The Matchups Zone
Will
Seahawks Decide Against Bringing Thier Talents to Miami
Courtesy (AP)
Oh boy,
This game was a huge disappointment for Seattle. From defensive containment issues, to poor play calling on both the defensive and offensive side of the ball the result was hard to swallow.
This puts the playoffs into the dream category for Seattle, and puts tremendous pressure on the Pete Carroll regime to finish the season strong.
There’s a difference between flash and substance and the Seahawks have plenty of flash. It’s the substance that is keeping them from winning games they must win. The Seahawks need to find some middle ground in this area.
Russell Wilson: 21-27 yards, 2 TDs 125.9 Passer rating.
Wilson was everything for the Seahawks offense today. From his 21-27 224 yards, and 2 TDs, to his 38 clutch yards on the ground. The blame for this debacle can not be placed on Wilson at all. He was main reason game was close.
Seahawks offense: Points: 14 (Passing: 216 Rushing: 96) Lynch with only 46 yards.
The Seahawks game plan was abysmal. The offensive line was man handled in the run game and the result was a total destruction of what the Seahawks were trying to do. The Dolphins were ready for the inside zone, play action, and crossing routes. Russell Wilson was pretty much the lone bright spot today.
Note: I’m not ignoring the amazing Golden Tate catch.
Seahawks Defense: Allowed: 24 points, 435 Yards (Rushing: 189 Passing: 246)
The Seahawks did a good enough job for the majority of the game in every aspect. Time and time again the defensive line collapsed the pocket and forced quick throws by Ryan Tannehill. Reggie Bush (87 yards, 1 TD) was a minimal factor, but when they lost contain he burnt them badly including the crucial TD run. Something I talked about in my game preview.
However, later on in the game, the Seahawks looked worn down and continually went to a soft underneath zone. When pressure stopped getting close it allowed Tannehill to pick them apart. Very confusing game plan late to say the least. This was just another example of late game fizzles.
Leon Washington‘s NFL record 8th kick return for a touchdown came at a great time. Credit to the kick return team for giving him a huge one-cut hole and nothing but green grass to the end zone. Jon Ryan was great again today and the punt and kick off teams came to play.
Coaching: 10 for 59 crucial yards.
Penalties, Penalties, and more penalties. These were killers for sure, but the biggest issue from a coaching standpoint was the refusal to utilize speed in the running game. The Dolphins are one of the better teams in the league at stopping inside runs yet the play calling stubbornly forced that very thing all day. Where was the creativity and adjustments after halftime? Why not try some outside zone with Leon Washington at least once? Why not give the Spread zone option more of a chance? We may never know.
From a defensive stand point, the decision to play soft underneath zones even when the pressure wasn’t getting home was baffling and I believe it cost Seattle the game in the end. Very disappointing loss in what is probably the nail in the Seahawks playoff coffin.
With remaining road games at Chicago and Toronto, the Seahawks will be kicking themselves for today’s debacle. Going two for two will be tough.
What are your thoughts on todays loss? Comment below and let’s discuss!
Sunday Matchup Focus: Seahawks vs Dolphins
Halip/Getty Images
Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox)
Team Records: Seahawks (6-4); Dolphins (4-6)
The Seahawks, fresh of their much-needed bye week, head to Miami to face a struggling Dolphins team in what I consider a must-win game for Seattle’s playoff aspirations.
At 6-4, the Seahawks need to find a way to get 10 or more victories in what is turning out to be a tight NFC West race to the top with the San Francisco 49ers. If the Seahawks can’t take the division the 10-plus win goal should put them in the playoffs as a wild card team. But to do so Seattle must shake off their horrendous road record and win one or two on the road to finish the year.
For the Dolphins, a rested and hungry Seahawks team is the exact opposite of what they need right now. During their current three-game losing streak, the team has begun to show signs of imploding under positive expectations brought on by some unexpected early season success.
Keys to the game: Russell Wilson
1. Manage the game. The Seahawks may be facing a team with issues but one thing they do well is rush the passer and stuff the run. Miami pass rusher Cameron Wake is going to be an issue for Seattle all day long if Russell Wilson doesn’t get the Seahawks into manageable down and distances with savvy checks at the line of scrimmage. Wilson must diagnose and get the Seahawks into the right play or he’ll be in trouble.
2. Expose Dolphins coverage. Miami Cornerback Nolan Carroll has struggled mightily this season and should be ripe for another beating. Russell Wilson would be smart to find Carroll and target him until he proves it’s not a good idea.
