Three Facts
1. The Tennessee game was more lopsided than the final score indicated.
If we ignore the scoreboard for a minute, the Seahawks pretty much dominated the Titans in every other area. The defense didn’t make as many spectacular plays as the 12th Man would have hoped, but they limited the Titans to season lows in total yards, rushing yards, and first downs. Most importantly, they allowed Tennessee just one trip inside the 20-yard line, which resulted in a field goal. The Seattle offense nearly outgained the Titans by 200 yards. They moved the ball with ease between the 20’s but their inability to score touchdowns in the red zone kept the game from being the blow out that it should have been. Even with the offensive struggles, the final score should have been 23-6 or 20-6. The biggest evidence that Tennessee was outclassed was that its only touchdown came on a botched field goal attempt, which involved a back-up safety as the holder and a punter filling in for the injured Steven Hauschka.
2. Seahawks’ fans will have to accept winning ugly until the offensive line gets healthy.
Over the last five games of the 2012 season, the 12th Man was treated to high octane football as the Seahawks blew through opponent after opponent during their push to make the playoffs. It was one of those rare stretches when the offense, defense, and special teams were all playing at an extremely high level. Unfortunately, the 2013 Seahawks are not hitting on all cylinders like they did at the end of last season. I would argue that Seattle has “won ugly” in four out of their five victories. They even found a way to lose ugly. Seahawks’ fans are just going to have to embrace these gritty, “find a way to win” Seahawks because I don’t see things improving appreciably until Russell Okung and Brenno Giacomini are back in the starting line-up. The drop-off in talent across the offensive line due to the injuries has caused havoc with Seattle’s ability to run the ball consistently and protect Russell Wilson, which has directly impacted its red zone efficiency and general offensive continuity. In several of their victories this season, the Hawks have demonstrated that they are mentally tough enough to keep taking body blows from their opponents, but still find ways to emerge victorious when the final bell tolls.
3. Seattle needs to be prudent about when to bring back players from injuries.
The Seahawks don’t need to rush back any of the ailing players to win their next five games. Certainly their margin for error is reduced by not having Okung, Giacomini, Wagner, Clemons, etc, but it is more important to be healthy for December than to beat each of their next five opponents. If for no one else, caution should definitely be employed for Russell Okung because his injury history would lead you to believe that he has the highest risk of re-injury should he be rushed back to the starting lineup. I still think that Seattle has a tremendous opportunity to be 10-1 heading into their bye week, but it is going to take all of the mental toughness and grittiness that they can assemble.
Three Questions
1. Should we be concerned that Russell Wilson is propping up the rushing totals?
The Seahawks are the #2 running team in the NFL after six weeks. Taken at face value, this productivity in the running game should be considered a huge accomplishment for a team that has played at time without three starting offensive linemen. However, a deeper look shows that Wilson’s scrambling yardage has been a huge contributor to Seattle’s ground game, especially over the last three weeks. Wilson has generated 44% of the rushing totals as he has dramatically increased his carries due to sheer necessity. Is it a concern that the Seahawks are seemingly unable to generate consistent yards through the traditional rushing attack? On one hand, it is worrisome that Marshawn Lynch has only surpassed the century mark in one game this season and that Robert Turbin seems much less involved in the game plan. As with many things, I believe that the running game will improve as the general health of the offensive line improves. Also, I think that the Hawks find themselves in an anything goes kind of situation with their offense. If they are moving the chains due to Wilson’s athletic ability, then so be it. Until they are able to unveil the offense they envisioned in training camp, the Hawks are going to be content with moving the ball and scoring points however they can.
