Week 11 - Seahawk's Profile
PROFILE: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Where: Qwest Field, Seattle
When: 3:15 PM Sunday
Where the Seahawks Stand: The Seahawks are 5 – 4, with a 4 -1 record at home. They are in sole possession of first place with a one game lead over the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks Head Coach: Mike Holmgren
Seahawks Offensive Coordinator: Gill Haskell
Seahawks Defensive Coordinator: John Marshall
Seahawks Special Teams Coach: Bruce Dehaven
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Chicago Bears Offense |
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Seattle Seahawks Offense |
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Overall: 24th (295.8 ypg) |
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Overall: 12th (341.9 ypg) |
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Rushing: 32nd (3.0 yards/rush) |
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Rushing: 29th (3.4 yards/rush) |
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Passing: 27th (69.5 QB Rating) |
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Passing: 10th (88.6 QB Rating) |
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| Chicago Bears Defense |
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Seattle Seahawks Defense |
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Overall: 21st (340.0 ypg) |
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Overall: 11th (315.8 ypg) |
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Rushing: 26th (4.5 yards/rush) |
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Rushing: 13th (3.9 yards/rush) |
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Passing: 22nd (89.2 QB Rating) |
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Passing: 4th (72.3 QB Rating) |
Did you know . . . both the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks were both division winners last year.
Injuries: Brian Griese, Tommie Harris, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Fred Miller, Nathan Vasher, and Darwin Walker have not practiced. Safety Brandon McGowan was limited in practice due to an elbow condition. The Seahawks have not published their participation as of yet.
SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS Quarterbacks The Seattle Seahawks are lead by Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Matt is a ninth year player that is actually putting together a good statistical season based on his past performance. Thus far, he’s completed 62.5% of his passes for 2301 yards, while connecting on 15 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He is on pace to pass for nearly 4,100 yards on the season and his 89.3 quarterback rating is the second highest of his career. The Seahawks have leaned on Hasselbeck all season and will continue to do so this Sunday, as the ‘Hawks are 24th in the league in rush attempts per game. The reliance on the team’s passing prowess is due partly to their quarterback’s veteran savvy and partly to the lackluster performances of their running backs. The focus is on a short rhythmic passing game, which is typical of the West Coast Offense. Expect to see multiple receiver sets from Seattle as Hasselbeck spreads the ball to a number of receivers and tight ends on short and intermediate throws.
Running Backs
The team hitched its future to Shaun Alexander with a franchise-type contract in 2006. However, many Seahawks fans and NFL analysts are feeling a bit let down by his performance since. This year, his 149 carries have gone for 492 yards (3.3 yards/carry) and 2 touchdowns. In the 8 games that he’s played in, he is averaging only 61.5 yards per game. This represents a sharp decline in the level of play from a back that just two years ago rushed for 1880 yards on 370 carries, the highest workload of his career. As has happened with so many workhorse backs in recent years, with a huge workload like that, his best days may well behind him. Alexander appeared in only 10 games last season, and has been injured this season while sitting out last week. The final nail in the coffin of a previously brilliant career may be that he’s 30 years old (typically, the starting line for the twilight years of so many running backs’ careers). He has not practiced this week according to media reports, and will not until Friday. Don’t expect to the 5-11, 228 lb running back on the field on Sunday. The back-up, but current starter, is Maurice Morris, a 6th year player out of Oregon. He’s similar in build to Alexander at 5-11 and 216 lbs, but appears shorter on the field. His production has also been similar at a 3.9 yard per carry clip, while scoring one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown. Maurice will be used to establish a running game, but the Seahawks will likely not be able to sustain it, which has been a weak point all year. However, a large part of this is due to poor execution by a declining offensive line.