Bottom Line: Wilson doesn’t have to be a beast for the Seahawks to win, he just needs to be careful with the ball and smart with his reads. Football doesn’t have to be hard, just find the matchup to exploit and go after it.
Keys to the game: Seahawks offense
1. Find daylight. The Seahawks are well-rested and that’s a good thing. The Dolphins boast a run defense that prides itself with shutting down the run. That just happens to be what the Seahawks like to do most. Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks offensive line must fire out, and get movement on the Miami defensive front early on or it will have to be the Russell Wilson show.
2. Screen game. The Seahawks have shown that they can utilize the screen game and have success and this game may require it. What they must avoid is relying on the receiver “alley” screen and try to add running back screens in the mix. The last thing the Dolphins want is Marshawn Lynch on the outside with a head of steam.
3. Avoid turnovers. Road game failures usually come down to mental errors and the Seahawks seem to struggle with those away from Seattle. If the Seahawks can play error-free football this Dolphins team may crack under the pressure. Not doing so gives the Dolphins hope.
Keys to the game: Defense
1. Pressure. I’ve been saying for a while that the Seahawks late bye week was going to be rough for the defense. They have been asked to carry this team for the better part of the season and over the past few games the wear and tear had begun to show. This had a direct effect on the amount of pressure they could muster. With the Seahawks injury free and well rested, look for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to dial-up pressure and force Miami’s rookie QB Ryan Tannehill to fold under it.
Easy Pressure Target: Miami RT Jonathan Martin
2. Contain, Contain, Contain. Reggie Bush causes problems for teams because of his ability to bounce inside runs to the outside and beat contain to the corner. Seattle must play to the whistle and wrap and drive this man to the ground. When he bounces, the linebackers must be there to funnel Bush back into the teeth of the defense. If Reggie Bush gets free, he will put up yardage in bunches.
3. Avoid Penalties. Avoiding turnovers is paramount for road teams, but right up there on the list is penalties. When you play a team that struggles on offense like the Dolphins have been, you can’t extend their drives with mental errors. If the Seahawks play tough and clean this game should be decided by the third quarter.
Keys to the game: Special teams
1. Field position. This might be the biggest key for Seattle. If Seahawks stud punter Jon Ryan gets the opportunity to punt, his leg could be the difference in the game. The Dolphins are not designed to march up and down the field and pinning them deep gives the Seahawks offense even more opportunities to put points on the board.
Keys to the game: Coaching staff
1. Preparation. When you have two weeks to study yourself as well as your upcoming opponent the fact is there is no excuse for a poor game plan. Head coach Pete Carroll and staff must develop a plan of attack that exposes the Dolphins many offensive weaknesses.
2. Tempo. For many reasons, the Seahawks rank near the bottom of the league on offense but Darrell Bevell plays a part on game day. Quick play calling means quicker huddles and more time for Russell Wilson to diagnose looks at the line of scrimmage.
3. Be multiple. At this point the NFL knows what the Seahawks are. They are a powerful inside zone running team led by a savvy rookie QB and an elite level defense who specializes in coverage, run stuffing and pressure.
On offense, the coaching staff must not allow players such as DE Cameron Wake and DT Randy Starks to disrupt with their penetration and must do so by varying their play calling. Balance equals unpredictable.
On defense, Gus Bradley must ensure the one big Miami weapon never sees a clear lane to run and pays for attempts to bounce outside with several Seahawks defenders waiting to lay the hit.
Bottom Line: This is a game the Seahawks should win despite their past issues on the road and considering the playoff implications, they’d better.
Prediction: Seahawks 21-13
Quick thoughts after Seattle’s 28-7 Blowout of the Jets
(Courtesy AP)
Well that was fun wasn’t it?
This game further proved the point that the Jets are a mess as an organization, and the Seahawks are really good at home. Something everyone already knew.
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has shown so much maturity in the last several weeks it is really astounding. From his savvy pocket manipulation-to his ability to maintain proper eye level as he escapes pressure-the growth is a great sign for this young Seattle Seahawks squad.
Golden Tate… This man is fun to watch when his head is on straight. It’s games like this you almost forget why people have complained about him. Playmaker is his role, and Sunday he filled it in stellar fashion despite the ugly throwing motion, and reckless ball carrying skills.
The Seahawks defense has also been a joy to watch but need this bye week to regroup. I think fatigue and K.J Wright’s injury has led to some run fit break downs and this break gives the team time to get refreshed for the playoff push. Yes, I said playoffs.
