Takeaways: Seahawks Scrape Out a Win in St. Louis

By Jackson Safon

The Seahawks record is 7-1. The best in the NFC, by a half game, and tied for second best in the NFL. And that is just about all the good news I have. The final score was 14-9 but my goodness was that an ugly win. Pete Carroll said, “I got nothing,” to the ESPN cameras as he was leaving the field, but the good news for you is I have found a way to put that game into words.

1. Offensive line?
What happened? I would like an explanation of what in the world has happened to the Seahawks offensive line in the past two weeks. Just two short weeks ago, I was singing the praises of the line for showing improvement, but then the football gods decided to smite me and the Seahawks line, as they seem to have gone missing. ESPN’s “C’mon man” would not even come close to doing justice to how poorly the offensive line played. They allowed seven sacks. Seven. Without a quarterback as mobile as Russell Wilson, that number could have easily reached the double digits. Tom Cable, Seahawks nation is begging you to fix this.

 

The play at left tackle has been weak ever since Russell Okung was injured.

King 5

2. Ummm…defense?
When it rains it pours. Not only was the Seahawks offensive line terrible but the defensive line allowed huge holes in the Rams running game. The Rams ran the ball down the Hawks throat to the tune of 200 net yards averaging 5.4 yards per carry. That is significantly worse than the Seahawks defensive average and I’m not quite sure why it happened all of a sudden. The Legion of Boom played decent pass defense, but overall I was not all that impressed with the defense. They kept the team in the game with some timely turnovers, so credit has to be given as they essentially won the game for the Hawks, but the unit didn’t play well as a whole.

3. Beastmode?
Marshawn Lynch got only eight carries for 23 yards. Over the course of the entire game. Lynch normally hits those milestones after the first six minutes of the game, but for some reason the offense decided to abandon the run and he finished with his lowest carry and yardage totals this season by far. The team finished with 44 rushing yards and a measly 2.9 average in their worst rushing performance of the season by far. So many issues with the offense yesterday, but abandoning the run didn’t help.

Bruce Irvin was one of the main reasons the Seahawks were able to fend off the Rams last night.

Kevin Casey/Getty Images

4. Bruuuuuuuuuce!
Bruce Irvin everybody. In a game with a comedy of errors, Irvin was one of the only positives and it was a joy to see him play so well. He finished second on the team in tackles, with nine total, as well as an interception and a sack-fumble. He played well throughout most of the game and is making a great transition from defensive end to outside linebacker. He was a weak run defender last year but has taken that challenge head on and is now a plus defender in that area. Furthermore, for a player that is known as a pass rusher, his interception was a great one as he was 25 yards downfield. This shows his always improving coverage skills which will make him exceedingly valuable going forward. But he showed the real reason why the Hawks drafted him with an athletic sack-fumble late in the game. Bruce is a beast and it is great to see him progress.

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Takeaways: Season Ending Loss, but a Great Season Nonetheless

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Seahawks in Atlanta. The first half did not go well at all with a poor start, a Marshawn Lynch fumble, the inability to convert on 3^rd and 4^th and one in Atlanta territory, and poor time management at the end of the first half. All of these events put Seattle down 20-0 at halftime. The 'Hawks didn’t back down though and after a wild fourth quarter actually took the lead by one with about 30 seconds left. However, the Falcons used their timeouts and drove down the field to give Matt Bryant an easy game winning field goal. It was a rollercoaster ride of a game, but it boils down to the fact that the Seahawks season is over. As sad as it is, it is fair to say that the 'Hawks exceeded most people’s expectations and had a really great season. I will list a few things to take away from a tough loss, but a great season.

Matt Ryan was the most relieved person in the U.S. once he saw Matt Bryant's kick go through the uprights.

bleacherreport.com

1. The Defense is Still Young
Obviously the Hawks defense was superb throughout the season, leading the league in points against. However, this game against the Falcons showed that they are still maturing. With youth at virtually every position, the 'Hawks defense is not quite as polished as we would like it to be. This slight immaturity combined with lack of size in the front seven lead to the Falcons gashing the Hawks in the run game with both Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers. Hopefully the defense can bulk up and gain some maturity in the offseason while potentially adding some free agents to really solidify the defense as the best in the league. Look for the Seahawks to make a run at DT Henry Melton. Takeaway: The 'Hawks defense is not quite at the point we would like it to be, but with improvement in the offseason the sky is the limit with this unit.

