complacency of Pete Carroll and his defensive staff. After St. Louis gouged us for more than 200 yards on the ground last Monday, our defensive coaches failed to respond. Tampa Bay followed the Rams' blueprint, employed the same run schemes, and they worked just as well. Once again, our defense surrendered more than 200 rushing yards to a team with an unheralded O-line and backup running back. Just like last week, an effective run game enabled a lackluster quarterback to move the chains by completing intermediate passes almost uncontested by our linebackers and safeties. Our future opponents will continue to execute Brian Schottenheimer's offensive game plan until our defensive coaches devise counter-schemes D can execute.
Today's game exposed the complacency of most of our players and the 12th Man. The Bucs took the field and played with intensity from the start, but through the first two quarters, our athletes came out flat and the crowd seemed quiet, both apparently assuming that they would not have to work hard to defeat a winless team.
Today's game exposed our defensive coaches continuing mystifying inability to capitalize on our talented stable of pass rushers to rattle inexperienced opposing quarterbacks.
Today's game exposed offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as a slow learner. When Marshawn Lynch is in Beast Mode, there is no need to get cute with counterintuitive playcalls. Just feed the beast.
Today's game exposed the devastating impact of poor officiating. In the first quarter, the referees robbed free safety Earl Thomas of a spectacular interception, flagging him for pass interception on the basis of a relatively innocuous arm bar. That adverse call, followed by a more legitimate PI flag against Brandon Browner, seemed to demoralize the Seattle defense, which helped Tampa Bay leap to a 21-0 lead. (The poor officiating happened to hurt Seattle more, but at least one call went against Tampa Bay: Ricardo Lockette's catch was not a catch.)
Today's game exposed Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin as mere mortals. DangeRuss threw two costly picks. Having caught literally everything thrown his way in the first 8 games of the season, Baldwin dropped the first two passes thrown to him today.
Today's game also exposed Wilson and Baldwin as clutch players who rally from mistakes. DangeRuss proved as relentless as ever, making key plays over and over again with his arm and feet. After his two drops, Baldwin reverted to form, catching several balls at critical junctures to keep drives alive and score the game-tying touchdown.
Today's game exposed the growing maturity of Golden Tate and Marshawn Lynch. Like many Seahawks, Tate played the second half and into overtime in a state of cold fury, declining to taunt his opponents or celebrate, even when he made huge plays like his 71-yard punt return near end of third quarter. Even after Bevell robbed the Beast of the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter by calling a pass on first and goal at the 3-yard line--a pass that the Bucs intercepted to end the drive without a score--Lynch did not pout. Instead, the Beast stood helmetless on the sidelines, coolly waving his arms to incite the 12th Man to eardrum-bursting frenzy in support of the defense.
Today exposed our O-line's ability to open running lanes and provide some decent protection for Russell Wilson, even when led by backup center Lemuel Jeanpierre after All-Pro center Max Unger left the game with a concussion.
Today exposed our ability to break the will of an opposing team when Lynch is in Beast Mode and we pound the rock relentlessly. We win when we rediscover our identity as a running team.
Today exposed the grit and resilience of our defense. After surrendering 21 points in a disastrous second quarter, they yielded only 3 in the third, none in the fourth quarter and zero in overtime.
Today's game exposed the Seahawks as a team with enough talent and character to survive self-inflicted wounds and gut it out to 8-1.
Go, Hawks!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Lessons and beauty in an undeserved victory, and why Lynch should have been benched
In a just world, the Seahawks would have lost to the Rams on Monday night. That's what's supposed to happen when you get outcoached and outplayed.
Lowering the Legion of Boom
Last week, I opined that the Seattle defense "is generally sound."
Yet, the Rams ran the ball down our throats. Everyone knew that was their game plan, but it didn't matter. St. Louis offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer cracked the code, drawing up inspired schemes to exploit previously unsuspected weaknesses in the Seahawk run defense. Those schemes were effectively executed by an average offensive line and by Zac Stacy, a 5th-round rookie who had never cracked the century mark in three previous starts, but then busted out for 134 yards against a defense stacked with high draft picks, pricy free agents and All-Pro and Pro Bowl talent.
Before Monday, the Seahawks had the 5th best rushing defense in the NFL. After giving up more than 200 yards to the Rams, Seattle's rank fell to 15th.
Last week, I wrote that the "pass rush appears to be coming together," but the Seahawks managed only three sacks.
Last week, I wrote that Seattle's "remaining regular season schedule appears to offer only two opportunities" (against the Falcons and the Saints) to "establish that our defense can shut down capable quarterbacks who run fast offenses from behind solid lines, choosing among multiple talented receivers."
I was wrong. You don't need a capable quarterback, quick tempo or multiple gifted receivers to challenge Seattle's pass defense. Between runs, Schottenheimer found ways for career benchwarmer Kellen Clemens to complete passes to a gaggle of inexperienced receivers at the expense of the vaunted Legion of Boom (and against our justly less-vaunted linebackers). The humble backup threw two early picks and missed several easy throws to wide-open teammates. A more accurate passer would have cut our defense to ribbons, but if your all-world defense can't shut down the passing attack of an undistinguished journeyman like Clemens, then maybe it's not really an all-world defense.
Yes, our defenders stepped up in the end with a heroic goal-line stand that saved the game. In the end, the Seahawks' superior athleticism barely trumped better coaching and execution by the Rams.
Future opponents will study and steal the schemes Schottenheimer used to shred the Seattle defense. Coach Carroll and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn failed to adjust adequately during the game on Monday night, but I hope their postmortem analyses have helped them figure out how to counter Schottenheimer's schemes, because our future opponents will execute them with better offensive athletes than St. Louis can currently field.