Bruce Irvin is proving to be really good at one thing, and that one thing is getting to the QB. Bruce Irvin’s 7 sacks places him atop the rookie pass rushing mountain top and is a testament to Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley‘s ability to utilize Irvin in the right situations. Just imagine how good he’ll be when he learns how to play at the NFL level. Scary.
For the Jets, the writing is on the wall. They are not doing anything well on the offensive side of the ball and the blame is on a select few. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano has installed a gimmick filled scheme and refuses to allow Mark Sanchez to play with a rhythm.
Tim Tebow should either start, play running back, or hold a clipboard. This QB swap approach is killing the Jets season by taking valuable practice time away from the Jets base offense.
Mark Sanchez is a rattled mess. Nothing he does looks purposeful of confident. This has permeated the entire offense. Time after time the Jets either failed at the QB position or the receivers failed the QB. Vicious cycle.
Going to be a long season for the Jets.
Stats that tell the tale:
Total Yards:
Seahawks: 355
Jets: 185
First downs:
Seahawks: 20
Jets: 11
3rd Down Conversions:
Seahawks: 5-14
Jets: 2-11
QB Comparison:
Russell Wilson: 11-17 177 yards, 2 TDs
Mark Sanchez: 9-22 124 yards, 1 INT
Turnovers:
Seahawks: 2
Jets: 3
Defensive Sacks:
Seahawks: 3
Jets: 4
Game balls:
Russell Wilson, Golden Tate, Richard Sherman, Alan Branch, Marshawn Lynch, Max Unger and of course Bruce Irvin.
Enjoy the bye week everyone!
Match Up Focus: Patriots vs Seahawks
The New England Patriots bring their number one offense to the Pacific Northwest to face off against the Seattle Seahawks and young and physical number one defense.
Something has to give right?
For average NFL football fans this is a must watch game for the offense vs defense match up alone. For Seattle fans, this is the biggest test for Pete Carroll‘s young and physical defensive unit in 2012.
Hype vs reality, there’s just no way of getting around it.
Important statistics (courtesy of NFL.com):
| Patriots | Rank | Seahawks | Rank |
| Offense | 1 | Offense | 27 |
| Passing | 10 | Passing | 31 |
| Rushing | 3 | Rushing | 7 |
| Defense | 20 | Defense | 1 |
| Passing | 29 | Passing | 4 |
| Rushing | 8 | Rushing | 3 |
Key to the game: Progress in the Pocket
Russell Wilson took a step in the right direction last week vs the Panthers. My biggest concern thus far has been his inability to find the confidence to climb the pocket to avoid pressure. Too often his first impulse is to feel pressure (real or imagined) and bail to the right to clear his vision.
Last week he showed me signs that this tendency can be coached out of him. Most of his throws came from sound fundamentals in the pocket and as he stepped up, so did his accuracy. He has a long way to go, but its a nice step forward.
Wilson will need more of that against the confusing Patriots defense. While not a power house defensive unit, the Patriots will no doubt try to force Wilson to fall back on bad habits in the pocket with blitzes and pressure schemes that plug the A-gap throwing lanes and perhaps even the backside B-gap.
This cuts his route progression read down to half the field and it makes playing defense very easy. If he can fight the urge to bail under pressure, there may be big opportunities down the field on Sunday.
I’m predicting a boom or bust type of game here.
Key to the game: Keep the chains moving
Key Matchup: Russell Wilson’s pocket fundamentals vs Patriots front 7
For all the talk about about the Patriots offense vs the Seahawks defense, the biggest thing that will affect the outcome of the game is Seattle’s ability to convert on 3rd down and keep the ball out of the hands of Tom Brady.
[The Patriots have allowed a 44 percent completion rate on 3rd down, and that is the one area the Seahawks offense must exploit on Sunday.]
The Patriots do not have a stellar defense (29th against the pass, 8th against rush) but it is good enough to bother the Seahawks anemic 27th ranked offense.
If Seattle get’s bogged down with predictable play-calling and Russell Wilson regresses inside the pocket, it may be a very frustrating day.
Bottom line: More Seahawks offense means a fresh and aggressive Seahawks defense. It also means more pressure on the Patriots to perform in an extremely loud environment with far fewer offensive snaps.
12th Man, get ready.
