Guest post on SeatGeek Blog!

Hey readers! Just wanted to let you know that I wrote an article Seahawks vs. Saints: Showdown in the wild, wild Qwest for SeatGeek's Blog discussing the Seahawks's Keys to Victory (follow this link!) this weekend. You can find your Seattle Seahawks tickets for the playoffs and the 2011 season on SeatGeek, the leading ticket search engine that enables fans to discover the best deals for sports and concerts.

Seahawks host Rams to decide the NFC West

The Seattle Seahawks host the St. Louis Rams in week 17 in the regular season finale, both teams fighting for the division title and the opportunity to host a playoff game. As losers of seven of their last nine games the Seahawks are in a unique, some would say unfavorable, position to become the first team to win a division with a sub .500 record. Head Coach Pete Carroll realizes the stigma attached to his team, but frankly, doesn't care one bit. "The story lines of the season are forgotten for us; It's all about this game, this opportunity, right now." Carroll noted there was a lot of energy around the building and he could see the players and coaches are looking forward to this weekend; Aaron Curry, "You cross your T's and dot your I's; you're appreciative of what you have been given."

A forgettable season: 16 weeks into the 2010 season the Seahawks approach the game that has been anticipated by most, for nearly two months, as the game that will decide the NFC West champion. The Seahawks debacle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a huge loss in terms of gaining momentum for this week; last week's loss lacked energy, discipline and urgency. Carroll played to win the game, starting his usual 22 players as he should have. This week, they leave "last season behind us." Carroll has preached to his players it doesn't matter what has happened up until this point, the 6-9 record, because the team is in the position to achieve the goal they set during off season workouts in March; they have the chance to win the division. Mike Williams, "We're zeroed in. We have wiped the slate clean." When you start the playoffs, everyone's record goes back to 0—0.

The program: The argument has been made that this game is important for building the future of the organization and losing this game to acquire a more valuable draft pick is in this organizations best interest; I fully disagree. As Carroll noted this week, "This is something we have aimed for, but it comes in an unusual manner. We have a huge opportunity for our fans. We're going to work together with them as always, make this a big event for us." He added, "Try to imagine how skewed my mind would be right now if I was thinking about the draft pick." A successful program must first learn what it takes to be a champion, dealing with the adversity, and it had to start somewhere. Just because this Seahawks team is a "work in progress," doesn't mean the goal is forgotten; it's worked towards; a chance to build momentum for the program going into the off season, attracting young, veteran talent. They look to protect the totem, the Seahawks' symbol, on national TV. This program wants to show it is about one thing; winning.

An unfamiliar leader…or not: Charlie Whitehurst has been given the opportunity to be this weekend's starting quarterback due to the injury to Matt Hasselbeck; he has practiced with the first team, He is looking to rebound from a week 16 relief performance that started slowly, showed a lack of confidence throwing the ball downfield when given the opportunity, choosing to drop the ball short and to the outside. This week, he has showed improvement and budding confidence. "I'm prepared, ready to go, execute." The Seahawks need to continue to give him his chances and keep the playbook open, not protect him with an ultra conservative game plan like they did against the Giants; the Rams have allowed 50 passes of 20 yards or more.

There is one catch; Hasselbeck has been insisting he will play all week, as he intensely rehabs his injury. Coach Carroll has called such a return miraculous, but is willing to give Hasselbeck the opportunity to start come Sunday evening if he is healthy enough. The offense is familiar with Hasselbeck's quick cadence, velocity on the ball and snap count; anticipation of the snap count becomes a factor, as the Rams have big, physical cornerbacks that will create problems if the Seahawks lack continuity getting off the ball.

Carroll believes Whitehurst has the ability and understands the offense; "I think it's a matter of time before he's a really good starting quarterback in the NFL." That's beyond a bold statement, especially for a player who has struggled through one NFL start and a few relief appearances.

Start Whitehurst, keep Hasselbeck active if he can play. Whitehurst has earned his opportunity, but can easily give it away; setting up a second half comeback for Hasselbeck, using any strategies that may help the team win Sunday.

Get it goin', keep it goin': I commend the Seahawks for trying to keep the running game going last week against Tampa Bay, as the backs got 24 carries despite being down big most of the game; for Whitehurst to succeed, the Seahawks need to continue that balance this week. One key factor in the running game will be the replacement of Left Guard Chester Pitts with big, athletic Tyler Polumbus; though the communication level on the offensive line is much better than the first time these two teams played, another change to the offensive line creates a risk the Seahawks cannot afford to let be a factor. The Seahawks need to convert third down conversions to mix the running game. Polumbus needs to be a factor in gaining positive yards over the left side of the line and providing more power than Pitts around the goal line.

Furthermore, the Seahawks need to get the 4 headed monster going early. Give all four backs first quarter touches, give every back an opportunity to be the guy. The Rams base defense is a very solid group, solid on the edges with explosive defensive ends and sound tackling corners. The Seahawks need to use the backs to create mismatches in the open field, backs against a Linebacker or Safety, to get the Rams out of their base defense that has accounted for over 75 percent of the team's 43 sacks without using many blitzes and stunts. The Seahawks "understand the scheme," and they need to attack the Rams' weaknesses by both splitting backs out wide and rotating their backs.

Four: Less than half the roster remains from the old regime; however, many of those older players have underperformed this season. These four crossover players have possibly their final opportunity to prove themselves worthy of remaining a Seahawk:

1. Marcus Trufant: a former elite Cornerback, he continually surrendered outside position last week, allowing receivers to get open and attack the ball; he has consistently given up crucial plays. The Rams do not have a legitimate number one receiver, but rookie Denario Alexander has shown big play ability at times. Trufant must hold his ground in 1 on 1 battles this weekend.
   
2. Brandon Mebane- the Defensive Tackle has struggled since his return from an injured calf in mid November. Mebane has been one of the most consistent lineman on the team the past few seasons and needs to contribute in rushing the passer on Sunday.
   
3. Chris Spencer- the Center has two crucial jobs Sunday; helping the offense adjust to the different cadence of Whitehurst and make sure he snaps it cleanly. No fumbles on Center-Quarterback exchanges.
   