Time will tell whether St. Louis exposed an overrated defense, or if Monday represented a rare lapse for an otherwise solid unit.
I'm betting on the latter, and I'm betting the defense and the 12th Man come out to re-establish our reputation for domination against a bad Bucs offense. I would hate to be quarterback Mike Glennon tomorrow.
Losing our identity as a run-first team
Last week, I predicted that the Seahawks would "pound the rock relentlessly."
Wrong again. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell gave up on the run. The Rams surprised everyone by playing good run defense, but Seattle made no attempt to grind them down. Marshawn Lynch only carried the ball 8 times for a mere 23 yards.
Fullback Michael Robinson was woefully underutilized, taking the field for only 11 offensive snaps. What's the point of re-signing a battering ram if you're not going to use him?
Not running the ball enough meant attempting too many passes, calling too many designed runs by the quarterback, and Russell Wilson taking too many sacks and quarterback hits. Most of those plays yielded no yardage, or negative yards.
Consider the strategic options we had against the stout St. Louis defense:
1. Hand off the ball and run. This allows your offense to attack the defense. Your O-linemen fire out and hit defenders. Your wideouts get a chance to put a lick on the corners for a change. Your fullback becomes a guided missile who's going to make someone pay. Your big running back is going to dish out some punishment before he goes down. Your quarterback gets out harm's way.
2. Try to pass the ball. This allows their defense to attack your offense. Their corners bump your receivers. Their D-linemen and linebackers run over and around your hapless O-line and crush your little quarterback, over and over and over again.
If you're not gaining any yards, it is better to hit than to be hit. The nice thing about option #1 is that it tends to wear down the defense and create holes where none existed formerly.
Even when the Legion of Boom put our offense in great field position, Bevell's playcalling nearly prevented us from scoring. In the first quarter, a convoy of defenders helped Richard Sherman return a Clemens interception 38 yards to the St. Louis 26. A quarterback run and a Rams penalty then made it first and goal on the one yard line. Rather than line up in the I-formation and let the O-line and Rob clear the way for Lynch to pound the rock into the end zone, we came out in the read option on first and second downs, and Wilson twice ran the ball, taking unnecessary hits and losing a yard. A touchdown pass to Golden Tate salvaged the drive, but the poor play calls compounded Lynch's growing alienation and subjected our franchise quarterback to unnecessary physical punishment.
I was correct last week to characterize Seattle's offensive line as "absolutely dreadful," but I failed to anticipate our coaches' complete failure to account for the fierce Rams pass rush. For most of the game, Bevell and O-line coach Tom Cable left backup tackles Paul McQuistan and Michael Bowie stranded on an island, alone against stud defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn. Predictably, Long and Quinn racked up 3 sacks each, plus innumerable brutal quarterback hits.
Something must be done. Cable says Seattle will start the same five offensive linemen again this week, so personnel changes are evidently off the table until starting tackles Breno Giacomini and Russell Okung return from injury.
Clearly, we need to establish the running game to preserve the health of our quarterback. When we do pass the ball, tight ends and running backs need to stay in to help with pass protection.
Unfortunately, establishing the run against Tampa Bay won't be easy. The Bucs rank 7th in the league in rushing defense. After completely shutting down Seattle's ground attack on Monday, St. Louis still ranks just 22nd in the league in stopping the run.
Why Lynch should have been benched
You read that right. I know Marshawn Lynch wants the ball. I want more Beast Mode, too. However, his frustrations don't give him the right to flip off his coaches two weeks ago in Arizona when Bevell didn't call his number in the red zone. He pouted again during and after the game last week. It is not known how they team responded to Lynch's obscene gesture. However, on the way back from St. Louis, Carroll sat by the moody prima donna on the plane and consoled him.
Lynch should have suspended for a game without pay for flipping the bird to his coaches in Arizona. Robert Turbin and Christine Michael could have carried the load in St. Louis. When coaches fail to draw the line against that kind of misconduct, they imperil team morale and discipline.
Beauty
Anyone who has ever endured losing seasons knows that there is really no such thing as an ugly win. When you have been forced to subsist on a steady diet of defeat, you learn to savor every victory, to find the beauty in each win.
The 80-yard bomb from DangeRuss to Golden Tate was beautiful. Wilson underthrew the ball, but Tate adjusted brilliantly to rob the cornerback of an interception and score. Sadly, his showboating and taunting penalty detracted from what was otherwise arguably the best play of his career. (Prompt contrition brought partial redemption, however.)
Everything about the way Earl Thomas plays free safety is beautiful. At one point, he rocketed out of nowhere to blow up a running Kellen Clemons. On the game's penultimate play, he knifed into the scrum to help clutch backup linebacker Heath Farwell stop the Rams runner one yard short of the goal line.
The goal-line stand itself was beautiful.
7-1 is beautiful.
8-1 would be even more beautiful.
Go, Hawks!
Lowering the Legion of Boom
Last week, I opined that the Seattle defense "is generally sound."
Yet, the Rams ran the ball down our throats. Everyone knew that was their game plan, but it didn't matter. St. Louis offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer cracked the code, drawing up inspired schemes to exploit previously unsuspected weaknesses in the Seahawk run defense. Those schemes were effectively executed by an average offensive line and by Zac Stacy, a 5th-round rookie who had never cracked the century mark in three previous starts, but then busted out for 134 yards against a defense stacked with high draft picks, pricy free agents and All-Pro and Pro Bowl talent.
Before Monday, the Seahawks had the 5th best rushing defense in the NFL. After giving up more than 200 yards to the Rams, Seattle's rank fell to 15th.