Key to the game: Force the Patriots to show their hand
As you’ve already read and heard repeatedly, New England boasts the number one ranked offense. What you may not know is that the Patriots are doing it with incredible balance.
Per NFL.com the breakout looks like this:
Rushing attempts: 191
Passing attempts: 185
This is not the Tom Brady to Randy Moss Patriots from years ago. This team has become completely unpredictable and that makes them very dangerous.
For Seattle, the front four must control the line of scrimmage, stop the new found running success, and force the Patriots into predictable down and distances e.g., 2nd long, 3rd long. This will be critical against the Patriots high tempo offense.
Key Matchup: Patriots’ Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski vs the Seahawks underneath coverage.
Bottom Line: Predictable Patriots mean exposed Patriots, and Chris Clemons and Bruce Irvin sack dances.
Key to the game: Special Teams Field position
The Seahawks kick off and punt team have been very good this year in return coverage and will need to force the Patriots offense into long field situations.
Failure to do so in this area could be disastrous to the Seahawks game plan.
Key to the game: Winning the chess game with Bill Belichick
Obviously, football is a game of adjustments. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick may just be one of the toughest coaches in the NFL to deal with from a game plan perspective.
There is nothing that will hurt the Seahawks more than allowing Belichick’s schemes to confuse Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. In my opinion, this is paramount.
The Seahawks may not have time for Carroll’s famous second half adjustments.
Carroll, and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell need to keep the Seahawks unpredictable and the Patriots defense as vanilla as possible to get the win.
How you ask?
The Seahawks must keep the tempo high with quick play calls, and even quicker substitutions. Delays here will hurt. Allowing Wilson and the Seahawks offense to get in and out of the huddle quickly will establish a rhythm and keep the Patriots substitutions limited.
The 12th Man and Seahawks defense will do its part against the Tom Brady led Patriots offense, but has to get help from the other side of the ball.
Hopefully for Seattle, Pete Carroll is up to the task.
2011 Seattle Seahawks Red Zone Offense..Inside the numbers
EDITORS NOTE: Comprehensive 2011 Red Zone Offensive tendencies from MatchUps Zone contributor @StarvingScout. Enjoy Seahawks fans, I know I did. Great work!
————————————————————————
@StarvingScout:
I watched and charted every 2011 Seattle Seahawks Offensive snap in the Red Zone. Below is a
quick breakdown of what I saw by personnel grouping. Disclaimer: I’m an amateur, it was a lot of data,
and I had a small screen so definitely factor in a slight margin of error.
Favorite Play
The Outside Zone Run (or tackle zone) is the Seahawks favorite play by far. It should be
assumed going forward that the Outside Zone is the primary running play in each of the subsequent
personnel groupings. They will run it with a lead blocking Fullback (out of 21, 22, or 23 personnel) or out
of Single-Back sets (in 11 and 12 personnel). Lynch is good at turning this play into a big gain.
11 (Kings) Personnel : 43 Plays (Run-16, Pass-27)
Personnel philosophy Outside/Inside Zone Runs, Vertical Concepts, Primary Target:X Vertical
Formation tendencies 50% of the time they will be in a Trips Set of some type.
50% of the time it will be a Shotgun formation.
5 times they lined up in a Trips Speed formation
All sprint outs look like they are coming out of Kings Gun Trips Near.
11 (Kings) Alternate Y Line-up Locations
Y Off-4 Times
Y Crack-4 Times
Y Wide-4 Times
11 (Kings) Types of Motion with Play in parenthesis
F3 (Bubble)
W-Yoyo (Inside Zone)
W-Deep (F Wheel)
Y (Zone Run, Slant)
Y-Yoyo (Inside Zone)
11 (Kings) Personnel Red Zone Pass Targets
F-Wheel, Screen
W-Slant (lined up wide in Trips sets the other two WRs lined up inside of him run clear out
vertical routes), comeback, bubbles.
X-Fade, vertical
Y-Out, slant, seam
Z- Hitch, curl, bubble
12 (Ace) Personnel 21 Plays (Run-11, Pass-10)
Personnel Philosophy-Horizontal and Three-Level (Flood) Concepts, Zone Runs with U as a
lead/trap blocker, Primary Target(s): Crossing Routes (To both X and U)
12 (Ace) Formation tendencies
The QB is always under center in Ace sets.
50% of the time it is a Trips set
38 % of the time both Tight Ends are lined up next to each other (Wing and Trump).
They don’t line up either Tight End wide in Ace.
