Is the run over for Seattle?

[thaskalos]

I like Wilson a lot. For a young guy, he shows unusual poise, he is very quick...and he throws a nice deep ball. His receivers don't get the separation needed in order to stretch the field...and this forces Wilson into a more conservative offensive game plan.

[cj]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

I like Wilson a lot. For a young guy, he shows unusual poise, he is very quick...and he throws a nice deep ball. His receivers don't get the separation needed in order to stretch the field...and this forces Wilson into a more conservative offensive game plan.

Is it Wilson or Carroll or Graham that has turned Jimmy Graham into a second rate tight end?

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by cj

Is it Wilson or Carroll or Graham that has turned Jimmy Graham into a second rate tight end?

It ain't Wilson.

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by cj

Is it Wilson or Carroll or Graham that has turned Jimmy Graham into a second rate tight end?

Great question.


I haven't studied him or the Seahawks this year, but my impression was that Graham was a little bit soft, and that he was dressed up as a target from a top passer (Brees), and on the basketball-tightend craze.

One of Seattle's former strengths was a resourceful use of salary cap. Not sure how (Grahams contract, or) Wilson's 87M contract affected that so far, but it will certainly hurt long-term.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by cj

Is it Wilson or Carroll or Graham that has turned Jimmy Graham into a second rate tight end?

The answer is Graham. Completely different offense than in NO. With a QB who scrambles and rolls out, the receiver has to improvise more.

[Valuist]

Was I wrong? We'll get a better idea this week.

Since the original post, they took apart a terrible Niners team. No surprise there. The win over the Steelers was interesting; the defense got shredded but the offense came to the rescue and won a big time shootout. No Graham, no Lynch, no problem.

If one pays any attention to strength of schedule, then you have to think Seattle has faced far better opponents than the Vikings. The Seahawks have faced Carolina, Arizona, Denver, Green Bay and Pittsburgh. When they beat the Bears and Lions, it was assumed both of those teams were terrible, and while they aren't great, they are average.

The Vikings have stepped up in class twice so far; a loss at Denver, and a home loss to Green Bay. They beat KC, but that was while the Chiefs were in a 1-5 run to start the season. THe Vikings should get a good test, closing out the season with Seattle, Arizona, a divisional game vs the Bears, the Giants and end the season in Green Bay.

[rastajenk]

Except for a couple of outliers at both ends of the spectrum, the whole bunch of them are heading for 8-8, 9-7, 7-9 territory in this last month, and scheduling is a huge part of it. I wouldn't be surprised if a hot mediocre team wins a playoff game or two over better teams that take their feet off the gas the last week or two.

[jballscalls]

The Seahawks certainly aren't as dominant as they were. Defense doesn't have same "it" and Wilson spends half the game running for his life cause the o-line isn't very good. It's a different team and not as good, but if they can finally start to put it together I could see them being dangerous in the playoffs.
*bit of a homer opinion

[Stillriledup]

Amazing how this 'dynasty' looking team falls off the map overnight (they're still decent but not great) and a team like New England never misses a beat no matter who the players are. Makes you wonder.

[barahona44]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Amazing how this 'dynasty' looking team falls off the map overnight (they're still decent but not great) and a team like New England never misses a beat no matter who the players are. Makes you wonder.

Take Tom Brady out of the mix and this is a one (the first one) Super Bowl winning team. Bellichick's 'genius' is due to # 12.

[ultracapper]

Seahawks want to keep Wilson in the pocket more. He truly has an outstanding arm. However, the pass blocking is below average, and this has cost them dearly this year. Wilson has taken a beating. Defenses have realized that if the "QB spy" stays disciplined, Wilson will give up the ball on the option without hesitation, and you can see a real effort on opposing defenses to do that. Actually, Wilson is more in tuned to Luke Willson at TE than he was with Graham, and it'll show the rest of this season. Graham is a WR in TE garb, doesn't block worth a damn, and that's no good in this offense where Wilson needs control of the corners of the line to run the option properly.