Last week, I wrote that the "pass rush appears to be coming together," but the Seahawks managed only three sacks.
Last week, I wrote that Seattle's "remaining regular season schedule appears to offer only two opportunities" (against the Falcons and the Saints) to "establish that our defense can shut down capable quarterbacks who run fast offenses from behind solid lines, choosing among multiple talented receivers."
I was wrong. You don't need a capable quarterback, quick tempo or multiple gifted receivers to challenge Seattle's pass defense. Between runs, Schottenheimer found ways for career benchwarmer Kellen Clemens to complete passes to a gaggle of inexperienced receivers at the expense of the vaunted Legion of Boom (and against our justly less-vaunted linebackers). The humble backup threw two early picks and missed several easy throws to wide-open teammates. A more accurate passer would have cut our defense to ribbons, but if your all-world defense can't shut down the passing attack of an undistinguished journeyman like Clemens, then maybe it's not really an all-world defense.
Yes, our defenders stepped up in the end with a heroic goal-line stand that saved the game. In the end, the Seahawks' superior athleticism barely trumped better coaching and execution by the Rams.
Future opponents will study and steal the schemes Schottenheimer used to shred the Seattle defense. Coach Carroll and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn failed to adjust adequately during the game on Monday night, but I hope their postmortem analyses have helped them figure out how to counter Schottenheimer's schemes, because our future opponents will execute them with better offensive athletes than St. Louis can currently field.
Time will tell whether St. Louis exposed an overrated defense, or if Monday represented a rare lapse for an otherwise solid unit.
I'm betting on the latter, and I'm betting the defense and the 12th Man come out to re-establish our reputation for domination against a bad Bucs offense. I would hate to be quarterback Mike Glennon tomorrow.
Losing our identity as a run-first team
Last week, I predicted that the Seahawks would "pound the rock relentlessly."
Wrong again. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell gave up on the run. The Rams surprised everyone by playing good run defense, but Seattle made no attempt to grind them down. Marshawn Lynch only carried the ball 8 times for a mere 23 yards.
Fullback Michael Robinson was woefully underutilized, taking the field for only 11 offensive snaps. What's the point of re-signing a battering ram if you're not going to use him?
Not running the ball enough meant attempting too many passes, calling too many designed runs by the quarterback, and Russell Wilson taking too many sacks and quarterback hits. Most of those plays yielded no yardage, or negative yards.
Consider the strategic options we had against the stout St. Louis defense:
1. Hand off the ball and run. This allows your offense to attack the defense. Your O-linemen fire out and hit defenders. Your wideouts get a chance to put a lick on the corners for a change. Your fullback becomes a guided missile who's going to make someone pay. Your big running back is going to dish out some punishment before he goes down. Your quarterback gets out harm's way.
2. Try to pass the ball. This allows their defense to attack your offense. Their corners bump your receivers. Their D-linemen and linebackers run over and around your hapless O-line and crush your little quarterback, over and over and over again.
If you're not gaining any yards, it is better to hit than to be hit. The nice thing about option #1 is that it tends to wear down the defense and create holes where none existed formerly.
Even when the Legion of Boom put our offense in great field position, Bevell's playcalling nearly prevented us from scoring. In the first quarter, a convoy of defenders helped Richard Sherman return a Clemens interception 38 yards to the St. Louis 26. A quarterback run and a Rams penalty then made it first and goal on the one yard line. Rather than line up in the I-formation and let the O-line and Rob clear the way for Lynch to pound the rock into the end zone, we came out in the read option on first and second downs, and Wilson twice ran the ball, taking unnecessary hits and losing a yard. A touchdown pass to Golden Tate salvaged the drive, but the poor play calls compounded Lynch's growing alienation and subjected our franchise quarterback to unnecessary physical punishment.
I was correct last week to characterize Seattle's offensive line as "absolutely dreadful," but I failed to anticipate our coaches' complete failure to account for the fierce Rams pass rush. For most of the game, Bevell and O-line coach Tom Cable left backup tackles Paul McQuistan and Michael Bowie stranded on an island, alone against stud defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn. Predictably, Long and Quinn racked up 3 sacks each, plus innumerable brutal quarterback hits.
Something must be done. Cable says Seattle will start the same five offensive linemen again this week, so personnel changes are evidently off the table until starting tackles Breno Giacomini and Russell Okung return from injury.
Clearly, we need to establish the running game to preserve the health of our quarterback. When we do pass the ball, tight ends and running backs need to stay in to help with pass protection.
Unfortunately, establishing the run against Tampa Bay won't be easy. The Bucs rank 7th in the league in rushing defense. After completely shutting down Seattle's ground attack on Monday, St. Louis still ranks just 22nd in the league in stopping the run.
Why Lynch should have been benched
You read that right. I know Marshawn Lynch wants the ball. I want more Beast Mode, too. However, his frustrations don't give him the right to flip off his coaches two weeks ago in Arizona when Bevell didn't call his number in the red zone. He pouted again during and after the game last week. It is not known how they team responded to Lynch's obscene gesture. However, on the way back from St. Louis, Carroll sat by the moody prima donna on the plane and consoled him.
Lynch should have suspended for a game without pay for flipping the bird to his coaches in Arizona. Robert Turbin and Christine Michael could have carried the load in St. Louis. When coaches fail to draw the line against that kind of misconduct, they imperil team morale and discipline.
Beauty
Anyone who has ever endured losing seasons knows that there is really no such thing as an ugly win. When you have been forced to subsist on a steady diet of defeat, you learn to savor every victory, to find the beauty in each win.