4. John Carlson- Carlson was expected to become one of the NFL's most consistent, young Tight Ends this season but has struggled. Used early in the season in pass protection, he underperformed when given the opportunity and Cameron Morrah has earned playing time. Carlson needs to step up this weekend and get first downs for the Seahawks.
   

Rams Coach Steve Spagnuolo: Spagnuolo is credited for creating the base pressure packages and third down success limiting defenses that were so effective pressuring the quarterback as Defensive Coordinator of the Super Bowl winning Giants in 2008. Rams End Chris Long is especially explosive from a 4 point stance and can play coverage against Tight Ends. Spagnuolo understands the mentality a defense needs to play with and the importance of good field position and a ball control offense. This Rams team has been steadily improving as the year has progressed and the young team presents a tough challenge.

Defend the first five yards: Running back Steven Jackson is the Rams' leader; he has stayed in St. Louis to carry the torch and maintain the legacy of great Ram's running backs. He is the driver of this team. He is a powerful, strong runner that can punish defenders, consistently gains positive yards and is a very solid receiver out of the backfield; he had a 49 yard screen reception in the first meeting this season. His low yards per carry, 3.7, is misleading; his role has been to move the chains and put his rookie quarterback in friendly third down situations. The Seahawks need to press the line of scrimmage and stack the box, as the Rams are among the league's least prolific vertical passing attacks; stopping the Rams from gaining chunks of 4 to 6 yards with the short passing game and running game will be a major focus for the Seahawks defense.

On point, on time: Rookie Quarterback Sam Bradford has shown great poise in leading his team to a 7-8 record; Coach Carroll, "His consistency is a statement." Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has done a good job of helping Bradford quickly become a high percentage passer; Bradford gets the ball out quickly using play action roll outs and 3 step drops. Look for play action swing routes to Jackson or screens outside the numbers to Danny Amendola or Brandon Gibson. Recently, teams have begun inching up into press coverage and taking away the quick pass that has been so effective for the Rams' passing game; press coverage has proven to be one of the biggest weaknesses for the Seahawks cornerbacks. Bradford will attempt to use more of the play clock to force the defense into showing their coverage; Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley must counter by both mixing and disguising coverage's, using more Linebackers and Safeties, Will Herring and Jordan Babineaux, and less "base" defense.



Welcome back, Brown: Kicker Josh Brown left Seattle for St. Louis after the 2007 season to become the NFL's highest paid kicker. He was consistently clutch for the old regime, one of the NFL's most surefooted, big game kickers. He is very familiar with Qwest in all conditions and will definitely be a factor Sunday. His responsibility will partly be to kick away from Leon Washington; the Seahawks lost the special teams battle the first time these teams met, failing to create opportunities, and are focused on creating momentum with good punt coverage and explosive returns.

The Second Season

Many questions exist about the Seahawks season to this point: Did they peak in October? Did the Marshawn Lynch acquisition change the offense into something it's not? The defense showed up against Atlanta and Carolina, but otherwise has lacked the backbone, discipline and the energy this staff teaches. If not for a scrappy, smart and saavy special teams unit, today would be a play for the pick day.

This team has been just hanging around, possibly guilty of looking ahead to this game as everyone has. They aren't playoff contenders, as I said they can't be until they play 4 quarters. But this team was given another shot; they still have a chance.

A win would result in two home, playoff games in a row. They've been to Chicago, New Orleans and Tampa Bay; hosted Atlanta and New York.

Coach Carroll has tried to convince media and fans through the 2-7 streak that the team is close, that "we think we are better than you do". Somehow, someway, you still have one more chance Coach Carroll; but that's it. If the 'Hawks intend to be the first 7-9 playoff team in history, they must do it in style or go down swinging; this is possibly the biggest chance you will get, Pete Carroll, to have others buy in.

Sunday at 5:30 under the lights, the Seahawks get their most showcased chance to answer the question, who are they; what kind of coach is the post USC Pete Carroll?

I have been waiting for Carroll to show the media the man who talked to his players at halftime against Carolina. And on Wednesday, 15 seconds into his presser, it was clear it's championship time. He's fired up. His entire staff is fired up.

It looked a whole lot more like coach that showed up to the introductory presser.

Can he channel the digitally imposed, larger than life posters that hung on the stadium on opening Sunday, a day that feels like it was a season away?

Carroll was 2-0 in week 17, season deciding games as Head Coach in New England. He explained, "When we didn't have a chance, they showed me that you can be surprised by the way a team plays;" in one of those wins he started his backup quarterback.

I can promise you one thing; If the Seahawks bring it Sunday, the 12^th man, which will be honored during the game, will bring it right back because they have been waiting for it all year. On Sunday, the Seahawks have a somewhat fluky, but very real final opportunity to respond versus the Rams, to show a rockin' house at Qwest they are capable fulfilling expectations and playing championship football. 

Hawks Holiday Wishlist

In an effort to share the holiday spirit with my readers, I created a wishlist as my week 16 preview for Sunday's road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Included are a few thoughts about week 15's hard fought loss to the Atlanta Falcons and how the team can improve going forward…

The first 27:55: The Seahawks proved they can start a game with the fourth quarter mentality against Atlanta, as the first 27:55 minutes of football against the Falcons was a highly competitive, even game. The Seahawks played with a "toughness, energy" that is exemplary of what Coach Carroll wants from his players, but has yet to see on a consistent basis; despite poor spots, two horrific bounces on back to back Atlanta fumbles and a Falcons team that brought their A game, the 'Hawks hung tough. It is imperative the Seahawks bring the same energy and focus to Tampa Bay in week 16, as the Bucs are out for blood after a crushing home defeat to the Lions last week.

