Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Hawks Playbook Podcast Episode 29 – Hawks Offense Makes Winning Hard

Open:  The Hawks Playbook Podcast is back again this week after a week 2 win at home against the San Francisco 49ers.  By almost all accounts, the 49ers should be a below .500 team this year, but the game was much, much harder to put away than was to be expected. But maybe not.  Maybe the current version of the Seahawks offense is THAT bad.  In this week’s show, Bill and Keith take a hard look at where the Hawks are at after two weeks.  There are still a lot of bright spots on the team, and we will talk about those. But everyone wants to know what’s wrong with the offense, and how can we get deep into the playoffs unless improvement happens in a big way.  After we look back to last Sunday, we will spend the last segment of the show looking forward to next Sunday’s game on the road vs the up and coming Titans team in Nashville, Tennessee.

Featured Segment: Seahawks Win Despite our Below Than Average Offense

Keys to the game:

  • Wilson completed 23-of-39 passes for 198 yards with one touchdown. He ran 12 times for 34 yards in the game. 27 of those yards came in the touchdown winning drive in the 4th quarter, including picking up two first downs.
  • Wilson’s touchdown, a 9-yard throw to Paul Richardson’s hands, came after Wilson scrambled to avoid the sack and after Richardson had badly dislocated a finger and having stitches earlier in the game.
  • The Seahawks defense kept them in the game with stellar pass defense. Quarterback Brian Hoyer completed 15-of-27 passes for 99 yards. We can do better against the run. Running back Carlos Hyde ran 15 times for 124 yards. Two of those carries accounted for the bulk of those yards.
  • 6 pass drops, including two potential touchdowns and a critical 3rd down conversion opportunity kept the Seahawks offense from gaining both rhythm and separation in this game. Two of those drops by Tanner McEvoy had fans again questioning the wisdom of letting Kasen Williams go.
  • Chris Carson carries the ball 20 times for 93 yards, including critical yards and first down pickups in the 5+ minute drive to seal the game in the 4th quarter. Eddy Lacy was a healthy scratch and Thomas Rawls was limited to 5 carries. Carson is the present and future #1 featured back for the Seahawks.

Other misc. Stats:

  • The Seahawks have yielded 5 100-yard rushing games by individual rushers in the last 5 years. Two of those have been by Carlos Hyde.
  • Chris Carson has averaged 2.6 yards per rush after contact through two games. Eddy Lacy (0.2) and Thomas Rawls (0.8). Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls have combined to carry it 10 times for 7 yards.
  • Jermaine Kearse has 11 catches for 123 yards and 2TD’s through 2 games. Sigh. But we still have Sheldon Richardson!! Yesterday Jimmy Graham had 1 reception for 1 yard, while being on the field for over 50 plays. In two games, Jimmy Graham has been targeted 10 times, gained 9 yards.

Featured Segment 2: A Look Forward to the Titan’s

The Tennessee Titans are 1-1 on the year after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-16 on the road Sunday. Derrick Henry has emerged as their lead back after picking up 92 yards, most of those in the 2nd half against the Jags. But of course, the main headline generating player for the Titans is former Oregon standout, QB Marcus Mariota. The Titans are a good solid offensive team and have the potential to be good and solid on defense.  Marcus Mariota leads a balanced attack with Henry and Demarco Murray both having the potential to have big games, and a methodical passing attack that features Mariota and receivers including 2017 draft pick Corey Davis, Rishard Mathews, Eric Decker and Tight End Delanie Walker.

Look for the Seahawks to again try to shut down the run, including a mobile QB in Mariota.  But the focus is all on the Seattle offense this week. Can the Seattle Seahawks move the ball consistently against an average NFL Defense? The Titan’s look beatable, but on the road, with our struggling offense, our defense may have to step up and win the day.

Close: Thanks so much for listening to the Hawks Playbook Podcast. Please take the time to follow our show on social media. You can find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hawks-Playbook-1328984477139208/, On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hawksplaybook/ and on Twitter @HawksPlaybook  We will see you all next week!!