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| Russell Wilson-Golden Tate-Sidney Rice (left to right) |
SEAHAWKS' WILSON-TATE SHINE IN ROAD VICTORY BESTING CHICAGO' CUTLER & MARSHALL IN OT
The Seahawks return to Seattle after a road trip of "bad news, good news". After the very disappointing defeat to the Dolphins in South Beach Florida, the Seahawks traveled to Chicago to play the Bears at Soldier Field. While most NFL prognosticators chose Seattle to defeat the Dolphins, they in turn chose Chicago to dominate at home sending the Seahawks back to Seattle with their tail feathers between their legs. Neither of those things happened as the Seahawks faltered to Miami and left Chicago victorious with an overtime victory and some very solid performances by quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receivers Golden Tate and Sidney Rice. The Seahawks prevailed on the road which could very well be the confidence booster that their rookie quarterback needs as the team fights to make the playoffs and also to an entire offense that has largely depended on near-perfect play by its defense. In Seattle's five road losses, they have never lost by more than a touchdown and their average deficit per loss is just over four points. Each game, the Seahawks have been in a position to win, but just couldn't execute at the end of games on the road and therefore continue to struggle away from Centurylink Field and the rabid fans that make it virtually impossible to be Seattle on its home turf. Beating the Bears was huge for the Seahawks, proving to everyone including themselves that they can beat a quality team like Chicago on the road. Now, Seattle has been very favorable schedule playing the remainder of their games in Seattle, except for one road game in Buffalo. Sin Francisco has slowed down and Arizona has lost consecutive games putting Seattle ahead of everyone in the NFC West except for the 49ers. All three of the Seahawks division rivals will visit Seattle in the waning remainder of the regular season. Losing to St. Louis, Arizona and San Francisco already on the road has put them in a must win situation now that they will play all three of those teams at home and hoping to erase the advantage that those teams have already defeating the Seahawks this year in their own stadiums.
Russell Wilson was magnificent in Chicago this week throwing very accurately and frustrating the Bears defense avoiding their blitzing and pass rushing schemes, running for first downs or finding open receivers downfield throwing on the run instead. Wilson is avoiding the common rookie mistakes and is improving marvelously in each consecutive game this year. His mistakes are reducing and his accuracy and passing proficiency is increasing exponentially. Wilson has thrown 19 touchdowns to only 8 interceptions, with a 63.4 pass completion percentage and 2,344 yards. Through 12 games he carries a 95.2 quarterback rating and in the last four games has thrown for nine touchdowns and zero interceptions. He is continuing to impress and his confidence is growing just as his teammates confidence in him as a quarterback and leader is growing quickly.
Along with the improved play of Wilson, the wide receiver sets are beginning to be effective and receivers are making plays and catching passes. Both Sidney Rice and Golden Tate have thrown touchdown passes and they're also beginning to create separation between themselves and defenders giving Wilson places to distribute the ball. Doug Baldwin is beginning to emerge as his health improves and the timing with his quarterback is also beginning to show more and more each game. The offensive line continues to be a problem, both with blocking coverage on passing plays as well as extremely untimely procedure penalties costing the Seahawks big plays and opportunities to keep the defense off the field for longer spells of rest. Also, running back Marshawn Lynch is finding it harder to find blocking lanes, not allowing him to utilize his shiftiness in the defensive secondaries which is his forte. Fortunate for Seattle, Lynch is usually able to create his own carries for positive yardage based purely on tough running and his tenacity for breaking tackles and gaming yardage after the point of impact. His continued health is imperative if Seattle hopes to continue utilizing the running game to set up passing opportunities for their rookie quarterback. Robert Turbin is a capable running back and hard runner, but he doesn't have the same ability to create yardage where there is none. However, Turbin and Leon Washington are great change of pace runners to be used sporadically.
As Seattle prepares to play the Arizona Cardinals at the C'Link, it is important for Seattle to dominate the line of scrimmage and protect their quarterback better than they did in week one when they traveled to Glendale to play the Cardinals. Arizona attacked Seattle's offense constantly with aggressive blitzing and a dominating bull rush pushing Seattle's offensive line off-balance and giving Wilson very little time to throw the football or for Lynch to establish any kind of running rhythm. Also, the Cardinals have a stellar defensive secondary and it will be very important for Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin to give Wilson places to throw the football. Also, when these receivers are not running routes or if they are not primary targets, they must block to take Arizona's talented corners out of the play, particularly on run support. Patrick Peterson is very talented and it's important that he be forced to play honest. That will require an effective play action scheme by Wilson and Lynch and also the tightends must be impeccable in their pass blocking and their block and release assignments.
Doug Baldwin: Baldwin must get open immediately out of his breaks from the slot, giving Wilson quick targets and if he is not targeted, he must block to keep DB's busy.
Zach Miller: Miller must block the defensive and on Seattle's weak side. Arizona has been very active defensive line and they will be coming at Russell Wilson just as they did 12 weeks ago. However, Wilson is no first game rookie any longer.
Michael Robinson: I think Robinson could be key in this game, not only as a blocker for Lynch, but also a dump off receiver if and when Wilson feels a lot of pressure up the middle.
Bruce Irvin: Irvin has been quieted over the last couple of games and it's time for him to emerge as a true threat on the edge. Arizona doesn't have a dominant offensive line and they are vulnerable to fast edge rushers, and that's exactly what Irvin was drafted for.