Another 4^th and 1: On the Falcons first drive Matt Ryan converted a 4^th and 1 at the Seahawks 17 yard line on a quarterback sneak. I re-watched that play ten times, or more, and Lofa Tatupu delivered his best hit of the season in stopping Ryan; Tatupu baited Ryan into a "bubble" over the Left Guard to sneak forward, but timed Ryan's snap count perfectly and filled the bubble with 2005 like explosiveness. The Seahawks thought they had stopped Ryan and the announcers agreed. I did, too. The Seahawks displayed a newly found backbone, especially against the run, in this game for almost a half that got broken only because the Falcons are an elite football team. The Seahawks defense needs to convert on any 4^th downs that may occur against Tampa, as the Falcons went 2/2 on their opening touchdown drive, not letting the Seahawks hold the lead.

Ho Ho Hasselbeck: Matt Hasselbeck has been practicing the gift of giving this holiday season with 13 turnovers in the last four games, 8 in the past two. All three of his turnovers against Atlanta, including the amateurish fumble in the endzone, were the result of Hasselbeck trying to be a Quarterback he is not; a big armed, mobile Quarterback. He must be the distributer and practice the gift of giving to his receivers, not opposing defenses.

The first drive: The Seahawks first drive against the Falcons supplanted the final scoring drive against Carolina as the drive of the year; 12 plays, 80 yards in 7:32 on the game's first offensive possession. Hasselbeck distributed the ball in the horizontal passing game involving Cameron Morrah and Mike Williams; Mike Gibson showed why he was moved to Right Guard, paving the way for his college teammates Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett to run the football. The Seahawks showed great balance and used the sidelines to open the middle of the field for the power running game; The Seahawks need to use more more of this and less of the forced, downfield passing game that resulted in 3 turnovers against Atlanta.

Earn everything: It's posted on the tunnel where the Seahawks come onto the field; it's one of Carroll's main mantras. This is a time, more than ever, where the Carroll needs to hold his players accountable and be willing to make changes.

1. Practice should have been a 50-50 split at quarterback this week. Hasslebeck needs to earn his job, not have it be assured to him. Whitehurst showed progress against the Falcons; his roll out pass to John Carlson and consecutive goal line runs showed athleticism and fortitude. I wish for Hasselbeck to be on a very short leash in Tampa Bay; if he gives the Bucs opportunities, the Seahawks shouldn't hesitate to give the ball to Whitehurst.
   
2. Cornerback Kelly Jennings continued to struggle mightily last week. Kennard Cox struggled early, getting burned on the Michael Jenkins touchdown catch that was mostly Rookie Safety Kam Chancellor's mistake; Cox played his area of the field well, while Chancellor completely misplayed his deep coverage assignment. With Marcus Trufant back this week, Cox deserves 5-10 plays on defense; try him as a blitzer, a role more similar to special teams or in press coverage against a secondary receiver.
   
3. Linebacker Will Herring played very well last week, especially in coverage against Tony Gonzalez, often at the line of scrimmage or around the first down marker. This week, Tight End Kellen Winslow provides another test for the Seahawks Linebackers and Herring needs remain in the game plan.
   
4. Simply put, the Seahawks have committed too many penalties on defense, especially on third downs, that have led to opponents' scoring opportunities; the only Sack on Matt Ryan last week was negated by an Aaron Curry facemask penalty. Players need to take responsibility for their mistakes and focus on clean football
   

Jordan Babineaux: One of the longest tenured Seahawks, the versatile Safety needs to be a primary factor for the Seattle defense in the season's final weeks; he can cover, play run defense and blitz off the edges. He is a smart, high energy player and an experienced leader; remember his shoe string, season saving tackle on Tony Romo's botched extra point hold in January of 2007? "Big play Babs" needs to make a difference for the young, struggling Seahawks secondary.

7-series holiday event: Big Mike Williams got rolling again last week, receiving 14 targets, and was a full participant in practice this past week. Buccaneers All Pro Cornerback Ronde Barber gives 8 inches to Williams and struggled last week versus the 6'5 Calvin Johnson. The Seahawks need to isolate Williams on Barber in short yardage and red zone situations, creating a dependable extension to the running game and be willing to use short receptions to set up bigger plays. Barber is a technician and possible future Hall of Famer, but he is 35 years old. This is a matchup the Seahawks need to not abandon this Sunday.

Olindo Mare: The Seahawks kicker was thrown under the bus by Coach Jim Mora last season after missing a field goal in an early season loss against the Bears; since then, Mare has quietly been one of the NFL's most consistent kickers. The Seahawks rode the leg of Josh Brown into the playoffs for multiple years of the Mike Holmgren regime and will depend on Mare to provide a similar sure-footedness the remainder of the season.

Four: The Seahawks need to earn a complete football game, one that is decided inside the final two minutes because both teams have fought and executed. Earl Thomas sealed the week 3 victory over the San Diego Chargers with a ball hawking pass deflection in the final seconds, the only game this team has truly had to compete for 60 minutes to seal the win, or the loss.

The Seahawks can't be considered a playoff team; they must win a four quarter football game before anyone can legitimately speak of them as contenders, or even a rising team. They have proven you can't win a game in the first quarter, but you can certainly lose it in the 2^nd, 3^rd and especially the 4^th. Yes, if the 49ers beat the Rams, Sunday's game in Tampa becomes all the more important. To bench any starters in this situation would be foolish, especially as an organization that wants to win championships. They believe they are better than we, media or fans, have for weeks; number one on my Seahawks wish list for the holiday season is for this team to show us what they believe they've got for a full 60 minutes; just one game that follows the formula and uses a little holiday spirit to turn hype into hope.

Hawks blindsided in the bay, NFC leading Falcons flying in fast: Part 2

For an analysis on the Seahawks' mindset and a preliminary game preview for week 15, scroll down or follow the link on the right!

The Atlanta Falcons bring the NFC's best record to Qwest in week 15 for a highly anticipated late season matchup that has playoff implications for both teams. Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll has given nothing but praise to the Falcons organization this week; "Obviously you can tell I'm impressed with what they are doing—they epitomize what you look for in this league." The Falcons take care of the football, have a balanced offense, consistent special teams and solid defense. "Across the board, a formula for winning; a team that is having success in a type of formula we regard highly." The Seahawks are simply hoping to play hard and rebound from a disappointing loss to San Francisco; The Falcons come here expecting to be the first NFC team to clinch a playoff spot.