12 (Ace) Types of Motion with play in parenthesis:
F2 (U Out)
F3 (U Cross)
U (Zone run)
X (Inside zone)
X behind Z (Flood)
Y-Deep (F Swing)
Y-Yoyo (X Cross)
Z (Z cross, inside run)
12 (Ace) Personnel Red Zone Pass Targets
F-Swing, flare
U-Cross, out
X-Cross, post
Y-Post
Z-Curl
21 (Regular) Personnel 20 Plays (Run-15, Pass-5)
Personnel Philosophy-Run First, Inside/Outside Zone Runs, Quick Concept and Play Action
Passes, Primary Target(s): Short passes to Z and H
21 (Regular) Formation tendencies
The QB is under Center 100% of the time
100% of the time it is an I Formation (3 times Off-set I Far)
They don’t split any Running Backs or the Tight End wide.
They will line Lynch up at both H and F.
When Lynch is lined up at F
They will either hand it to Lynch or fake it to him and pitch to H Washington
33% of the time WR in Flip Alignment
21 (Regular) Types of Motion with Play in parenthesis
Y (Zone run)
Z (Delay screen to Z)
21 (Regular) Personnel Red Zone Pass Targets
H-Wheel (to field)
Z-Screens, flag
22 (Tens) Personnel
13 Plays (Run-9, Pass-4)
22 (Tens) Personnel Philosophy-Run First, Outside/Inside Zone Runs, both H and F touch the ball equally
22 (Tens) Formation tendencies
100% of the time it is an I Formation
Both TE aligned to same side (Heavy) 5 times
Y lined up wide one play
Won’t hesitate to run the same Short Yardage play 2 or even 3 times in a row
22 (Tens) Types of Motion with Play in parenthesis
F Off (PA Pass)
U (Z Sluggo, Zone Run)
U Out (U Slant)
22 (Tens) Personnel Red Zone Pass Targets
U-Slant
Z-Sluggo
23 (Jacks) Personnel 2 Plays (Run-1, Pass-1)
This is a short-yardage grouping both plays were run with 1 and 3 yards to gain respectively.
One play was Jacks I Right lead dive with a Tackle eligible. The other play was Jacks I Left pass to FB in
flat.
0? (Spread) Personnel 11 Plays (Run-0, Pass-11)
Personnel groupings that fell under this category had no RB in the backfield but on some plays I
could not make out exactly if there were Tight Ends in the formation or not. So in theory they could be
00, 01, 02, 03, personnel but they’ve all been grouped together under this (0?) Category.
0? (Spread) Personnel Philosophy-Vertical/Horizontal Concepts, Intermediate and Deeper Routes,
Primary Target:W
0? (Spread) Types of Motion with Play in Parenthesis-
Z Deep (Z Wheel)
0? (Spread) Personnel Red Zone Pass Targets
U-Out (away from Trips set)
W-Post, trips slant, screen
X-Post, Vertical
Y-Out
Z-Flag, Wheel
Concluding Thoughts and Notes
Kings Personnel is the Seahawks preferred personnel grouping by a wide margin. (It is also their
preferred personnel grouping on all 3rd down plays regardless of field position but I’ll get to 3rd down
plays on another report). They will try and take some vertical shots to the Y just outside of the Red
Zone. They like to throw Bubbles to the 3-WR Side of formations. Sometimes they will manufacture
that 3-WR side by using F3 motion (1 target) or by lining the F out wide (1 target). Late in the season
there was a noticeable trend to target the motion man.
I know that Russell Wilson is starting at QB now so the play calling could change to suit his
strengths. However, NFL Offenses don’t change much from season to season when the same Offensive
Coordinator is in place. Therefore, it would be safe to assume that Darell Bevell’s Red Zone Offense in
2012 will look quite similar to the one detailed in this report. The difference in the 2012 version will
have more to do with whatever Russell Wilson does within plays (favorite targets, throws, or launch
points, etc). I believe that Russell Wilson’s skill-set and leadership will make the Seahawks Red Zone
Offense more effective than it has been before under Darell Bevell. Last but not least, none of this
matters if you don’t tackle Marshawn Lynch. Good luck with that.
Tweet me your criticism, feedback, or suggestions for other Advance Scouting Reports to
@StarvingScout.
Seahawks Preseason Game 3: Offensive Data Stats for Nerds
Okay Seahawks fans,
Here’s a quick look at some of the offensive trends for the Seahawks game 3 performance in Kansas City. If you guys like the data make sure to comment! I’ll do one of these for all regular season games as well as show seasonal trends if the community has a desire for the info.