Offensive LineLining up left to right will be Walter Jones, Rob Sims, Chris Spencer, Chris Gray, and Shaun Locklear. The anchor of the group is Jones, the franchise and future hall of fame left tackle. While the group fairs well in pass protection, it is disappointing in run blocking. Mike Holmgren recognizes this, and it is evident in their statistical output. The team is 8th in the league in passing, but only 21st in the league in rushing. The weakest link is Chris Gray, a 15th year player at RG. The Bears defensive line will need to create a consistent inside push to force Hasselbeck into pressure throws. On a positive note, the offensive line protects the cleanest playing unit in the league. The Seahawk offense has been flagged only 32 times for 215 yards all season. ReceiversThe receivers on the team are all slightly above average, and there is good depth. But, a little bird has told me to watch out for DJ Hackett, a 3rd year player out of Colorado. At 6-2 208 lbs, he does the dirty work of the unit while working over the middle and out of the slot. He now starts for the ‘Hawks opposite Deon Branch, whom they acquired from the Patriots for a first round pick. The receiving unit will be working their normal slant and crossing routes, trying to create mismatches and exploiting coverages with short to intermediate routes. The burner in the group is Deion Branch with 22 receptions for 343 yards, but only one touchdown. The tight end threat is Marcus Pollard, and has shown himself to be good for one to two catches per game.
Defensive Line
While the offense is the least penalized unit in the league, the ‘Hawks defensive unit (overall) is the 4th most penalized in the league.
The Seahawks defensive unit is one of the most under-rated in football. They are second in the league in total plays allowed, second only to Pittsburgh. And they are ninth in the league in third down conversions. Meaning: that they aren’t allowing long drives. Couple this with an overall +6 turnover margin for the team, the third best unit in the league for sacks, and you have a formidable defensive unit. The line is comprised of hardworking pass rush specialist LDE Patrick Kerney, rookie DT Brandon Mebane, UT Rocky Bernard, and RDE Daryl Tapp. The defense doesn’t get its due maybe because of the geography of the team, but make no mistake these guys can hit, run, and tackle. The line is a quick front that is excellent in upfield pressure, a definite disadvantage for the Rex Grossman led offense.
LinebackersThe linebackers are the playmakers of the group, accounting for 10 sacks and 9 forced fumbles, but only one interception. Leroy Hill mans the strongside, Lofa Tatupu defends the middle, and Julian Peterson roams the weakside. They are all fast to the ball, and are adept at creating pressure and turnovers. The Chicago offensive line will have to be on assignment against the pass rushing linebacker, Peterson who has gathered 8 sacks on the season, which is tied for 6th in the league. SecondaryThe secondary is solid unit with Marcus Trufant (a former first round pick) and Kelly Jennings at cornerback, while Deon Grant and Brian Russel are the safeties. The safeties are both heavy hitters at about 6-2 and 215 lbs each. Trufant is the most talented corner on the team, and has the size and quickness to run with Berrian or other receiving threats deployed by the Bears. The target in this group should be #21, Kelly Jennings. If Ron Turner can get Musin or one of the tight ends lined up against him, it could be a favorable mismatch for the Bears due to Jennings small size. Due to some over aggression on defense, there may be some opportunities in the secondary for Grossman, as the ‘Hawks are 20th in the league in passing yards per game. But don’t expect the Bears to be going too deep, as the secondary is third in the league for preventing the big play. They play in the standard Cover 2 shell, and are hell bent on keeping the plays in front of them. Goose’s Go-Ahead
The bottom line is that the Seahawks are a passing offense, with an average run game. The quarterback is one of the best in the league and can make plays all over his homefield. The Bears defense has, for insufficient reason, been under-performing all year. On offense, it appears that the Seahawks will continue to mount points, while an under-appreciated defense will keep the Bears offense on the field for short unproductive periods. Further, few teams have such a distinct home field advantage as the Seattle Seahawks. The organization has challenged the fans to be the loudest in the league and they put in their effort, weekly. Also, this will be the Bears second road trip to the West Coast in as many weeks, which typically doesn’t bode well from a production standpoint. The saving grace for the Chicago Bears may be that Seattle is coming off of a short week from their Monday night game, and maybe not be in rhythm either. In my estimation though, that doesn’t cut it for the Bears. Is see Seattle scoring more points than the Bears, and in the NFL that usually means you win.
Seahawks 24, Bears 7