Flying high

The Falcons come in as winners of seven in a row, four of the seven wins coming in fourth quarter comebacks. Led by third year stud Quarterback Matt Ryan, they are one of the NFL's dangerous, young teams. In their third year under Head Coach Mike Smith, the Falcons have become one of the league's consistent game finishers, led by Ryan's 13 career game wining drives. On Sunday, they hope to finish their three game road trip, 3-0, in a celebratory fashion; expectations are on the Falcons as one of the teams being picked to play in February. Simply put, they are a team that is good enough to carry the weekly expectation of competing at the highest level. A pesky, inconsistent Seahawks team is just another weekly challenge, but likely victim.

Bring out the best

Coach Pete Carroll's message to his team this week was clear; "we are calling on a tremendous week of preparation for our best shot at them, we have to find our game and get clean; it's a matchup that calls to be the best you can." Matt Hasselbeck describes the Falcons as a team that is exemplary of what the Seahawks believe they can become.

The Seahawks have shown great potential, only to be undone by major mental lapses and injuries; only two Seahawks games have been decided by 10 points or less, both victories; the Falcons are 8-1 in games decided by that margin. The Seahawks seven losses have all been blowouts and the season can be described as inconsistency in "grand fashion," a quality Safety Lawyer Milloy called "not good, at all" earlier in the week.

Coach Carroll has acknowledged his team is not capable of consistently performing to the level they had hoped, yet the team is in the thick of a division race. A team not ready for January football has a rare chance to get hot in December and sneak into the playoffs. Carroll explained to his players Wednesday morning this is a playoff game. This is the type of team that you have to beat to advance in the playoffs. Were in a playoff situation; it's win or go home. The Seahawks need compete with their 4^th quarter mentality for 60 minutes Sunday.

Four offensive factors

Protect Hasselbeck and protect the ball, part 2: Coach Carroll noted after the Carolina victory that poor ball security could, but had not yet, cost the team a game; Matt Hasselbeck had one of his worst games as a pro last week, turning the ball over five times, validating Carroll's sentiment. This week, Hasslebeck faces an opportunistic and aggressive defense that has 17 interceptions, among the best in the league. The Falcons secondary has been improving in recent weeks, playing more press coverage and winning the battle at the line of scrimmage against opposing receivers; the Seahawks must win the battle versus the Falcons shorter corners, as both Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu are expected back. Coordinator Jeremy Bates called Hasselbeck a "true pro;" Hasselbeck took the poor performance personally and is eager to bounce back. Bates will not reign back the offense as aggressive is his M.O.; Hasselbeck needs to consistently make the smart throw, aggressively, in a game that will ultimately be used to evaluate his status as the starter this coming off season.

Bait the defense: The Falcons run defense had been a top 10 unit until allowing 100 yard rushers the past two games, both road games. The defense thrives on maintaining gap discipline, a strong "read and react" unit; they find the football. They were outwardly frustrated this week with the struggles against the run and are focused on attacking the line of scrimmage, playing physical and disciplined run defense. Offensive Coordinator Jeremy Bates has an opportunity to attack the Falcons, baiting them into over pursing the run, setting up the play action pass on 2^nd and 3^rd downs. If the Seahawks can get themselves into 2^nd and 5 situations, there is opportunity for big plays; throwing on first down from "21" and "22" or running from "20" will help keep the Atlanta defense off balance by breaking tendency and "mixing" formations. The Seahawks need to counter the Falcons discipline with creative play calling if they want to consistently move the football.

More Offensive Line changes: After three games in a row starting the same five linemen, it's time for more change. Veteran Left Guard Chester Pitts returns to the lineup for the Seahawks after a three game absence, replacing 3^rd year player Mike Gibson; Gibson is being moved to Right Guard, replacing 6'7, 340 pound Veteran Shawn Andrews, who has started 12 games at the position this year. Gibson is a smart, hard working lineman that plays with attitude. The shift says more to me about Gibson than it does Pitts, who has been expected to play the left side with Russell Okung since the preseason, or Andrews; Gibson has clearly made an impression on Offensive Line Coach Art Valero, enough to bench a well respected, pre season acquisition. The Seahawks are sacrificing continuity for potential on the right side of the line, a move that will be under scrutiny Sunday.

Attack Abraham: Defensive end John Abraham has been one of the league's most consistent edge rushers for the past decade, with over 100 career sacks. He has already achieved double digit sacks this season and his presence allows the Falcons defense to focus an extra man on stopping the run or vary their coverage and blitzes. The Seahawks can attack Abraham, who is not a stout "point of attack" defender against the run, using two back formations with Michael Robinson as the lead back. Furthermore, rookie Sean Weatherspoon plays the Strongside linebacker position behind Abraham and has struggled the last four games returning from a knee injury. The Seahawks need to neutralize Abraham and force the Falcons to adjust their pass rush.

Four defensive factors

Stay on balance: The Falcons offense displays a unique balance that is driven by an efficient quarterback, power running game, the leagues #2 third down conversion percentage and #4 turnover margin. Coach Carroll explained, "Put it all together, it's a powerful, potent offense. And if you can't adjust, Coordinator Mike Malarkey will hammer it home." Last week, the Seattle defense produced a staggering statistic: The Seahawks allowed 227 of 336 total yards on 6 of the 56 defensive plays. The Seahawks played very good defense except for six "physical breakdowns and missed opportunities to corral the football." The Seahawks must stay both balanced and aggressive, not allowing the Falcons to "ball control" the defense onto its heels and capitalize on the big play.

A lethal connection: Matt Ryan is one of the most polished and consistent young quarterbacks in the NFL; Roddy White leads the NFL with 99 catches. Ryan has the ability to throw to all areas of the field and is particularly dangerous working with White "outside the numbers," 15-30 yards down the field. Ryan has good recognition against the blitz and has great anticipation and chemistry with his receivers, especially on 3^rd downs; his poise in the pocket allows him to throw precise sideline, timing routes or fit the ball in a small window over the middle. If the Seahawks are to get the Falcons offense off the field on 3^rd down they must find a way to take away one side of the field, from the numbers to the sideline. Marcus Trufant struggled greatly against the Giants' Hakeem Nicks defending sideline, timing routes and Kelly Jennings continues to look confused and overmatched, especially in press coverage. The Seahawks need to bracket White with the deep defender taking away the outside; both forcing White to primarily work inside and minimizing Ryan's ability to make his preferred throw. Ryan will look towards his second target Tight End Tony Gonzalez, forcing throws over the middle and giving the Seahawks opportunities; Linebackers Aaron Curry and Will Herring need to be utilized in containing Gonzalez. Ryan is turning into a great player, but he overly features his preferred targets. Limiting White and Gonzalez, especially on third down, is of the utmost importance for the Seahawks to be competitive against the Falcons.