2. Russell Plays Big
Russell Wilson. 3^rd round, 75^th overall pick on the 2012 NFL Draft. Last rookie quarterback standing. He won over the Seattle fans in a matter of weeks and brought the national spotlight to Seattle with his late season performances and brilliant play in the playoffs. After the first quarter of this last game, he showed up as the Russell Wilson we have all come to know and love and proved that he is officially a superstar. Another great playoff performance on the road proved to the world that he is for real. This is great news for the Seahawks going forward as Russell Wilson should be able to lead this team deep into the playoffs for years to come. Takeaway: Russell Wilson has proven he is the best young quarterback in the game and will be leading the Seahawks to conference championships and super bowls for years.

Russell Wilson has a very bright future ahead of him. What a season.

AP Photos

3. Front 7 Needs Help
The Seahawks have the best secondary in the league in my opinion. Richard Sherman is the best cornerback, Earl Thomas is the best safety, and Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor are two big, physical players who can be difference makers at times. The weakness of the Seahawks defense, as shown by the Falcons game, is the run defense and the pass rush. The loss of Chris Clemons really proved not only how vital Clemons is to this defense, but how badly the Seahawks need to get another pass rusher. We could not put any pressure on Matt Ryan all day, and this allowed him to pick apart the defense. The lack of ability to stop the run, plus the fact that this past season could possibly be linebacker Leroy Hill’s last, tells us that we need to acquire another linebacker either through the draft or free agency. Takeaway: A pass rusher and a run stopper need to be added to this Seahawks defense before it can be truly elite.

4. Zach Miller
Zach Miller not only had his best game as a Seahawk against the Falcons, totaling eight receptions and 142 yards plus a touchdown, but he did so with a torn plantar fascia. After the Seahawks third offensive play, Miller went to the locker room with an apparent foot injury, but obviously returned, seemingly without any problems with the injury. It was only after the game that we found out Miller actually tore his plantar fascia on that play. The plantar fascia is the thick connective tissue which supports the arch on the bottom side of the foot. Now one can only imagine the pain when running and cutting on a torn plantar fascia, and Zach Miller had his best game as a Seahawk with this injury. Takeaway: A position that was once thought to be a weakness for the Seahawks may turn out not to be so, as Zach Miller is emerging as the player he was once thought to be, and is becoming Russell Wilson’s main security blanket in the passing game.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates.

Jackson

 

Round 1: Seahawks Playoff Breakdown

The Seahawks completed a very successful regular season, finishing with an 8-0 record at home en route to an 11-5 overall finish. This was not quite good enough to win the division, but was strong enough to earn the Hawks the fifth seed in the NFC playoffs. The rest of the seeding is as follows.

1. Falcons (bye)
2. 49ers (bye)
3. Packers
4. Redskins
5. Seahawks
6. Vikings

This means that in the first round, the Seahawks draw Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins. Because the red-hot Redskins won their division, they get to play at home and the Hawks will have to go on the road, where they went only 3-5 in the regular season. That being said, the Seahawks have been playing much better on the road recently. Both teams are considered a tough out in the playoffs because of their current winning streaks, and strong rookie quarterbacks.

RGIII will look to make some plays against the Seattle Defense. He is coming off an injured knee, although he looked good last week against Dallas.

US Presswire

The NFL is a league based on matchups, and those become all the more important in the playoffs when every game is win or go home. The Seahawks and the Redskins have a very intriguing matchup, because of their similar offenses. Both teams have mobile but accurate quarterbacks, have an above average run game, and have used the read option as a dangerous weapon in recent weeks. While most people would consider the rookie quarterback the most dangerous part of the Redskins offense, surprisingly, that is not quite the case. RGIII is an excellent runner who can keep defenses from over-playing the pass. But he has help as well, big help in the form of running back Alfred Morris. Morris and RGIII have combined to lead the Redskins to the number one rushing attack in the NFL, and scored 28 points against the Cowboys last week while managing only 100 yards passing.