NOTE: There will be a ton of more useful passing route data once ALL22 is released for regular season. This will allow for passing concept trends..
TOTAL GAME PASSING ZONE % (Russell Wilson)
Deep Right: 22.2%
Deep Middle: 7.4%
Deep Left: 11.1%
Mid Right: 7.4%
Mid Middle: 11.1%
Mid Left: 0.0%
Flat Right: 11.1%
Check Down: 0.0%
Flat Left: 14.8%
Offense QB Pass Drop Ranking Report for Entire Game
Rank Drop #Plays %Plays
1. 3 Step 16 59.3
2. PA 6 22.2
3. 5 Step 3 11.1
4. 0 Step 1 3.7
5. Roll 1 3.7
Personnel Ranking Report for 1st Down & (10 – 10) Yards
Rank Personnel #Plays %Plays
1. 11 9 39.1
2. 21 6 26.1
3. 12 5 21.7
4. 22 2 8.7
5. 10 1 4.3
Personnel Ranking Report for 2nd Down & (7 – 10+) Yards
Rank Personnel #Plays %Plays
1. 11 5 62.5
2. 12 2 25.0
3. 21 1 12.5
Personnel Ranking Report for 2nd Down & (3 – 6) Yards
Rank Personnel #Plays %Plays
1. 21 2 50.0
2. 11 1 25.0
3. 12 1 25.0
Personnel Ranking Report for 2nd Down & (1 – 2) Yards
Rank Personnel #Plays %Plays
1. 12 1 33.3
2. 21 1 33.3
3. 22 1 33.3
Personnel Ranking Report for 3rd Down & (7 – 10+) Yards
Rank Personnel #Plays %Plays
1. 11 5 83.3
2. 21 1 16.7
Personnel Ranking Report for 3rd Down & (3 – 6) Yards
Rank Personnel #Plays %Plays
1. 02 1 50.0
2. 10 1 50.0
Personnel Ranking Report for 3rd Down & (1 – 2) Yards
Rank Personnel #Plays %Plays
1. 21 1 100
Game: Offense Formations Ranking Report for Entire Game
Rank Formation Name % of Plays Run % Avg. Run(yds) Pass % Avg. Pass(yds)
1. Spread 23.5 25.0 5.0 75.0 10.0
2. Gun Spread 17.6 11.1 2.0 88.9 12.4
3. Ace 2TE Bunch 9.8 60.0 3.7 40.0 18.5
4. Pro I 7.8 50.0 1.5 50.0 24.0
5. Pro I Twins 7.8 50.0 5.0 50.0 -3.0
6. Ace 7.8 75.0 8.3 25.0 1.0
7. Field Goal 7.8
8. Pro I Weak 5.9 100.0 12.7 0.0 0.0
9. Pro Heavy 2TE B 5.9 100.0 3.7 0.0 0.0
10. Gun Spread Trips 2.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 11.0
11. Pro I Strong 2.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 25.0
12. Empty 2TE 2.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 -2.0
Runs Ranking Report for Russell Wilson led drives:
Rank Run Name #Runs % Runs % to Str Avg(yds) % Away Avg(yds)
1. Inside Zone 13 65.0 61.5 5.6 38.5 7.0
2. Outside Zone 3 15.0 66.7 5.0 33.3 8.0
3. Power 2 10.0 100.0 15.5 0.0 0.0
4. Dive 1 5.0 100.0 3.0 0.0 0.0
5. Draw 1 5.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 0.0
A quick look at the Seattle Seahawks schedule
Can Russell Be “the guy” for the Seahawks in 2012?
Courtesy U.S Presswire
Going into this pivotal third preseason game against the Chiefs in Kansas City, the Seattle Seahawks first-team offense has yet to gain much offensive traction.
Quarterback carousels, injuries to key starting receivers Doug Baldwin and Sidney Rice, as well the additions of new receivers like Terrell Owens and Braylon Edwards have been a mixed bag of occasional flashes of brilliance yet inconsistent offensive football to date.
One can only hope the decision to start rookie quarterback Russell Wilson in the regular season dress rehearsal will be the calming and galvanizing force needed as the Seahawks prepare for the Arizona Cardinals in 2 weeks.
Just for fun I decided to take a look at 2011 scoring outputs for each opponent we face in 2012 as well as defensive points allowed statistics.