The D has lost it's hunger, for sure. Richard Sherman is a very smart man, and he has accomplished what he set out to do, make a name for himself and capitalize on it. He was the angriest of the angry up to the SB win, and then in the SB loss, he's out on the field making kissee kissee with Brady, the guy he got in the face of to really start his reputation. He's toned down, and as the voice of the D, it's kind of softened. The pass rush is nothing to what it was in the SB winning year. Still a great set of linebackers though, and that's a great place to build around, so it's not hopeless.

They're not that far away from being a team that can win a playoff game or two. They just need to bare down in the fourth quarter, both the O and D. There were numerous 3 and outs in those blown 4th quarters.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by ultracapper

Seahawks want to keep Wilson in the pocket more. He truly has an outstanding arm. However, the pass blocking is below average, and this has cost them dearly this year. Wilson has taken a beating. Defenses have realized that if the "QB spy" stays disciplined, Wilson will give up the ball on the option without hesitation, and you can see a real effort on opposing defenses to do that. Actually, Wilson is more in tuned to Luke Willson at TE than he was with Graham, and it'll show the rest of this season. Graham is a WR in TE garb, doesn't block worth a damn, and that's no good in this offense where Wilson needs control of the corners of the line to run the option properly.

The D has lost it's hunger, for sure. Richard Sherman is a very smart man, and he has accomplished what he set out to do, make a name for himself and capitalize on it. He was the angriest of the angry up to the SB win, and then in the SB loss, he's out on the field making kissee kissee with Brady, the guy he got in the face of to really start his reputation. He's toned down, and as the voice of the D, it's kind of softened. The pass rush is nothing to what it was in the SB winning year. Still a great set of linebackers though, and that's a great place to build around, so it's not hopeless.

They're not that far away from being a team that can win a playoff game or two. They just need to bare down in the fourth quarter, both the O and D. There were numerous 3 and outs in those blown 4th quarters.

Wilson is an OUTSTANDING pocket passer.

[burnsy]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

I like Wilson a lot. For a young guy, he shows unusual poise, he is very quick...and he throws a nice deep ball. His receivers don't get the separation needed in order to stretch the field...and this forces Wilson into a more conservative offensive game plan.

He's 61% passes over 10 yards, highest in the league. He burned Pittsburg hard last week. The problem for Seattle is their line play on both sides. The guy is a good passer if they give him a second or two. He's by far one of the smartest guys out there under pressure but its been hot and heavy in many of these games. That's a big problem vs. the Vikings.

The game today is a big one for them. They just need to make it in. I wouldn't say the run is over unless they fail to make the playoffs. I'll admit it does not look good though. That's the beauty of the NFL and its playoff system......its not jug heads in a room ranking teams. Losing is never the end of the world if you qualify.......teams finish 9-7 and can win it all. The 16 games is a war of attrition. Getting hot now can translate to February......its been done before. Things are just getting interesting and they are not completely out just yet.

[RaceBookJoe]

Originally Posted by burnsy

He's 61% passes over 10 yards, highest in the league. He burned Pittsburg hard last week. The problem for Seattle is their line play on both sides. The guy is a good passer if they give him a second or two. He's by far one of the smartest guys out there under pressure but its been hot and heavy in many of these games. That's a big problem vs. the Vikings.

The game today is a big one for them. They just need to make it in. I wouldn't say the run is over unless they fail to make the playoffs. I'll admit it does not look good though. That's the beauty of the NFL and its playoff system......its not jug heads in a room ranking teams. Losing is never the end of the world if you qualify.......teams finish 9-7 and can win it all. The 16 games is a war of attrition. Getting hot now can translate to February......its been done before. Things are just getting interesting and they are not completely out just yet.

Totally agree, if Seattle makes it into the playoffs, I wouldn't want to play them. I'm just happy that early on 12/6/15, my Redskins are actually in first place...with a pathetic 5-6 record haha.

[Valuist]

Really get the feeling that teams like Carolina and Arizona feel very good they played Seattle earlier in the season. Fantasy league idiots completely underestimated Russell Wilson. He always had the great QB rating but not big yardage. Now no Graham or Lynch? No problem. Now they look like an offensive force. IF their defense can get back to even a shadow of the 2012-2014 Seahawks, they will be tough in the playoffs.