The 80-yard bomb from DangeRuss to Golden Tate was beautiful. Wilson underthrew the ball, but Tate adjusted brilliantly to rob the cornerback of an interception and score. Sadly, his showboating and taunting penalty detracted from what was otherwise arguably the best play of his career. (Prompt contrition brought partial redemption, however.)
Everything about the way Earl Thomas plays free safety is beautiful. At one point, he rocketed out of nowhere to blow up a running Kellen Clemons. On the game's penultimate play, he knifed into the scrum to help clutch backup linebacker Heath Farwell stop the Rams runner one yard short of the goal line.
The goal-line stand itself was beautiful.
7-1 is beautiful.
8-1 would be even more beautiful.
Go, Hawks!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Surprising, improbable, precarious
As Seahawks near the middle of the regular season, they have--surprisingly, improbably and precariously--managed the best start in franchise history.
Surprising
Seattle's success so far is surprising, because while the team's greatest strength remains its defense, that unit has displayed alarming vulnerability at times.
After Matt Schaub had his way against us throughout the first half of the Texans contest last month, the Sea-fence adjusted and recovered to salvage a victory, leading this fallible correspondent naively to declare that "the defensive vulnerabilities Houston exposed last week are literally the least of our worries."
Of course, Andrew Luck and his receivers exploited those selfsame weaknesses with seeming ease all game long in Indy. Fueled by indignation over smacktalk from the Legion of Boom, Luck caught our defensive backs gambling and dealt Seattle its sole defeat thus far this season.
Even Titans backup Ryan Fitzpatrick managed to move the ball briskly at times two weeks ago in Seahawks Stadium. (Garbage time drives conducted by Jacksonville's Chad Henne and Arizona's Carson Palmer don't count; they made those games appear closer than they really were, but yards and points gained at the expense of reserves laying back in a prevent defense are meaningless and no cause for alarm.)
Certainly, the Sea-fence is generally sound: We rank third in the league in yards and points allowed. Only four teams allow fewer rush yards than Seattle. Only Houston permits more passing yards.
The pass rush appears to be coming together, when frequent rotation can keep fresh legs on the field. But Schaub and Luck shredded our D by running up-tempo offenses that denied our defenders opportunities to substitute.
If the Seahawks are serious about winning a championship, then we need to establish that our defense can shut down capable quarterbacks who run fast offenses from behind solid lines, choosing among multiple talented receivers. Our remaining regular season schedule appears to offer only two opportunities to do this: When Seattle travels to Atlanta next month, and again when we host Drew Brees and the Saints in December. These tests matter because the opponents we would likely meet if we make the playoffs will likely feature passing offenses that range from functional to fantastic.
Improbable
Seattle's success so far is improbable because our offensive line has been absolutely dreadful to this point.
The Seahawks have continued to win, even with two cornerstones sidelined by injury in Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung and his counterpart on the right side, the oft-flagged Breno Giacomini, a serviceable, vicious veteran. Paul McQuistan, normally our starting left guard, has slid over to play Okung's position, but is barely adequate in that role. At right tackle, Michael Bowie has looked a lot like the 7th-round rookie he is, and certainly no threat to Giacomini's hold on the starting job. (No one can hold like Breno.) Rookie free agents Alvin Bailey and Caylin Hauptmann appear to be nothing more than development projects and emergency reserves at this point.
James Carpenter and JR Sweezy have each struggled at guard. Left guard Carpenter--originally drafted to play tackle--seems resigned to embrace the role of first-round bust. At right guard, Sweezy still looks raw, an eccentric and incomplete experiment in converting a college defensive tackle into a pro O-lineman.
When healthy, All-Pro center Max Unger is the only glue giving any semblance of cohesion to this hangdog unit. His backup, Lemuel Jeanpierre, helped the team go 1-1 during Unger's two-week absence from the lineup.
This makeshift offensive line actually run blocks reasonably well, but not as well as one might assume upon seeing that Seattle ranks second in the league in rushing yards.
Only two backs in the NFL have more yards per game than Marshawn Lynch. This is not because the O-line is gouging huge holes in the defense. It's because Lynch has lived in Beast Mode, busting creases open, knocking down opponents, and dragging hapless defenders with him down the field.
Seattle's second-leading rusher is Russell Wilson. Averaging 46 yards per game, DangeRuss ranks 25th in the league in rushing, ahead of several starting running backs, and ahead of every quarterback except for Oakland's Terrell Pryor.
Most of Wilson's ground gains do not come on designed runs facilitated by good blocking. On the contrary, they happen because the O-line so often fails to provide pass protection in the pocket, forcing our quarterback to run for his life and improvise far too frequently.
Precarious
This is what makes Seattle's success this season so very precarious: the O-line is so bad that it's downright dangerous out there for DangeRuss.
Everyone agrees that Wilson is under too much pressure and is getting hit too much.
Quarterbacks tend to get far too much credit when things go well (and far too much blame when things go wrong). There are too many passers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and too many quarterback MVPs in the history of this game. Reflexively labeling a quarterback as a team's MVP is normally intellectually lazy and indicative of a limited understanding of the game.
But not in this case.
Without a doubt, Wilson is the franchise's most valuable player at this point.
No other quarterback in the league could have led Seattle to a 6-1 record. No other quarterback has the astonishing gridiron acumen and athleticism that allows Wilson to move the offense when the line can't protect him, when his receivers can't get open, and even when Lynch can't find running room.
Wilson is smart, durable and--so far--lucky in that he hasn't suffered an injury. Two years ago, we saw what Tarvaris Jackson could do under similar circumstances, which underscores the fact that DangeRuss remains this team's red wheelbarrow.
so much depends
upon
a young quarter
back
glazed with rain
water
behind a bad
o-line.