James Carpenter: Carpenter has been dinged up this year, and has faltered several times allowing bigger defensive tackles to beat him at the POA. It's time for him to utilize his great size and deceptive speed to keep the heat off Russell Wilson and to open holes for Lynch to run through. Arizona has a very good defensive football team in Seattle must utilize their strengths to compensate for what Arizona has done with their coaching and personnel changes.
Byron Maxwell/Walter Thurmond: Maxwell and Thurmond might be the most important players on the field this Sunday. Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner still await a ruling by the NFL on their suspensions for using substances banned by the league (believed to be Adderall). Both will likely receive four-game suspensions, but it is unknown when those suspensions will be levied. Without Sherman and Browner, Seattle's defense will have huge holes, and huge shoes to fill. Marcus Trufant has a hamstring injury and Juron Johnson is inexperienced and doesn't have the size to play the big receivers like perennial All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald.
Russell Wilson was magnificent in Chicago this week throwing very accurately and frustrating the Bears defense avoiding their blitzing and pass rushing schemes, running for first downs or finding open receivers downfield throwing on the run instead. Wilson is avoiding the common rookie mistakes and is improving marvelously in each consecutive game this year. His mistakes are reducing and his accuracy and passing proficiency is increasing exponentially. Wilson has thrown 19 touchdowns to only 8 interceptions, with a 63.4 pass completion percentage and 2,344 yards. Through 12 games he carries a 95.2 quarterback rating and in the last four games has thrown for nine touchdowns and zero interceptions. He is continuing to impress and his confidence is growing just as his teammates confidence in him as a quarterback and leader is growing quickly.
Along with the improved play of Wilson, the wide receiver sets are beginning to be effective and receivers are making plays and catching passes. Both Sidney Rice and Golden Tate have thrown touchdown passes and they're also beginning to create separation between themselves and defenders giving Wilson places to distribute the ball. Doug Baldwin is beginning to emerge as his health improves and the timing with his quarterback is also beginning to show more and more each game. The offensive line continues to be a problem, both with blocking coverage on passing plays as well as extremely untimely procedure penalties costing the Seahawks big plays and opportunities to keep the defense off the field for longer spells of rest. Also, running back Marshawn Lynch is finding it harder to find blocking lanes, not allowing him to utilize his shiftiness in the defensive secondaries which is his forte. Fortunate for Seattle, Lynch is usually able to create his own carries for positive yardage based purely on tough running and his tenacity for breaking tackles and gaming yardage after the point of impact. His continued health is imperative if Seattle hopes to continue utilizing the running game to set up passing opportunities for their rookie quarterback. Robert Turbin is a capable running back and hard runner, but he doesn't have the same ability to create yardage where there is none. However, Turbin and Leon Washington are great change of pace runners to be used sporadically.
As Seattle prepares to play the Arizona Cardinals at the C'Link, it is important for Seattle to dominate the line of scrimmage and protect their quarterback better than they did in week one when they traveled to Glendale to play the Cardinals. Arizona attacked Seattle's offense constantly with aggressive blitzing and a dominating bull rush pushing Seattle's offensive line off-balance and giving Wilson very little time to throw the football or for Lynch to establish any kind of running rhythm. Also, the Cardinals have a stellar defensive secondary and it will be very important for Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin to give Wilson places to throw the football. Also, when these receivers are not running routes or if they are not primary targets, they must block to take Arizona's talented corners out of the play, particularly on run support. Patrick Peterson is very talented and it's important that he be forced to play honest. That will require an effective play action scheme by Wilson and Lynch and also the tightends must be impeccable in their pass blocking and their block and release assignments.
X factor players this week vs. the Arizona Cardinals:
Doug Baldwin: Baldwin must get open immediately out of his breaks from the slot, giving Wilson quick targets and if he is not targeted, he must block to keep DB's busy.
Zach Miller: Miller must block the defensive and on Seattle's weak side. Arizona has been very active defensive line and they will be coming at Russell Wilson just as they did 12 weeks ago. However, Wilson is no first game rookie any longer.
Michael Robinson: I think Robinson could be key in this game, not only as a blocker for Lynch, but also a dump off receiver if and when Wilson feels a lot of pressure up the middle.
Bruce Irvin: Irvin has been quieted over the last couple of games and it's time for him to emerge as a true threat on the edge. Arizona doesn't have a dominant offensive line and they are vulnerable to fast edge rushers, and that's exactly what Irvin was drafted for.
James Carpenter: Carpenter has been dinged up this year, and has faltered several times allowing bigger defensive tackles to beat him at the POA. It's time for him to utilize his great size and deceptive speed to keep the heat off Russell Wilson and to open holes for Lynch to run through. Arizona has a very good defensive football team in Seattle must utilize their strengths to compensate for what Arizona has done with their coaching and personnel changes.
Byron Maxwell/Walter Thurmond: Maxwell and Thurmond might be the most important players on the field this Sunday. Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner still await a ruling by the NFL on their suspensions for using substances banned by the league (believed to be Adderall). Both will likely receive four-game suspensions, but it is unknown when those suspensions will be levied. Without Sherman and Browner, Seattle's defense will have huge holes, and huge shoes to fill. Marcus Trufant has a hamstring injury and Juron Johnson is inexperienced and doesn't have the size to play the big receivers like perennial All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald.
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