Here is a snap shot of what the Seahawks might face. (Stats in Seahawks favor are highlighted in green).
Seahawks 2011 Offensive Scoring: 20.1 PPG
Seahawks 2011 Defense allowed: 19.7 PPG
Game 1: Arizona Cardinals (John Skelton, Kevin Kolb)
2011 Offensive Scoring:19.5 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 21.8 PPG
Game 2: Dallas Cowboys (Tony Romo)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 23.1 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 21.7 PPG
Game 3: Green Bay Packers (Aaron Rodgers)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 35 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 22.4 PPG
Game 4: St Louis Rams (Sam Bradford)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 12.1 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 25.4 PPG
Game 5. Carolina Panthers (Cam Newton)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 25.4 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 26.8 PPG
Game 6. New England Patriots (Tom Brady)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 32.1 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 21.4 PPG
Game 7. San Francisco 49ers (Alex Smith)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 23.8 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 14.3 PPG
Game 8. Detroit Lions (Matthew Stafford)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 29.6 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 24.2 PPG
Game 9. Minnesota Vikings (Christian Ponder)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 21.2 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 28.1 PPG
Game 10. New York Jets (Mark Sanchez)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 23.6 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 22.7 PPG
Game 11. Miami Dolphins (Ryan Tannehill)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 20.6 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 19.6 PPG
Game 12. Chicago Bears (Jay Cutler)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 22.1 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 21.3 PPG
Game 13. Arizona Cardinals (John Skelton, Kevin Kolb)
2011 Offensive Scoring:19.5 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 21.8 PPG
Game 14. Buffalo Bills (Ryan Fitzpatrick)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 23.2 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 27.1 PPG
Game 15. San Francisco 49ers (Alex Smith)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 23.8 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 14.3 PPG
Game 16: St Louis Rams (Sam Bradford)
2011 Offensive Scoring: 12.1 PPG
2011 Defense allowed: 25.4 PPG
Understanding that previous years do not always project future outcomes, It is still interesting to note that the Seahawks face twelve games in which the opposing team had a better scoring offense yet face thirteen games in which their defense has lower defensive points-per-game allowed.
This schedule may be brutal. Facing Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler, Cam Newton, Tony Romo and the 49ers (twice) with lingering questions at QB and receiver will be something to behold.
One thing is for sure….The Seahawks can not afford to waste their great defense by taking a step back offensively in 2012.
BOLD PREDICTION: The Seahawks get through 2012 with a winning record for the first time under Pete Carroll: 9-7
If not the seat under Pete Carroll will get hot quickly.
Pressure is on Coach.
GO SEAHAWKS!!
Pre Season game 1: What matters, and what doesn’t.. Yet.
Tom Cable (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Seahawk’s football is back! I’m not sure what was worse.. The months without any football or the month of football previews and teases. Either way, it’s over and the dress rehearsals for the regular season march to the Lombardi trophy begin tonight.
With all the focus on the QB position it’s hard to think of anything else but I’m going to give it a shot..
Here I go!
I’d submit that in a game such as this, the easiest thing to accurately grade is the offensive and defensive lines. The trenches speak more truth to progress than any other position in game 1 of the pre season. The physicality, fundamentals and unit cohesion will be very clear, and will give a good indicator of things to come.
Last year, due to the lockout, new young players, and many other issues, the preseason play of the line was one of the worst I’ve ever seen as a long time Seahawks fan. Rookie RT James Carpenter and rookie RG John Moffitt mastered the ” Look Out! ” block, and the running game was non existent. These problems hurt Seattle going into the season and cost them at least 3-4 games in my opinion.
Toward the end of the year however, things seem to get much better as Tom Cable was able to achieve some really nice performances with career back ups. However, serious pressure is on this group to keep the momentum going into 2013.
Who I’m watching tonight not named Flynn or Wilson:
DE Bruce Irvin: The Seahawks surprising first round pick has flashed in camp, and this is a great opportunity to show the home crowd the reason he was selected so high. I’ll be looking specifically for a multitude of moves that not only utilize his speed and explosiveness, but also his raw power.
DT Brandon Mebane: I was very impressed with Mebane’s performance early in the season but he wore down a bit as the season progressed. With Bobby Wagner vying for a starting job at middle Linebacker, Mebane will need to dominate his 1 tech position to keep Wagner as clean as possible to find the ball carrier. This will be crucial to his success.