Fortunately, two consecutive prime time contests have given Seattle something of a mini-bye: 11 days between games. This respite should have given the Seahawks some time to rest and address the aforementioned shortcomings.
More good news: As the Diehard predicted back on September 2, Seattle has re-signed Pro Bowl fullback Michael Robinson. This should help with run blocking and pass protection, as well as improving team morale and leadership. It looks like Rob is back for the season, since Spencer Ware went on injured reserve with his high ankle sprain, leaving hamstrung Derrick Coleman as the only other fullback on the roster. Like the proverbial broken clock, the Diehard occasionally gets it right.
It was great to see the 12th Man make an appearance on the road the Thursday before last. It must have been demoralizing for Arizona when vastly outnumbered Seattle fans generated more noise against the Cardinal offense than the home crowd managed when the Seahawks had the ball.
Since the World Series will likely deplete the home crowd in St. Louis on Monday night, I'm hoping that the 12th Man might once again manage to conquer an opposing stadium.
Seattle can't afford to underestimate the Rams. Every NFL team is dangerous, but Jeff Fisher is a great coach with a knack for knocking off division opponents.
The St. Louis defense is having an off year, but our O-line needs to step up to ensure that their once-fierce pass rush does not return to form. The Rams have struggled to stop the run, so expect Seattle to pound the rock relentlessly.
The Rams haven't run the ball well all year, but they were having some success through the air with Sam Bradford. Watch Seattle stack the box and dare backup Kellen Clemens to challenge the Legion of Boom.
I never get tired of beating the Rams. Seattle leads the all-time series, 18-12. We're 15-6 since joining the NFC West in 2002. Since the disgraceful 3-game sweep of the 2004 season, the Seahawks have owned the Rams, winning 15 of the last 17.
Let's make it 16 of 18. Go, Hawks!
Surprising
Seattle's success so far is surprising, because while the team's greatest strength remains its defense, that unit has displayed alarming vulnerability at times.
After Matt Schaub had his way against us throughout the first half of the Texans contest last month, the Sea-fence adjusted and recovered to salvage a victory, leading this fallible correspondent naively to declare that "the defensive vulnerabilities Houston exposed last week are literally the least of our worries."
Of course, Andrew Luck and his receivers exploited those selfsame weaknesses with seeming ease all game long in Indy. Fueled by indignation over smacktalk from the Legion of Boom, Luck caught our defensive backs gambling and dealt Seattle its sole defeat thus far this season.
Even Titans backup Ryan Fitzpatrick managed to move the ball briskly at times two weeks ago in Seahawks Stadium. (Garbage time drives conducted by Jacksonville's Chad Henne and Arizona's Carson Palmer don't count; they made those games appear closer than they really were, but yards and points gained at the expense of reserves laying back in a prevent defense are meaningless and no cause for alarm.)
Certainly, the Sea-fence is generally sound: We rank third in the league in yards and points allowed. Only four teams allow fewer rush yards than Seattle. Only Houston permits more passing yards.
The pass rush appears to be coming together, when frequent rotation can keep fresh legs on the field. But Schaub and Luck shredded our D by running up-tempo offenses that denied our defenders opportunities to substitute.
If the Seahawks are serious about winning a championship, then we need to establish that our defense can shut down capable quarterbacks who run fast offenses from behind solid lines, choosing among multiple talented receivers. Our remaining regular season schedule appears to offer only two opportunities to do this: When Seattle travels to Atlanta next month, and again when we host Drew Brees and the Saints in December. These tests matter because the opponents we would likely meet if we make the playoffs will likely feature passing offenses that range from functional to fantastic.
Improbable
Seattle's success so far is improbable because our offensive line has been absolutely dreadful to this point.
The Seahawks have continued to win, even with two cornerstones sidelined by injury in Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung and his counterpart on the right side, the oft-flagged Breno Giacomini, a serviceable, vicious veteran. Paul McQuistan, normally our starting left guard, has slid over to play Okung's position, but is barely adequate in that role. At right tackle, Michael Bowie has looked a lot like the 7th-round rookie he is, and certainly no threat to Giacomini's hold on the starting job. (No one can hold like Breno.) Rookie free agents Alvin Bailey and Caylin Hauptmann appear to be nothing more than development projects and emergency reserves at this point.
James Carpenter and JR Sweezy have each struggled at guard. Left guard Carpenter--originally drafted to play tackle--seems resigned to embrace the role of first-round bust. At right guard, Sweezy still looks raw, an eccentric and incomplete experiment in converting a college defensive tackle into a pro O-lineman.
When healthy, All-Pro center Max Unger is the only glue giving any semblance of cohesion to this hangdog unit. His backup, Lemuel Jeanpierre, helped the team go 1-1 during Unger's two-week absence from the lineup.
This makeshift offensive line actually run blocks reasonably well, but not as well as one might assume upon seeing that Seattle ranks second in the league in rushing yards.
Only two backs in the NFL have more yards per game than Marshawn Lynch. This is not because the O-line is gouging huge holes in the defense. It's because Lynch has lived in Beast Mode, busting creases open, knocking down opponents, and dragging hapless defenders with him down the field.
Seattle's second-leading rusher is Russell Wilson. Averaging 46 yards per game, DangeRuss ranks 25th in the league in rushing, ahead of several starting running backs, and ahead of every quarterback except for Oakland's Terrell Pryor.
Most of Wilson's ground gains do not come on designed runs facilitated by good blocking. On the contrary, they happen because the O-line so often fails to provide pass protection in the pocket, forcing our quarterback to run for his life and improvise far too frequently.