2. Does Seattle have the worst tight end situation in the NFL?
The Seahawks’ tenuous tight end position started to unwind with the season-ending injury to Anthony McCoy back in May. While I’m not the biggest McCoy fan, I would concede that he was probably the most athletic tight end that Seattle has had on its roster this year. With McCoy unavailable, the Hawks have been forced to make it work with the too-often-injured Zach Miller, the too green Luke Willson, and the useless Kellen Davis. The result has been a pathetic 20 receptions and two touchdowns from the position group. In addition, the lack of a play-maker at the tight end position has led to way too many red zone field goals because if the Hawks can’t get Miller or Willson open by scheme then they are not getting open. I’m not ready to call Seattle’s tight end situation the worst in football, but it is definitely the worst when you just consider playoff and Super Bowl contenders.
3. Should the Seahawks be getting more from their pass rush?
With the additions of Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, there was a great deal of excitement among Seahawks’ fans that their team would have one of the most dominant pass rushes in the NFL. This feeling was intensified with the return of Chris Clemons from injury and Bruce Irvin from a league-mandated suspension. After six weeks, Seattle finds itself on pace for approximately 45 sacks, which would have put them in the top five last season. In addition, according to the MMQB’s Greg Bedard, the Seahawks were the third best team in the NFL in pressure rate through the first five weeks of the season. Despite some of the nice statistics, does it feel like the Seahawks are getting their money’s worth from their pass rush? Obviously, the final numbers are important, but it is even more imperative for Seattle to consistently generate pressure both home and away. On several occasions this season, the Seahawks’ defensive line has gone into the witness protection program, including the first half in Houston and the second half in Indianapolis. It will be an encouraging sign if the Hawks can make life uncomfortable for Carson Palmer on Thursday night, especially considering that Clemons is unlikely to play due to injury.
Three Worries
1. Offensive continuity issues
For most of the season, the Seattle offense has been running in place. They have been unable to find a sustainable flow because they are only converting 32.1% of their third down opportunities, which is the 28th ranked conversion rate in the league. When they have been able to move the football, they have been settling for way too many field goals. Currently, they find themselves in the middle of the pack with a 50% touchdown rate in the red zone. Their maddening inconsistency on offense allowed the Colts to ultimately beat them and kept the Tennessee Titans alive much longer than they should have been. Part of the issue has been the lack of protection from the offensive line. There have been many times when Wilson has been unable to evaluate his first option much less any secondary options in the passing game. It doesn’t help that Seattle lacks a difference-maker at wide receiver and tight end. The hope is that the current make-up of the offensive line can gel together and hold the fort until the regular starters come back from injury.
2. Passing game limitations
The Seahawks are limited at wide receiver, which was one of the reasons they traded for Percy Harvin in the offseason. With Harvin still recovering from surgery, the rest of the Seattle wide receivers have been unable to make a huge impact. The Seahawks are currently the 25th ranked passing attack in the NFL, but the bigger issue is how much the Seattle receivers struggle to create separation in man-to-man coverage. The problem is further compounded by the complete disappearance of Sidney Rice, who theoretically has the size and skills to make catches even when he isn’t technically open. The hope is that Jermaine Kearse can start to assume some of Rice’s role, but it still appears that the situation is not ripe for him to take on a bigger part of the offense. Again, the hope is that through improved game planning and improved protection the passing game will take flight. The other beacon of hope is the imminent return of Harvin from the Physically Unable to Perform list.
3. Mounting injuries
The Hawks won’t have Russell Okung and Brenno Giacomini back in the starting line-up together for several more weeks. They are facing the prospect of playing Thursday night without two of their defensive leaders, Bobby Wagner and Chris Clemons. Losing Clem is a big deal, but at least the Hawks have a lot of bodies along the defensive line to pick up the slack. I’m also very encouraged by some of the improvement that I saw from the offensive line on Sunday. One highlight was that Michael Bowie allowed just one hurry in 42 pass blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus. Another positive sign was that Russell Wilson actually performed better when the Titans applied pressure than when he had a clean pocket. The expectation is that the Cardinals are going to come after Wilson early and often. With their outstanding depth being tested, it remains to be seen if the Hawks can keep winning.
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