95 UNTIL INFINITY

It’s getting dangerously close to hitting the panic button on the 2014 season for the Seattle Seahawks. The 1-5 St. Louis Rams pulled off an upset of the defending Super Bowl champions, defeating them 28-26. After all the turmoil caused by Percy Harvin and subsequent departure I was curious to see how Seattle would come out and play. Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin showed they have a special connection culminating in DB catching 7 balls for 123 yards and a touchdown. Wilson waited until the 2nd half but he ended up playing awesome. He passed for over 300 yards as well as rushed for over 100 yards with 3 total TD’s. I thought this offense would revolve around Wilson eventually but that day has arrived much quicker than anticipated. To me he has finally shed the “game manager” title and should be regarded as a top level QB capable of making plays on his own and making the players around him better. He is often overlooked by the national media due to the other talented players and personalities on this team. People outside of Seattle will immediately think of Richard Sherman and his rants or Marshawn Lynch and his reluctance to talk to the media but this is Wilson’s team.

The St. Louis Rams special teams won them this game. First, the 75 yard kickoff return set up a 6 yard Tre Mason touchdown run for their opening points of the game. Second, the fake fair catch and subsequent punt return for touchdown might be in consideration for play of the year. I only have one question for the Seahawks special teams coach: if Jon Ryan always kicks to the left then why did the entire punt coverage team run to the right? I don’t want to take credit away from Jeff Fisher for actually installing that play and then running it to perfection but did no Seahawk player look up to find the flight of the ball. I feel that would be a normal thing to do for a player on the punt coverage team. Finally, the fake punt pass for a 1st down by Washington native Johnny Hekker was the final nail in the Seahawks coffin. These three plays changed the complexion of this game entirely. If the Seahawks could have stopped just one of these plays then we would be talking about a win. It’s a tough loss to swallow but I attribute a part of this loss to the shock and surprise of the Percy Harvin trade but Seattle needs to play better in all facets of their team.

Having a bad game on special teams happens to every NFL once or twice a season but I’m much more worried about the Seattle defense. Everything about their defense this season is worse than last year. Their pass rush is nonexistent (7 sacks), the linebackers have been torched by opposing tight ends, and the Legion of Boom have only been able to snag 2 interceptions…let that last stat sink in. The best collection of secondary players in the NFL have only been able to intercept opposing QB’s twice all season. I don’t fault them 100% in this because not having a pass rush and giving QB’s the time to find holes in coverage will not lead to turnovers. Plus teams have figured out to beat Seattle you have to have a strong rushing game, win the TE vs LB matchup, and don’t be too aggressive and take the dump down pass to the RB, TE or WR. Last season the Seattle pass rush was so relentless they didn’t give QB’s the time to find the open man and forced them to pass the ball earlier than they wanted to which led to the Seattle secondary being in great position to force turnovers. If they can somehow start to have a consistent pass rush, either the D-Line starts to play better or they start blitzing more, then the Seattle defense will have more chances to force turnovers which in turn will give the offense more chances to put points on the board.

Let me reiterate this point, Russell Wilson is no longer just a “game manager”. He just did something no QB in NFL history has ever done, he had 300+ passing yards and 100+ rushing yards. Last season this may not have been true but now Wilson is the Seahawks best player. This is now his team and they will go as far as he can take them. Marshawn Lynch hasn’t had a great start to this season and I hope he gets it going but he is no longer the key ingredient to this offense. Even with Percy Harvin the Seahawks still didn’t have a true number 1 receiver.

Even with all the injuries and turmoil surrounding this team lately I still expect them to at least make the playoffs. They may not have the depth like last season but they still have a boatload of talented players who are only getting better. The main problem I feel they have is the absence of swagger and overall fun and joy they played with last season. To me, the team had much better chemistry last season and it looks like Harvin’s presence in the locker room upset the harmony. With him now gone I think the players will get back to the relaxed almost joking state of mind they had during their march to the Super Bowl. The next 3 games (@ Carolina, vs. Oakland, vs. NY Giants) are all very winnable games and if the Hawks can win them all the 12th man will calm down and all of their fears will be erased. I have 5 letters letters for everyone R-E-L-A-X.