Precarious
This is what makes Seattle's success this season so very precarious: the O-line is so bad that it's downright dangerous out there for DangeRuss.
Everyone agrees that Wilson is under too much pressure and is getting hit too much.
Quarterbacks tend to get far too much credit when things go well (and far too much blame when things go wrong). There are too many passers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and too many quarterback MVPs in the history of this game. Reflexively labeling a quarterback as a team's MVP is normally intellectually lazy and indicative of a limited understanding of the game.
But not in this case.
Without a doubt, Wilson is the franchise's most valuable player at this point.
No other quarterback in the league could have led Seattle to a 6-1 record. No other quarterback has the astonishing gridiron acumen and athleticism that allows Wilson to move the offense when the line can't protect him, when his receivers can't get open, and even when Lynch can't find running room.
Wilson is smart, durable and--so far--lucky in that he hasn't suffered an injury. Two years ago, we saw what Tarvaris Jackson could do under similar circumstances, which underscores the fact that DangeRuss remains this team's red wheelbarrow.
so much depends
upon
a young quarter
back
glazed with rain
water
behind a bad
o-line.
Fortunately, two consecutive prime time contests have given Seattle something of a mini-bye: 11 days between games. This respite should have given the Seahawks some time to rest and address the aforementioned shortcomings.
More good news: As the Diehard predicted back on September 2, Seattle has re-signed Pro Bowl fullback Michael Robinson. This should help with run blocking and pass protection, as well as improving team morale and leadership. It looks like Rob is back for the season, since Spencer Ware went on injured reserve with his high ankle sprain, leaving hamstrung Derrick Coleman as the only other fullback on the roster. Like the proverbial broken clock, the Diehard occasionally gets it right.
It was great to see the 12th Man make an appearance on the road the Thursday before last. It must have been demoralizing for Arizona when vastly outnumbered Seattle fans generated more noise against the Cardinal offense than the home crowd managed when the Seahawks had the ball.
Since the World Series will likely deplete the home crowd in St. Louis on Monday night, I'm hoping that the 12th Man might once again manage to conquer an opposing stadium.
Seattle can't afford to underestimate the Rams. Every NFL team is dangerous, but Jeff Fisher is a great coach with a knack for knocking off division opponents.
The St. Louis defense is having an off year, but our O-line needs to step up to ensure that their once-fierce pass rush does not return to form. The Rams have struggled to stop the run, so expect Seattle to pound the rock relentlessly.
The Rams haven't run the ball well all year, but they were having some success through the air with Sam Bradford. Watch Seattle stack the box and dare backup Kellen Clemens to challenge the Legion of Boom.
I never get tired of beating the Rams. Seattle leads the all-time series, 18-12. We're 15-6 since joining the NFC West in 2002. Since the disgraceful 3-game sweep of the 2004 season, the Seahawks have owned the Rams, winning 15 of the last 17.
Let's make it 16 of 18. Go, Hawks!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
12th Man intervention
The 12th Man ranks among the best home crowds in the world of professional sports, but we need a little fine tuning to maintain that distinction and demonstrate that we not only number among the best, but that the 12th Man is the best.
To begin with the glaringly obvious: We need to take back the world record for loudest outdoor stadium from the Kansas City Queefs.
It is shameful that harassment of opposing fans has gotten to the point that Seattle police officers have to go undercover at home games and don enemy jerseys to discourage that kind of disgraceful behavior. Being rude to visiting fans doesn't prove that you're hardcore; it just shows that you're a bully. The overwhelming majority of decent Seahawk fans need to step up and shut down the haters in their midst, to excise these embarrassing tumors.
It's great that so many Seattle fans can travel to road games. I was on a flight from Seattle to Phoenix last night. Most of the passengers wore Seahawks and Huskies regalia, and there was a pep rally atmosphere in the terminal in Seattle and on the plane. I was ashamed, however, that people wouldn't shut up when the pilots and flight attendants addressed us. One of the distinguishing regional characteristics of the Pacific Northwest is supposed to be a degree of politeness bordering on Canadian, both figuratively and literally. But people on that plane probably came away with the impression that Seahawks fans are boors who drink too much.
Here's hoping the 12th Man brings enough noise tonight to drown out the timid Cardinal home crowd.
Go, Hawks!
To begin with the glaringly obvious: We need to take back the world record for loudest outdoor stadium from the Kansas City Queefs.
It is shameful that harassment of opposing fans has gotten to the point that Seattle police officers have to go undercover at home games and don enemy jerseys to discourage that kind of disgraceful behavior. Being rude to visiting fans doesn't prove that you're hardcore; it just shows that you're a bully. The overwhelming majority of decent Seahawk fans need to step up and shut down the haters in their midst, to excise these embarrassing tumors.
It's great that so many Seattle fans can travel to road games. I was on a flight from Seattle to Phoenix last night. Most of the passengers wore Seahawks and Huskies regalia, and there was a pep rally atmosphere in the terminal in Seattle and on the plane. I was ashamed, however, that people wouldn't shut up when the pilots and flight attendants addressed us. One of the distinguishing regional characteristics of the Pacific Northwest is supposed to be a degree of politeness bordering on Canadian, both figuratively and literally. But people on that plane probably came away with the impression that Seahawks fans are boors who drink too much.
Here's hoping the 12th Man brings enough noise tonight to drown out the timid Cardinal home crowd.
Go, Hawks!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Diagnostic win
Seattle escaped from Houston with a win last week, but the Texans exposed weaknesses that other teams will try to exploit.