Contain the running game: The Seahawks need to focus on minimizing, not stopping, the Falcons diverse power rushing attack that is led by Runningback Michael Turner. Coordinator Mike Malarkey uses a variety of formations to engineer a diverse, balanced and consistent run game. The Falcons offensive line has gained experience and created a continuity playing together that is rare in the modern NFL; they have worked together under Head Coach Mike Smith for the majority of three seasons. The unit ranks in the top 10 in yards, touchdowns and first downs over both sides of the line, while the right side is especially prolific; the right side is among the leagues best in consistently gaining positive yards and first downs. Colin Cole and Brandon Mebane need to play stout inside and the Seahawks must adjust quickly to find the right combinations of lineman and linebackers; 5-2-4 is a defensive formation I believe the Seahawks can use to offset the running game, only if the Seahawks are willing to rotate linebackers. Additionally, backup Jason Snelling is used as an extension of the running game in the short passing game, a crucial secondary factor the Seahawks must continually be aware of. They need to use the entire defensive playbook if they are going to slow down the Falcons.

Falcons Wide Receivers vs Seahawks Cornerbacks: The falcons entire receiving corps is 6'0 or taller; the Seahawks have one Cornerback, Kennard Cox, who is 6'0. As Roy Lewis is a game-time decision and Walter Thurmond is most likely out, Cox will see time on defense, something I have advocated for at times in the past five weeks. He played well filling in for Thurmond in Oakland and blocked a punt against the Chiefs. He needs to tackle well and use his physicality against the Falcons secondary receivers, red zone target Brian Finneran and speedster Harry Douglas. Secondary depth has been an Achilles heel for the Seahawks this season and Cox has an opportunity to provide unexpected depth.

Three less obvious factors

Do the Seahawks take the ball if they win the toss: The Seahawks offense is more reliable than the defense; the Falcons are fully capable of taking control of the game with a six minute, opening drive touchdown. If possible, I want to see the Seahawks take the ball instead of deferring, with the intention of starting the second half strong; they need to create the momentum, not let the Falcons control from the start; if on defense, they must get off the field in less than six plays, no points, as more than two first downs for the Falcons will let the offense begin to find a rhythm.

Go Go Gadget Flow: Jeremy Bates has shown gadget plays are a part of his offensive repertoire; Leon Washington has attempted multiple halfback passes and Michael Robinson ran a successful wildcat play, with Hasselbeck split wide, versus the 49ers. Bates likes to use the versatility of his offensive players, but Bates needs to not outsmart himself; a quick developing trick play that uses a handoff then throw, such as a Wide Receiver reverse and throw instead of a play that slowly develops with two backwards passes, would qualify as the smart, aggressive balance Bates looks for in running the offense. A "gadget" play turnover against the Falcons would be among the Season's most boneheaded mistakes.

Special teams: Both teams are strong on Special Teams; The Seahawks are very explosive in the return game while the Falcons players are phenomenal in maintaining their "lanes" covering kickoffs and punts— more so than other games, a trick play for the Seahawks is a possibility. Furthermore, both teams have strong all around kicking games. The Special Teams battle will be a factor in deciding this game

Get to the 4^th quarter

Coach Carroll has continually stressed competing in the 4^th quarter, possibly too much, as a key part of his "formula." Unfortunately the Seahawks have had very few competitive games in the 4^th quarter, a lack of experience that Carroll acknowledged is concerning. The Falcons have plenty of fourth quarter experience, as they fought their way through tough 4^th quarters in the early part of the season and learned how to separate from teams as the season progressed.

There is one 4^th quarter moment that stands out in my mind; The Chiefs' Jamaal Charles 3 yard touchdown run is a play I highlighted in my post Seahawks waive white flag vs. Chiefs, as it
is exemplary of the Seahawks' season long struggles, with two missed tackles in the backfield and a Seahawk at the bottom of the pile in the end zone; down three heading into "their" quarter, the Seahawks meekly let the game slip from their grasp.

The consequences of that play remain clear; the defense is still broken, too damaged for the offense to make up the difference. Sunday, the defense needs to earn itself a similar situation; the game on the line, in the 4^th quarter, a chance to change the consequences.

No Seahawks fan can be rightfully upset at this point; the team is playing below their expectations, similar to Coach Carroll's first year at USC, but is tied for the division lead. The Seahawks are nearly 300 roster moves removed from last year's pathetic week 15 loss to the Buccaneers; the fact that this team won't quit Sunday is refreshing, even exciting.

Coach Carroll on Wednesday, "I won't back off of where or what we can be for a second. That's the mindset they will hear and must have-- This is where we can go and we're on our way." The only way they will get there is for Carroll to aid his players in creating the results of clean, competitive football; the Falcons provide an excellent canvas for reflection on Sunday.

Hawks blindsided in the bay, NFC leading Falcons flying in fast: Part 1

The Seahawks traveled to San Francisco in week 14 for a pivotal division matchup; feeling confident and prepared for a crucial opportunity to separate themselves from the division, the Seahawks never displayed the attitude and discipline they intended to build upon from the prior week. They allowed another first drive touchdown to the opponent and were behind the entire 40-21 loss to the 49ers. Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll noted prior, "this game means the world to this team;" both Sunday and Monday in his presser's, disappointment was the overwhelming tone; the Seahawks fell drastically short of his expectations.

