I am worried, there really is no reason to be worried, but I am...well, a little anyway. Last weeks game was so big, so important to the Seahawks for so many reasons, that it would be easy for this game against the lowly 49ers to be a let down game.
It would be very easy for the Seahawks to sort of mentally, breathe a sigh of relief that the big game against the Rams is over, and to come out flat and emotionless against the 49ers.
It would be easy, but it probably won't happen. It probably won't happen because this simply isn't the same Seahawks team the fans have grown accustomed to seeing. It probably won't happen because the Seahawks now have too many clubhouse leaders, such as Matt Hasselbeck, Lofa Tatupu, Walter Jones, Marquand Manuel, Grant Wistrom, Robbie Tobeck, Michael Boulware etc...
These guys as well as others, simply care way too much to allow the Seahawks to play flat.
From hysterical quotes from Walter Jones, like "Y'all score or I'm gonna kill you!" to the pranks that Wistrom and Tobeck love to pull, which help keep the lockeroom loose, and happy, this Seahawks team just has too many leaders who truly care about winning to allow a let down game.
The simple fact of the matter is, when the Seahawks match up with the 49ers this weekend, the only way possible that the Niners could beat the Seahawks, is if the Hawks come out flat and give up a bunch of turnovers.
The Seahawks are an elite team while the Niners, may be the single worst team in the NFL.
In fact everything about this game points to an easy victory, probably a blowout; but that's what worries me a little.
Having said everything I just said about leadership and knowing what I know about the talent level disparity between these two clubs, how could I be worried, even a little?
There probably is no reason at all to be, but every time I allow my mind to go over what I believe the Seahawks need to do to beat Niners, I keep coming back to two things; one, it can't be that easy, nothing in the NFL is, and two, remember the Giants and the Falcons last week? Man would it be embarrassing to lose to the 49ers!
All those cliques about taking it one game at a time have been rolling through my head all week, and this time around, I believe those cliques are true; so that is where I will start my mon-KEYS of the game for this week.
Offensive, Defensive, Special Teams and Coaching mon-KEY #1: The team as a whole MUST remain FOCUSED! This means that they cannot look past the Niners, no matter how pathetic they truly are. This means that they must play with the same kind of intensity that they exhibited this last Sunday against the Rams. This means that they cannot aford to lose their concentration on what they are doing for any length of time. Mostly this means that they must take the 49ers seriously. This is the NFL, and as the Giants and Falcons proved last week, in the NFL, ANYTHING can happen.
Offensive mon-KEY #1: No turnovers! Take care of that ball, do not give the 49ers players any reason to think that they ever have a chance in this game.
The 49ers only chance of winning this game, is if the Seahawks lose it, by turning the ball over.
Offensive mon-KEY #2: Limit the avoidable mistakes such as penalties. Don't give up free yards to a completely undeserving team like the Niners, it's embarrassing.
Offensive mon-KEY #3: Always know where, Bryant Young and Julian Peterson are at all times. While the Niners as a whole are not a good team, those two, could start for any NFL team, anytime anywhere, they are absolutely terrific defensive players, who are very proficient in disrupting, forcing turnovers and otherwise, generally causing headaches for offensive players and coaches alike.
After these two guys, the Niners just don't have the horses to really do much, so it would behoove the Seahawks coaching staff to gameplan specifically for stopping these two star players. Unfortunately, Young is a Left Defensive End which means that he won't be lining up against the Human Erasor, that is Walter Jones, (like that? Human Erasor, because he completely eliminates whoever lines up against him) Locklear will have to contend with him instead, which means that we may see a lot of Jerramy Stevens blocking on that side. Worse yet, Peterson is so stinkin' versatile and athletic that he can, quite literally line up anywhere on the field. He has been known to line up as DE or even play safety. He is scary good.
Defensive mon-KEY #1: Stop RB Kevan Barlow, who had 61 yards and a TD against Seattle last season. Barlow is about all the Niners have for offense, their QB (whoever that may turn out to be) is either inexperienced or flat out crap. Their WR's aren't really as bad as some people think, but without a QB to throw the ball to them...well they're about as useful as teats on a boar.