Throughout the first half, Matt Schaub dissected our vaunted secondary, moved the ball efficiently, and built a commanding lead. The Seahawks made adjustments in the second half, turned up the pass rush to 11, shut out Houston for the rest of the game and forced overtime when Richard Sherman baited Schaub into an unwise throw and returned the ensuing interception for a touchdown to tie the game. Seattle will encounter many other teams this season that field fine quarterbacks who throw to capable receivers from behind solid O-lines with support from strong running games, including the Colts today. Our defense can't continue to let opponents run up the score for a full half before responding to the challenge. Fortunately, the return of Bruce Irvin should improve our pass rush from impressive to oppressive, so the defensive vulnerabilities Houston exposed last week are literally the least of our worries.
The greatest concern is Seattle's patchwork offensive line, with backups playing four of the five positions. Right guard JR Sweezy is the only starter playing his own position. Left guard Paul McQuistan must continue to impersonate a left tackle, while James Carpenter masquerades as a starting left guard and Lemuel Jeanpierre does his best to fill in for Max Unger at center. Rookie right tackle Michael Bowie, repeatedly steamrolled last week by JJ Watt, gets to show if he learned anything today. These replacement parts produced decent run blocking last week, but they failed utterly in pass protection: quarterback Russell Wilson got hit or sacked on 16 of 34 dropbacks in Houston. Indy's defense is nearly as good, and to compound matters, Zach Miller is unlikely to play today. One of the best blockers on the team, he often functions as a sixth offensive lineman. The only real remedies here are...
1. The backups must execute better
2. Seattle needs to establish the run and minimize passing downs
3. Our offense must employ maximum protection schemes on passing downs
4. Our receivers need to make their blitz reads and get open fast so Wilson won't have to hold the ball
DangeRuss willed the team to victory last week, using his legs to elude pressure and find room to throw and run for first downs. It is nice to know that your quarterback can do that for you, but we can't afford to make a habit of relying on it. Wilson is good at ducking big hits, but if he continues to get pummeled as often as he did last week, then we will eventually lose him to injury. Defenses have chosen to respond to the pistol by punishing running quarterbacks, by exploiting every opportunity to brutalize them. One unlucky hit can end a season. Today, the rest of the offense needs to step up to help Wilson.
Last week, three developments enabled Seattle to win. First, the defense responded after halftime. Second, Houston's defense faltered after losing wild man linebacker Brian Cushing to a concussion. Third, Russell Wilson took the team on his shoulders. (Honorable mention to kicker Steven Hauschka, who has been incredibly clutch all year.)
Today the Seahawks face another daunting challenge, another complete team in another loud dome, again with a 10:00 a.m. kickoff. Seattle's defense needs to smother Andrew Luck, a better and more versatile quarterback than Matt Schaub. The offense must account for linebacker Robert Mathis, an elite pass rusher.
The Seahawks must resolve to dominate. As the Huskies learned last night, fickle fate and bad officiating can rob you of victory in a close game.
Go, Hawks!
Throughout the first half, Matt Schaub dissected our vaunted secondary, moved the ball efficiently, and built a commanding lead. The Seahawks made adjustments in the second half, turned up the pass rush to 11, shut out Houston for the rest of the game and forced overtime when Richard Sherman baited Schaub into an unwise throw and returned the ensuing interception for a touchdown to tie the game. Seattle will encounter many other teams this season that field fine quarterbacks who throw to capable receivers from behind solid O-lines with support from strong running games, including the Colts today. Our defense can't continue to let opponents run up the score for a full half before responding to the challenge. Fortunately, the return of Bruce Irvin should improve our pass rush from impressive to oppressive, so the defensive vulnerabilities Houston exposed last week are literally the least of our worries.
The greatest concern is Seattle's patchwork offensive line, with backups playing four of the five positions. Right guard JR Sweezy is the only starter playing his own position. Left guard Paul McQuistan must continue to impersonate a left tackle, while James Carpenter masquerades as a starting left guard and Lemuel Jeanpierre does his best to fill in for Max Unger at center. Rookie right tackle Michael Bowie, repeatedly steamrolled last week by JJ Watt, gets to show if he learned anything today. These replacement parts produced decent run blocking last week, but they failed utterly in pass protection: quarterback Russell Wilson got hit or sacked on 16 of 34 dropbacks in Houston. Indy's defense is nearly as good, and to compound matters, Zach Miller is unlikely to play today. One of the best blockers on the team, he often functions as a sixth offensive lineman. The only real remedies here are...
1. The backups must execute better
2. Seattle needs to establish the run and minimize passing downs
3. Our offense must employ maximum protection schemes on passing downs
4. Our receivers need to make their blitz reads and get open fast so Wilson won't have to hold the ball
DangeRuss willed the team to victory last week, using his legs to elude pressure and find room to throw and run for first downs. It is nice to know that your quarterback can do that for you, but we can't afford to make a habit of relying on it. Wilson is good at ducking big hits, but if he continues to get pummeled as often as he did last week, then we will eventually lose him to injury. Defenses have chosen to respond to the pistol by punishing running quarterbacks, by exploiting every opportunity to brutalize them. One unlucky hit can end a season. Today, the rest of the offense needs to step up to help Wilson.
Last week, three developments enabled Seattle to win. First, the defense responded after halftime. Second, Houston's defense faltered after losing wild man linebacker Brian Cushing to a concussion. Third, Russell Wilson took the team on his shoulders. (Honorable mention to kicker Steven Hauschka, who has been incredibly clutch all year.)