A mindset lost

The Seahawks were "looking forward" to building on the attitude and execution of week 13's second half comeback versus Carolina. Coach Carroll and the Seahawks had been looking to "get it right," find consistency in executing "the formula." After beating Carolina, he fully acknowledged that from the Oakland game in week 8 on, he could have had his team more prepared and maintained a better mindset. Carroll said he needed to convince his men "they could own it;" if they played as close to the "formula" as possible, just working on bringing it every day, consistent execution will come. Against Carolina, "it clicked;" the 'Hawks found it.

The Seahawks had a unique opportunity to build on their momentum going to Candlestick Park, as many members in the current Seahawks organization have recently, or not so recently, been a part of the 49ers; The Seahawks are an organization that prides itself on preparation and had great knowledge of the 49ers; the results did not show. After the game Carroll noted, "The field has always been like that, where it doesn't feel as firm as it is. I didn't do a good job of preparing our guys for that, I hoped that it wouldn't be an issue and it was." Clearly things were missed in "the challenge going into San Francisco," the hope "to find that attitude and make sure we bring it with us going forward." Wait, find it?

Coach Carroll finally said his team "got it right" against Carolina, after a rough stretch through "a tough month that took its toll." The goal should be to maintain the momentum that was created, not look for it week to week; letting the momentum ride, maintaining an "attitude" is how teams find winning streaks. Continually looking to find it, week by week, stunts growth and creates the expectation that it can continually happen; also creating disappointment and frustration when it doesn't. By acknowledging the fact that the Seahawks aren't "where we planned to be," not focusing on the disappointment, the organization will better accept their frustration; harnessing the energy of disappointment to increase the collective desire to work harder, together, is the desired result.

Five thoughts to bring forward

I noted in the halftime update, "I haven't lost my belief in this organization for current or future success, but I have released my expectation for this season. The Seahawks can still win the NFC West." However, they are no longer my pick and it's a three horse race to the finish. The Seahawks poor tackling was an obvious factor and needs to be a major focus—after the New Orleans game Coach Carroll strictly noted it was unacceptable for poor tackling to be a factor. Pre game I discussed the importance of protecting the ball; the offense needs to put in overtime this week working on ball security. In an effort to turn disappointment into hard work, below are five situations or sequences of plays from the week 14 loss that I hope are acknowledged and implemented into planning this week for the Atlanta Falcons.

The first defensive third down: San Francisco Quarterback Alex Smith got booed by the 49ers fans after the first two plays and was forced into an uncomfortable 3^rd and 10; On the third play, the Seahawks blitzed five and Vernon Davis got a free release off the line of scrimmage; I noted pregame that Aaron Curry, a player who was strong in press, 1 on 1 coverage in college at Wake Forest, or veteran Safety Jordan Babineux needed to be used in disrupting Davis' release off the line of scrimmage. On the play, Davis released into the area of Lofa Tatupu, who dropped loosely in coverage off Davis instead of being aggressive, attacking him near the first down line; Tatupu established inside position and had an opportunity to break up the play. Instead, Davis completed his "Stick" route approximately 2 yards short of the first down line, made the catch and gained 15 more yards for a 22 yard gain on the play. Tatupu must be aware in this situation the 49ers intention is to get a first down; he had safety help over the top if Davis was to beat him deep. The Seahawks failed to grab early momentum because they failed to throw off the timing of Davis' timing based route, using tight coverage or different personnel are two easy adjustments that would have helped in this situation.

Against the Falcons: Future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez presents another brutal test for the Seahawks defense. His height creates a major mismatch and his 13+ years of experience makes him a primary target for third year Quarterback Matt Ryan.

Outside the defense: The Seahawks have allowed big plays this season against the run partly because they haven't stayed "inside the defense," and have allowed runners to cutback or bounce outside. On a 1^st and 10 at the Seahawks 49 yard line with 2:59 left in the first quarter, 49ers Runningback Anthony Dixon had a 37 yard run that was the result of both a good cutback and poor pursuit angles; Both Junior Siavii, who moved outside to Strong Side End with the return of Colin Cole, and Safety Lawyer Milloy a leader who preaches defensive discipline, were guilty of getting outside the defense. The play was a toss to the right that the defense covered well, except Siavii failed to maintain the backside of the play by fortifying the line of scrimmage; instead of being in a position to slow Dixon's progress, Siavii fell to the ground as Dixon ran free to the other side; Milloy, whose role was to keep Dixon in front of the second level, over pursued as well, creating the lane for Dixon to run free into the secondary. The defense held Brian Westbrook and Dixon to a combined 49 yards on 22 carries other than that play; the Seahawks defense played the run well, but the lack of discipline on the Dixon run, an easily preventable play, stands out as a major momentum killer for the defense.

Against the Falcons: All Pro Runningback Michael Turner is a powerful, low center of gravity runner that will make the defense pay for its mistakes; the Seahawks must maintain assignments and look to minimize Turner's success, not stop it.

The turning plays: The Seahawks had an opportunity to cut the 49ers lead to six points towards the end of the first half; coming out of a timeout 2^nd and 5 at the 49ers 32 yard line with 4:29 left, the Seahawks deployed the "11" 1 back, 1 tight end formation with Justin Forsett in the backfield. The Seahawks have shown a strong tendency to hand off to him from "11;" the fact that he was yet to carry the ball was an obvious key for the defense in this situation. He carried for 1 yard as the San Francisco Lineman and Linebackers were not fooled; play action would have fooled them. On 3^rd and 4, the Seahawks ran Forsett from "11" again. My question is, if the defense had keyed in on the fact that the Seahawks offense brought in Forsett to establish him and its "4 down territory," why not throw a five yard route to Stokley, an out to a tight end, or swing to Forsett from the backfield on third down? The third down run was not disguised and based on the failure of the previous Forsett running play, it was too obvious an attempt to run again in hopes of gaining 3 yards; earlier in the season Leon Washington was "mixed" in similarly- the small amount he was used was poorly disguised.