These two rookies the key to their offense, as everybody now knows. Not only do they eat up yards, but they set up the play action very well for Griffin. The play-action works so well, that Robert Griffin III is in the top five in the entire league in completion percentage, yards, and touchdowns from the play-action. To counter, the Seahawks have the best defense in the NFL right now, and have the personnel to stop the run and the pass. With previously suspended cornerback Brandon Browner back, and top cover-corner Richard Sherman, the Hawks can leave their two corners isolated on the outside, leaving more defenders to help with the run game. Sherman and Browner can shut down any pair of receivers, which allows safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas to play a bigger role in stopping the run. I believe that the Seahawks have the perfect defense to slow and potentially shut down the potent Redskins offense. One thing to keep an eye on in this game is how well RGIII’s knee holds up. That could hurt the Redskins at times.

The Legion of BOOM will be on their "A" game Sunday with the addition of Brandon Browner back into the lineup.

The Seahawks have an advantage on the offensive side of the ball as well, because the Redskins defense lacks playmakers. Without injured pass-rushers Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo, the only star defenders on the Redskins are cornerback DeAngelo Hall and linebacker London Fletcher. The Seahawks will be able to use their up-front skill at the receiver position and read option (a type of run in which the quarterback “reads” one of the defensive players and decides whether to keep it himself or give it to the running back) to exploit the weaker defenders on the Redskins and come up with big plays on offense. Along with a successful special teams unit, I would say that the Seahawks have the advantage on every side of the ball against the Redskins.

The only thing stopping the ‘Hawks, is the fact that they have to travel cross country and play on the road, a situation in which they have not been very successful at this year. However, the game is on a Sunday which means that the Seahawks will get an extra day of rest, but so do the Redskins. Taking all of these factors in to consideration, I predict that the Seahawks will pull out a relatively tough victory against the Redskins, winning 27-23.

A victory against the Redskins would mean that the Seahawks would play either the Falcons or 49ers in the second round of the playoffs, depending on who wins the other wild card game between the Packers and Vikings. I believe that the Packers will be able to defeat the Vikings because of their powerful home field advantage, and the fact that I just don’t think Christian Ponder will be able to outplay Aaron Rodgers two weeks in a row. This would mean that the Packers would go to San Francisco to play the 49ers, and we would go to Atlanta to play the Falcons.

The Seahawks have a long road ahead of them and will most likely be seen wearing these jerseys throughout the entire playoffs.

AP Photo/Mike Groll

While many people don’t believe in Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, I believe that they are legit, and that they have a chance to go far in this year’s playoffs. Still, I think the ‘Hawks match up very well against the Falcons dynamic passing attack because of our incredible defensive backfield, often referred to as the “Legion of BOOM.” I think Sherman and Browner will be able to contain dynamic Falcons receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones, which would allow the rest of the defense to focus their attention on tight end Tony Gonzalez and running back Michael Turner. The Hawks have the perfect defense to take away quarterback Matt Ryan’s top three options, and I believe they will come out of that game with a victory as well.

If the Seahawks could beat the Falcons in the second round of the playoffs, they would play either the 49ers or Packers in the third round, both of which are teams we have beaten earlier in the season. Both of those games were played at Century Link Field, but if the ‘Hawks had already won two straight playoff games on the road, I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t win one more against a team that they have already beaten. While it would be a difficult road, winning three straight road games, I would not be surprised, and in fact I would even predict the Seahawks completing such a task and getting to the Super Bowl. It will be a fun playoff run.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates.

Jackson

Oh, and here's something to leave you with on this first Tuesday of 2013. Enjoy it.

PED Suspensions Loom for Browner and Sherman

Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, cornerbacks for the Seattle Seahawks, both tested positive for Adderall on the same day, and their punishment has resulted in a four game suspension. Both players are appealing the process, but these are unlikely to overturn the suspensions, and could actually drag out the process, mystifying everyone to when they will serve the suspension. One of the more troubling things about this, besides the fact that they tested positive on the same day, is that Adderall is simply a concentration drug, used most commonly to treat ADHD by helping focus. Why would these two players take this drug, when they know it is on the NFL’s list of banned substances? Only they know the answer to that question.

Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman both face four game suspensions.

foxsports.com

The more important issue however, is how this loss for the vaunted Seahawks defense cannot be overstated. The rise of the ‘Hawks defense into one of the top five in the NFL is almost entirely centered on the physical style of these two corners.

The Seahawks defense is third in points allowed and passing yards against, mainly because of the two terrific young cornerbacks. Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, along with the pro-bowl safety Earl Thomas, have developed and made the pass defense very tough to beat. Sherman and Browner are so big, strong, and talented, that they can play successful one-on-one coverage on the outside, allowing the other members of the defense to drop back in zone coverage or rush the passer. This is very important, because although pass rushers such as Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, and Brandon Mebane have been successful, none of them are Pro-Bowlers, and frankly, none of them would be without the play of Sherman and Browner. The two shutdown corners don’t allow any openings for receivers, forcing quarterbacks to hold on to the ball longer, which allows the pass rush to be more successful. Taking these two cornerbacks away will force the defense to send back more players in coverage, which will drastically take away from the pass rush and rush defense.

These suspensions could not have come at a worse time, as the Seahawks are fighting with several other teams for one of the last playoff spots. The short term outlook for Sherman and Browner looks grim. Even if the suspensions get overturned upon appeal, which is highly unlikely, the Seahawks will be missing their two starting cornerbacks. This leads to the question of who is going to replace them, and will they be able to replicate the physical style of play that Sherman and Browner bring. The two leading candidates are Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond. Trufant is a ten-year veteran, who was once a top-tier corner, making him a viable replacement, even if he won’t be able to completely replicate the bruising style of play brought by Sherman and Browner. Thurmond is a third year player from Oregon, but has battled injury throughout his college and pro career. He was a strong player at Oregon, so if he can stay healthy, he can hopefully be a successful corner and show his skills in his increased upcoming role.

Marcus Trufant will have to step up big time in the absence of the two starting cornerbacks.

seahawks.com

Trufant and Thurmond seem as if they will be able play at least above average defense, and will allow the defense to at least get by in the absence of the two standout corners, but the biggest difference will be the height difference. With Sherman at 6’-3’’, and Browner at 6’-4’’, they make up the tallest cornerback duo in the league, and this, combined with their physical style, makes them an imposing presence helping earn the Seahawks secondary the nickname “Legion of Boom.” Assuming Trufant and Thurmond take over as the starters, we will be losing a combined nine inches of height in the secondary. This is a big change, and will definitely result in a decrease of production. We will just have to see how much production actually is lost. Hopefully Sherman and Browner can get their suspensions overturned or reduced, and get back on the field as soon as possible, because their absence will turn our defense’s biggest strength, to possibly its biggest weakness.

It is clear that the loss of these two players will seriously hurt the team, but it all comes back to the question of why. Why did they allow this to happen? Why would they take Adderall? In today’s world of increased scrutiny of professional athletes, especially regarding banned drugs, why would Sherman and Browner risk their reputations by taking this drug? The only explanation I can think of is the two players wanting that slight edge, and taking the drug before a game. Whatever the case may be, these two corners screwed up, and now they are going to have to serve their sentence, and hope it doesn’t cost the Seahawks a playoff berth.

Thanks for reading and follow us on Twitter @seasportssoup! Like us on Facebook as well! Keep checking back for more updates!

Jackson

Sea-Fence: The Key to the Seahawk's Season

Offense brings fans, but defense wins championships. The saying every athlete knows of that plays a team sport. This saying has to be the motto for the Seahawks this year as the defense should challenge to be the best in the league. With the offense coming along, especially with a new quarterback, the defense should carry the team this year and it will be crucial that they do. If the defense under-performs, the season is not going to be pretty. They have huge expectations put on them and rightfully so. I mean, they were the first defense taken in four out of my five fantasy football drafts. Here's what we'll see from the Sea-Fence this year.