Today the Seahawks face another daunting challenge, another complete team in another loud dome, again with a 10:00 a.m. kickoff. Seattle's defense needs to smother Andrew Luck, a better and more versatile quarterback than Matt Schaub. The offense must account for linebacker Robert Mathis, an elite pass rusher.
The Seahawks must resolve to dominate. As the Huskies learned last night, fickle fate and bad officiating can rob you of victory in a close game.
Go, Hawks!
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Daunting challenge
The Seahawks have seemed unstoppable so far this season.
Road win against an average team with a 10:00 a.m. kickoff? Handled Carolina in the season opener.
Home win against a good team? Demolished the 49ers in Seahawks Stadium.
No letdown against a bad team? Destroyed the Jaguars in Seattle.
This week presents a different and quite daunting challenge. For the Seahawks, playing the Texans is a lot like playing themselves. Houston plays in a loud stadium and fields a similarly stout defense and a similarly potent offense.
The difference is that Seattle enters today's contest with a makeshift O-Line. Paul McQuistan is a good guard, but he has disappointed thus far as a fill-in for All-Pro left tackle Russell Okung. Now Lemuel Jeanpierre must step up for All-Pro center Max Unger, and rookie Michael Bowie needs to replace right tackle Breno Giacomini. The reserves looked good last week against Jacksonville last week in garbage time, but now they need to develop the chemistry to open holes and protect the passer against the world's most fearsome pass rush, keyed by All-Pro badasses JJ Watt and Brian Cushing. Russell Wilson is an escape artist in the backfield, but he will need to raise that art to a new level today.
The defense should be able to keep it close, but today's game is the ultimate test for Seattle.
Road win against an average team with a 10:00 a.m. kickoff? Handled Carolina in the season opener.
Home win against a good team? Demolished the 49ers in Seahawks Stadium.
No letdown against a bad team? Destroyed the Jaguars in Seattle.
This week presents a different and quite daunting challenge. For the Seahawks, playing the Texans is a lot like playing themselves. Houston plays in a loud stadium and fields a similarly stout defense and a similarly potent offense.
The difference is that Seattle enters today's contest with a makeshift O-Line. Paul McQuistan is a good guard, but he has disappointed thus far as a fill-in for All-Pro left tackle Russell Okung. Now Lemuel Jeanpierre must step up for All-Pro center Max Unger, and rookie Michael Bowie needs to replace right tackle Breno Giacomini. The reserves looked good last week against Jacksonville last week in garbage time, but now they need to develop the chemistry to open holes and protect the passer against the world's most fearsome pass rush, keyed by All-Pro badasses JJ Watt and Brian Cushing. Russell Wilson is an escape artist in the backfield, but he will need to raise that art to a new level today.
The defense should be able to keep it close, but today's game is the ultimate test for Seattle.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Opportunity Today
Being a very good team playing a very bad team presents a real challenge and a test of character for coaches and players.
Good teams sometimes play down to the level of inferior opponents. Great teams never do.
Today's game against the hapless Jaguars presents an opportunity for Seattle to show that it is a great team.
In the regular season marathon, every milepost matters. Every victory helps, and every loss hurts. Any misstep can make the difference between missing and making the playoffs, between backing in as a wild card or busting in as division champions, between a first round battle for survival or a hard-earned bye, between scrapping for wins on the road or locking up home field advantage and hosting playoff games in the House of Pain backed by the world's loudest crowd.
If I were Coach Carroll, I would deactivate Marshawn Lynch and split carries between Robert Turbin and Christine Michael. We know Turbo can handle the load, but we need to see what that kid from A&M can do. Give the Beast a week to heal and hunger, and then unleash him upon the Texans next week.
Let Russell Wilson run the offense and find the rapport with his receivers that has proved elusive thus far this season. Let the O-Line establish some chemistry without its cornerstone, Russell Okung. Score early and often, build a lead, and then let T-Jack play the second half. Sit Paul McQuistan and Breno Giamcomini and give some work to rookie tackles Alvin Bailey and Michael Bowie; we need those kids to grow up fast. Let Lemuel Jeanpierre relieve Max Unger at center.
Do the same thing on defense. Crush Jacksonville with your starters, and then let the reserves keep them buried in the second half.
If the starters take care of business, then this can be a fifth preseason game and a half-bye for our starters.
Go, Hawks!
Good teams sometimes play down to the level of inferior opponents. Great teams never do.
Today's game against the hapless Jaguars presents an opportunity for Seattle to show that it is a great team.
In the regular season marathon, every milepost matters. Every victory helps, and every loss hurts. Any misstep can make the difference between missing and making the playoffs, between backing in as a wild card or busting in as division champions, between a first round battle for survival or a hard-earned bye, between scrapping for wins on the road or locking up home field advantage and hosting playoff games in the House of Pain backed by the world's loudest crowd.
If I were Coach Carroll, I would deactivate Marshawn Lynch and split carries between Robert Turbin and Christine Michael. We know Turbo can handle the load, but we need to see what that kid from A&M can do. Give the Beast a week to heal and hunger, and then unleash him upon the Texans next week.
Let Russell Wilson run the offense and find the rapport with his receivers that has proved elusive thus far this season. Let the O-Line establish some chemistry without its cornerstone, Russell Okung. Score early and often, build a lead, and then let T-Jack play the second half. Sit Paul McQuistan and Breno Giamcomini and give some work to rookie tackles Alvin Bailey and Michael Bowie; we need those kids to grow up fast. Let Lemuel Jeanpierre relieve Max Unger at center.
Do the same thing on defense. Crush Jacksonville with your starters, and then let the reserves keep them buried in the second half.
If the starters take care of business, then this can be a fifth preseason game and a half-bye for our starters.
Go, Hawks!
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