The 4^th down call again resulted in the dastardly 20-30 yard "fade" route, though not to Golden Tate, that I have questioned the previous two weeks. Coach Carroll acknowledged the play is not primarily designed to be a fade, but it is an option on that play, and he would prefer it not be; he does not, however, have plans of removing it from the playbook. This sequence of plays stalled a crucial, momentum grabbing drive. If the Seahawks wanted to continue the power running game, they should have used a clicking Michael Robinson, who was used phenomenally I must note, or Marshawn Lynch who averaged 2.9 yards per carry in the game; not force Forsett to find a rhythm in a tough, power running situation with his first carry.

Against the Falcons: The Falcons are solid against the run, but vulnerable against the pass. The Seahawks need to come out throwing in run based formations and mix Forsett into other formations besides "11." As I have advocated for weeks, get him on the field in new formations and give him a minimum of 14 touches. His involvement will open up the offense, especially for Lynch.

Big play Brian Westbrook- I noted pregame Tatupu's job should be to "spy" Brian Westbrook, one of the all-time best receiving backs, which would help Earl Thomas in the defensive backfield; mission not accomplished. On 3^rd and 8 at the Seahawks 42 yard line with 12:00 left in the second quarter, Tatupu and Safety Jordan Babineaux dropped into zone coverage, with the responsibility of covering late releasing receivers from the backfield and protecting the first down line. The Seahawks were nearing Alex Smith when Westbrook leaked out of the backfield, right in front of Tatupu and Babineaux, caught the ball and got the first down. Tatupu failed to recognize that Westbrook was still in the backfield, and would be Smith's only option; furthermore, Babineaux had the other half of the field covered, giving Tatupu an opportunity to attack the check down area before Westbrook leaked. Tatupu did a great job of "finding the ball" in pass coverage versus Carolina, but again struggled versus San Francisco. The lack of attention on Brian Westbrook ultimately led to a 62 yard touchdown on a quick throw, catch and run, on a 3^rd and 4 after the 2 minute warning.

Over the past month I have chronicled the improvement of Linebacker David Hawthorne, "the heater," and advocated he receive more playing time. He is described by his teammates as a "player who knows how to find the ball, make plays;" his goal line interception in New Orleans, a goal line stop of Jamaal Charles against Kansas City and 14 tackles against Carolina creates a strong case. Tatupu was on the field for all 56 defensive plays, Hawthorne only 42; Hawthorne deserves an open competition at Middle Linebacker.

Against the Falcons: If healthy, backup Runningback Jason Snelling is an excellent, powerful receiver out of the backfield; he is used on screens and as a slot receiver. He can make big plays when forgotten about by the defense, similar to the Westbrook touchdown this past week.

Hard working Washington: Leon Washington's 84 yard punt return to the 2 yard line in week 13 was well documented; he slowed at the 40, raised one arm in and air and got "ankle slapped" by the punter inside the 15 yard line; Coach Carroll even opened his press conference the Monday after the game mentioning that Leon just wanted to give the red zone offense a chance to punch it in. The criticism, as joking and "rah rah" as it may have been, worked; Washington slipped away a possible touchdown on his first return of the game and scored on a 92 yard kickoff return where he busted through the defense and finished, strong, in the third quarter. Washington showed that this team can perform when challenged, a silver lining that must be taken from the loss.

Against the Falcons: The Falcons don't make many mistakes; Washington is an X factor, crucial in helping the Seahawks get good field position and put unexpected Special Teams touchdowns on the board.

Hard work, no expectations


Coach Carroll must make sure his team knows "you can't expect success," and then ask the question "but do you want it?" Expectations can break you, but if you let expectations go, emotional boundaries will widen and desire can strengthen. There is no value in recapturing the momentum gained in the Carolina victory; it's gone. Harness past desires, lost expectations, to grow together. Explore new avenues of growth, such as "mind body work:" Yoga, Imagery and Mediation. Give your players and coaches mandatory alone time outside, rain or shine, on Friday for 10 minutes; Let the defense think about all the missed third down opportunities and the offense think about the turnovers. Then let them go practice with a little contact, a little consequence.

November and December in Seattle brings brutal weather; The Falcons are a notoriously good dome team and the preliminary forecast is a high of 45, 70% chance of rain; there will be consequences of feeling the wet, December air for both teams. The Seahawks, however, start with a small advantage. They need to build on being back home at Qwest.

But most importantly, this team must be taught one grows by trying, not by being afraid of the consequences. There are always consequences. The Seahawks need to realize that by working harder together this week, consequences can turn positive.

Part 2, an in depth game preview, will be posted in the coming days!


 

Halftime update: A week of empty preparation

A poor game plan and lackadaisical attitude has left the Seahawks trailing 30-7 at half. I have continually stressed the importance of starting fast and stealing momentum on the road; Once again, they have given up an opening drive touchdown. My largest criticism with Pete Carroll is his overwhelming focus on the fourth quarter. While closing a game is vital, the Hawks must find a way to start a game in winning fashion.

Furthermore, I have major concerns about the game plan executed thus far. Where is Justin Forsett? Why is Lofa Tatupu covering Vernon Davis on the first drive and how did Davis get wide open, on first down, for a 42 yard catch and run touchdown? Has this defense worked on tackling lately? No-contact practice on Friday's is proving to be a poor change in the weekly routine. I expected a very different game plan and thought this team would be better prepared. I haven’t lost my belief in this organization for  current or future success, but I have released my expectations for this season. The Seahawks can still win the NFC West, but I no longer expect them too.

Seahawks look to sweep 49ers

The Seahawks travel to a place very familiar to many within the organization for a week 14 matchup at the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Pete Carroll, Linebacker Coach Ken Norton Jr., Special Teams assistant Jeff Ulbrich, Fullback Michael Robinson and personnel executive Scot McCloughan all have strong ties to the 49ers organization; McCloughan was their General Manager only nine months ago. The Seahawks are in a unique position to capitalize on the abundance of knowledge their 2010 roster and staff has from their time in San Francisco; This is an opportunity the Seahawks cannot squander.

Four Wheel Drive: As noted earlier in the week, the Seahawks will start the same five offensive linemen in three consecutive games for the first time this season; they are coming off their most complete rushing performance under the new regime. Simply put, Sunday's game against the 49ers is the biggest gut-check the Seahawks running game will face all season. They took an enormous step forward last week, but based on the inconsistent trend of the season I imagine many feel a letdown coming.