The entire Offensive Line:
As I mentioned before, this unit is arguably the personnel grouping that determines the Seahawks fate this year over all others. Very interested to see the rotation tonight, and hope to see guys like J.R Sweezy, Rishaw Johnson, Frank Omiyale, and Deuce Lutui a bunch. There are a ton of unknowns in this group so this is a great opportunity to show the fans and more importantly the coaching staff what they have to work with.
Some Final Thoughts:
Of course the QB and receiving position situations will be a focus tonight..I’m not crazy. But struggles in that area won’t mean as much to me now (talk to me after game 3 of pre season) as struggles in the trenches. I fully anticipate a great defensive line presence tonight, and hope the offensive line follows suit.
Bottom Line:
Seahawks football is back, and I couldn’t be happier.
GO SEAHAWKS
Welcome home Matthew Hasselbeck…
There are few things in sports that are quite like reunions with former players with massive amounts of supporters. That’s Matthew Hasselbeck, former and arguably the best quarterback that has suited up for the Seattle Seahawks franchise.
Hasselbeck stats in case you forgot:
GAMES: 138
COMPLETIONS: 2,559
COMPLETION %: 60.2
PASSING YARDS: 29,434
TDS: 174
GAME WINNING DRIVES: 19
Last year the Seahawks ranked 22nd in passing offense. This wouldn’t be so bad if that came with 10 wins, or if the QB that was selected to replace Hasselbeck didn’t play like, well..Tarvaris Jackson. I’ve been a supporter of Jackson from a leadership and heart standpoint (battled through awful offensive line play and torn pectoral muscle most of year) but he doesn’t pass the eye test. He’s not as polished as Matt was under center for the Seahawks (patting the ball for 5 seconds, then throwing majority of his passes off back foot like a fade away jumper doesn’t help his case).
On Saturday, Seahawks fans will once again see Matt Hasselbeck running on to the Century Link Field , only this time in a Tennessee Titan’s jersey. While most fans will admit it was time for Hasselbeck to move on, the fact that we haven’t had the new “Matt” since he left has turned the QB situation into a full-fledged 12th Man soap opera.
The desperation is clear. Pete Carroll, and John Schneider have been busy building an outstanding defense..The additions of players like Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Alan Branch, Jason Jones, Bruce Irvin, and more have catapulted this defense into championship caliber levels.
To be fair, Pete Carroll has decided to construct the Seahawk’s new offense the right way: by building from the offensive line out. Additionally, offensive additions like Marshawn Lynch and Doug Baldwin have brought serious excitement at times but we are still an unbalanced team to date, and that has led to fears that this great defense may be wasted much like the 49er’s before Jim Harbaugh arrived (I just vomited a little writing that).
Matt Flynn vs Russell Wilson vs Tarvaris Jackson
During camp you hear-read the daily “how do they look?” questions from fans with numerous “experts” in local and national media weighing in on who they thought looked like “the guy”. These assumptions and opinions have driven me slightly crazy. I say that only because the rep counts, 1st team, 2nd team, and play call sheets are only part of the story. What happens in the film room off the field is also HUGE and is not getting discussed. Also I’ll add that successes in practice at this point in camp either offensive or defensive, may have to do with familiarity with personnel and their weaknesses as well as the limited contact allowed. While I’m on this mini rant, I’ll say one last thing: We don’t know what metric Pete Carroll and staff are using to grade the QB’s. I’d imagine it was deeper than completion percentage during practice, hitch steps, TD counts, and release points. I’d submit that it’s possible to go 8-8 in 7 on 7 drills but grade out below average. Without having intimate knowledge of the playbook, and philosophies against various coverages, it is all wild speculation.
The point is I’m getting restless. I’m getting restless to once again have that feeling of confidence in the QB position. To know the guy taking snaps is “the guy” and won’t be shipped out next year for another guy, who is then shipped out for another (see Seattle from 92-2000). I don’t want to go through that again. Matt Hasselbeck spoiled us as a fan base. He was perfect for Seattle, and seeing him back on the field on Saturday picks at a scab that has yet to heal.
Matt Flynn will get the start on Saturday, and an entire fan base will be sitting on the edge of their seats to see if this Matt can show us just a glimpse of what the new and improved defense Pete Carroll has built deserves : A competent QB who won’t force them to make the play that wins the game. Kind of a tough spot for Matt Flynn, even if it is just the 1st pre-season game. But, “the guy” should rise to the challenge.
Let’s hope he can.
Go Seahawks!!
Drew
Sam
Will