Quick Comments: This game should be as lopsided as old Betsy after having only the two teats on one side milked. (not sure why I have just mentioned teats twice in one post). *Note to self, stop talking about teats, it's disconcerting if not flat out wierd.
This really should be a butt kicking. If the Seahawks simply take care of the ball, play with intensity, don't shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers, and play the way they are capable of playing, this game could be over by halftime.
WAR COMMENTS ABOUT TEATS!
ReplyDelete-out
Check...send Monk several drinks
ReplyDeletePosted by bokonon
You can milk a cat cuz you can milk anything with teats.
ReplyDeleteI will not overlook them at all...
ReplyDeleteBut the way our red zone defense is, and the way we hold teams to field goals (teams like the RAMS who have a great offense)...the 49ers will have to win a shootout with field goals
We score 2 TDs in the game...they need 5 field goals (5 possessions going downfield on us?...that would have to result from 5 turnovers...very unlikely)
SF has a 1% chance to beat us, with the 'any given sunday' phrase as their only hope...but in this case, this game should be quite the opposite
Kevan Barlow??!?! Monkey, were you that desperate to come up with an offensive weapon to become a monKEY to stop?!?! He had 61 yards...lol...this year we are better, and with a heavy dose of Shaun, SF shouldn't even have an offense on the field most of the game...
SF will be lucky to get 10 possessions...if they do manage to get 10 or more possessions...its because we racked up the score quickly and kicked it off to them a million times...
Seattle, should you lose this game...I will lose a little faith...because there is no excuse...even if you turn the ball over 10 times, you should beat this team
Posted by adp
wow that looked a lot shorter before i hit 'post'...
ReplyDeletecould me worse, could be an extremely short post regarding teats!!! (har har)
I went to the dentist on Halloween one year and my mouth was still swelled with novacane, and every house I went to it sounded like I said "tits or teats!" I got three of my friend's moms phone numbers, flashed twice, and a bag and a half of candy!
ReplyDeleteThis ain't Halloween but this game against the 49ers definitely scares me, not only because it's a classic TRICK or TREAT game, but that I'm going to be there to witness it in person! I will feel so responsible if they don't play well.
Now, my Key to the game is to get AVIS, MoMo and Leonard Weaver in the game as early as possible. This means that Shaun should have his yards (and his 10 pin strike) and the Seahawks should have a comfortable lead.
It's also a good way to get AVIS some more live game action, in case we need to call on him later in the season and in the playoffs.
So we need to come out focused. Score early and often. Play tought defense. Get our starters safely on the sidelines. And let our reserves play out the victory.
Posted by alba
I want Hass to have a bang up day. While he has managed the games quite well, I'd like to see him heat up and start winning the games, even if they are already won. We'll need him on point for the Gints, possibly Philly as even with whoever they'll still throw a ton, and of course Indy. Let's see some of that Mr. December, more than 30 attempts. For that matter, Shaun should have 30 runs too. I don't care to have the backups in just yet, maybe for the Indy and GB games, assuming homefield is locked up.
ReplyDeletePosted by JoSCh
Seahaks are definitely the superior team, but keep in mind that SF has had a tough sechdule so far - I saw today that the combined record of SF's opponents was 35-16 or something in that range. SF isn't as bad as their record and their abysmal stats might indicate.
ReplyDeletePosted by highwatermark
Thank you highwatermark for noticing how tough a schedule the 49ers had. Thank you for stating the fact that the niners aren't as bad as the stats suggest. Coming from someone who knows practically everything about SF, they will lose, but don't be surprised if Alexander doesn't have a huge day. Don't be surprised if they need the fourth quarter to score a couple touchdowns to win by seventeen against a very tired and worn out defense because they've been on the field playing great all game. Their offense will suck (this just in: Ken Dorsey to start), but Frank Gore will rush for a respectable 85 yards and Barlow will tack on about 42. The niners are decimated by injurys and if it weren't for the injurys and the incredibly hard schedule they could be surprising teams. Look at how they've played against Dallas (34-31), Indy (28 pts.), Giants (24 pts.), Tampa (Win), considering their defense is on the field 80% of the time.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I think monkey's obsession with teats comes from chickens (only he will get it, don't try to figure it out)
Posted by 49er fan