All Pro Middle Linebacker Patrick Willis and the 49ers have not allowed a 100 yard rusher in 18 straight games; Franchise Tagged Nose Tackle Aubrayo Franklin is a large part of that success, but he is questionable for Sunday's game with a groin injury. While having a Seahawk run for 100 yards on Sunday would be impressive, I do not think that is a statistic the Seahawks should be focused on, even as Coordinator Jeremy Bates puts together a game plan that will be focused on maintaining the run. The 31 carries last week were split between four complementary players that each brings a unique element to this offense; Justin Forsett averaged 10 yards per carry on six carries and was, as Coach Carroll noted Monday, "On fire." He isn't flashy, but neither was former Falcons and Buccaneers Runningback Warrick Dunn. Forsett is one of the most underrated, well rounded running backs in the NFL; Marshawn Lynch runs in "Beastmode," showing balance, toughness and creativity; Leon Washington is an X factor, capable of breaking open a game at any time; Fullback Michael Robinson, a player whose all around skills and importance I have chronicled the past few weeks, completes the backfield as a undersized, tenacious blocker and a capable receiver. The Seahawks were finally able to mix their formations, keeping the defense off balance, and showed a glimmer of the versatile, power rushing attack Coach Carroll has been envisioning for this offense. Carroll on Wednesday; "The whole time were talking to those guys, encouraging them; keeping it going. They never griped. The fact that we now have it pointed in the same direction, we want to keep it going."

Who will catch the ball? Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu are likely out for Sunday's game, putting pressure on Coordinator Jeremy Bates to create a well rounded game plan without his top two playmaking receivers. Fortunately, last week's 28 point second half was played without them, giving Bates an idea of what can work with a limited receiving core. Veteran receiver Brandon Stokley, who Matt Hasselbeck coined the best slot receiver ever, has caught four or more balls in three straight games and that streak must continue Sunday; the more catches he has, the more first downs the Seahawks can get.

Rookie Golden Tate and receiver Ruvell Martin, a special teams contributor and career backup receiver, will compete to take the place of Williams; Hasselbeck has consistently targeted Tate, but the two are yet to develop a solid rapport; Martin is 6'4, 220 pounds and showed playmaking ability, especially over the middle and in the red zone, as a Green Bay Packer. Stokely must be the safety blanket, but Tate or Martin needs to be "the noticeable factor," as Cameron Morrah against the Panthers, this week.

Protect Hasselbeck and The ball: Matt Hasselbeck has five turnovers in four games since returning from injury; all five have been in the past two games. Coach Carroll noted earlier in the week, "Matt's been working real hard on keeping the football. It could lose us a game, it didn't Sunday. But he's been working. Somewhere they are going to get you and he he had that long streak without one. He needs to remember it's OK to take a sack." The 49ers have an aggressive defense that has 36 takeaways in their last 16 home games and sacked Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers four times last week; 49ers coach Mike Singletary noted this week, "we want to play our best game of the year." The 49ers rely on their defense, especially at home; The Seahawks need the reliable, veteran Matt Hasselbeck to show up Sunday, minimizing the 49ers opportunities to create turnovers.

Pointed downhill: The Seahawks pass rush reappeared last weekend after two straight sackless performances, both losses. The 49ers are without stud Left Tackle Joe Staley and start two rookies on the Offensive line, including rookie Right Tackle Anthony Davis. The Seahawks need to mix the pass rush by attacking Anthony Davis' side with overload blitzes, "stunts," and delayed pressure that blitzes after the offensive players have committed to their blocking assignments. As the 49ers will look to spread the field more with Alex Smith using three receivers on first and second down, there will be opportunity to attack; the Seahawks need to confuse Smith and not let a Quarterback who struggles to get rid of the football quickly beat them with quick throws.


 
Take away the middle of the field: Alex Smith can get very hot if he and Vernon Davis establish a rhythm; ESPN's Mike Sando noted this week that 18 of Smith's 46 career touchdown passes have gone to Davis. The majority have come on routes down the middle, especially on first and second downs. The Seahawks need to use bigger defenders on Davis, such as Aaron Curry and Jordan Babineaux, to stop Davis from getting a free release at the line of scrimmage. If the Seahawks can take away the middle, it will force Smith to throw to the sidelines, a weakness in his game; the Marcus Trufant pick six in week 1 was a result of a poor Alex Smith, sideline throw. If Vernon Davis is contained, Alex Smith tends to panic.


 
Force Smith to throw deep: Not surprisingly, Alex Smith is among the NFL's best in the red zone because he is a passer that thrives in the short and intermediate passing game, which covers less than 20 yards down field; receiver Michael Crabtree has matured in his second year, proving to be a reliable possession reciever. Receivers Josh Morgan and Ted Ginn are both capable of attacking down the field, but Smith is not a strong armed quarterback that throws a dangerous deep ball; he can only be successful when the short passing game is opening space to throw down field and often forces throws into double coverage when his short options are taken away. Lofa Tatupu needs to continue the stellar pass coverage he exemplified last week, containing Runningback Brian Westbrook who is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. If Tatupu is successful, look for Earl Thomas to play a role in contributing to forcing Smith into making mistakes, especially in intermediate and deep coverage.


 
The Seahawks needs to maintain their discipline and remain "inside the defense" this week, as the 49ers have not shown the consistency of a playmaking, dynamic offense; they thrive on a steady running game and smart play calling by Coordinator Mike Johnson to move the football. This game will be a true test for Pete Carroll's  "formula," an opportunity to keep precious momentum going. In my article Squished, sideways and searching written after the Giants loss, I noted my concern that the NFL season, including the pre season, is about six games longer than the college season; Coach Carroll spent the month of December at USC recovering and preparing for a bowl game, not intensely battling to win the Pac 10 conference. I wondered if Carroll would be able to maintain his competitiveness and mentality for his first full NFL season in over a decade; Could he keep his players together, keep them believing in an untested program? I'm most likely in the minority, but I believe this team is just getting started; The Seahawks intend to gain more believers with a victory on Sunday.