Picture by The Seattle Times

DEFENSIVE LINE- The big boys up front should prove to be one of the strongest parts of the Seahawk's defense. This year I expect them to allow the least rushing yards in the league as they have two huge 300 pounders in Red Bryant and Alan Branch. Red Bryant has proven to be a steal thus far in his career as he was a late round draft pick out of Texas A&M. He signed a new 5 year $35-million deal this offseason and should be around for a long time. Bryant takes up a ton of space and lets no running back by him, especially with Alan Branch and Jason Jones next to him. Speaking of Branch and Jones, they were both great signings. Both were signed off of mediocre seasons for a low amount of money and both have proven thus far in their Seahawks career that they were solid signings. The anchor of the defensive tackles is Brandon Mebane. The third year player out of Cal signed a new contract last year and he will display why he got that contract with his continuing solid play this year. The defensive tackles are huge, but quick as well. That's why they're so good. Next we move to the ends, as well as the Leo spot. Chris Clemons has been the best trade acquisition in the John Schneider era, besides the Lynch trade, and has been the best and most consistent Seahawks player on the defensive side of the ball since he was acquired. He is a sack monster and gets to the quarterback quickly and often. He will provide that much needed pass rush, as well as the 15th pick in the NFL Draft. Bruce Irvin was drafted to sack opposing quarterbacks. Irvin was second in the nation in sacks in 2010 at West Virginia and mostly went unnoticed because of his off the field issues. In the Leo spot, Irvin has looked a little shaky this preseason, but turned it on this past week in the fourth game. He had multiple sacks and caused numerous fumbles. Given, these were against second and third stringers, but he still showed he could perform. Our defensive line will be a huge part of our defense this year, and one the best parts of our defense. The group: Bryant, Branch, Mebane, Jones, Clemons, and Irvin.

LINEBACKERS- The linebacking core this year is weaker than the usual Seahawk's core. In past years the 'Hawks have had excellent linebackers such as Lofa Tatupu and David Hawthorne, but they are long gone. This year a rookie will be the play caller of the defense. That would be Bobby Wagner out of Utah State. He is a playmaker in his spot and tackles everything he sees. I think he will pan out to be one of the best MLB's in the NFL once he receives more coaching. Around Wagner are OLB's Leroy Hill and K.J. Wright. Leroy Hill is a proven veteran and has proven every year that he is a solid starter, despite his off the field issues. He should have a solid season. K.J. Wright, in his second year, has moved to OLB because of the drafting of Wagner and his ability to play the OLB position. I think he will surprise many this year, kind of like Hawthorne did last year with his play. The linebacking core is the weakest part of our defense, but it's still a strong position with lots of talent. Just shows how good our defense is. The group: Hill, Wagner and Wright. 

DEFENSIVE BACKS- The strongest part of the Sea-Fence, is easily the defensive backs. With two pro bowlers from the 2011 season and an emergence of two late round draft picks, this group is the best in the NFL. Earl Thomas leads this group and was the 14th overall pick in the 2010 Draft. The pro-bowler has been a playmaker ever since his debut, and will look to improve his already impressive track record. Once again, another steal by Pete Carroll and John Schneider, Brandon Browner will continue his resurgence and will go to another pro bowl. He was he biggest surprise of the Seahawks last year and I think with his improved confidence he will perform even better than last year. Earl Thomas' partner in the secondary, Kam Chancellor, has lived up to his nickname. Kam-Bam has been destroying all receivers and backs that have come his way since he was drafted along with Thomas in 2010. Chancellor has been a pleasant surprise along with cornerback, Richard Sherman. Sherman was drafted out of Stanford in the 7th round last year and nobody thought much of him except for the Seahawks. Mid-Season he took over the starting job and that's the only reason he didn't make the pro-bowl: he didn't get to display his talent for an entire season. Sherman will display that talent this season and will make the pro-bowl, as well as the rest of the Seahawks secondary. I expect a banner year from the secondary and for all four to come out as pro-bowlers after the season. The Group: Sherman, Chancellor, Thomas and Browner.

The constant theme around the Seahawks' defensive personnel is surprise. Many players have been lowly thought of coming out of free agency or the NFL Draft, but all of them have surprised people with their true talent. That's what makes this defensive group so special. They have an underdog type of mentality that motors them and fuels them to play harder, faster and stronger. The Sea-Fence will be crucial to all of the Seahawks success this year. If the Sea-Fence holds strong and keps the underdog mentality, look for a banner year from the Seattle Seahawks.

Thanks for reading and follow us on twitter @seasportssoup. Keep checking for updates!

Marshall