Please read this article as my topic for this post relates to it
WARNING TO SKIMMERS: (alba this means you!)
This post is a very-long winded post and may cause extreme drowsiness and lack of concentration.
Although the content herein is witty, challenging, extremely well thought out, and brilliant; please take caution while reading this post.
Do not mix this post with alcoholic beverages, as it may prove to be an overwhelming combination, when mixed.
Also bear in mind that the author bears no responsibility for any actions taken after reading this post.
Although there are statements within this post which may be misconstrued to seem "anti Seahawks", it is utterly untrue that the author has any anti Seahawk feeling whatsoever.
For weeks now, I have been doing my mon-KEYS posts, and have been avoiding making pass pressure a mon-KEY every week, in spite of the fact that I think it is.
I have also been hollering and hollering about the zone defense the Hawks have been running, the so called, "bend don't break defense", until everyone here is sick to tears of hearing about it.
When I first started doing the mon-KEYS posts, I did include pass pressure as a mon-KEY every week, but after a while realized that as long as the Seahawks insist on playing that soft zone defense, it will always be a concern, so in my mind, when I write my mon-KEYS posts, it is in the back of my mind as sort of a permanent mon-KEY.
So, why am I mentioning all of this? Because of my only fear, the only thing that worries me about this Seahawks team going into the playoffs.
I mention it because I truly believe that, if the Seahawks lose in the playoffs, it will be because of this zone defense/lack of pass rush, which leads to the secondary having to cover recievers far longer than they should, and consequently, getting beat on third and long situations, which keeps opposing teams drives alive, and give opposing offenses tons of yardage.
I am writing this post to try to show that, there is a correlation or a commonality, between the teams that have beaten us or otherwise given us troubles this season.
Or put another way, there is a certain type of team, that gives us more matchup problems than others, because of the specific makeup of their team.
I will also attempt to prove that the reason that these certain types of teams find success against us, is the bend don't break/zone defense.
read the rest of this post
Monkey. Excellent analysis and you're absolutely right. However, you gotta "dance with the date that brung ya" so I don't see the Seahawks doing much differently.
ReplyDeleteWhile the linked article was hard to read, it too was spot-on. We don't have a Michael Strahan or Osi Whatthefukkah to put on a speed rush from the outside. We don't have a dominant defensive tackle who can just blow guys up through the middle, or even a fearsome linebacker that other teams are forced to gameplan against.
All we got is smaller than usual high-motor guys who will not give up until the whistle is blown. But we knew that going into the season.
I'll bet that Mike Holmgren seriously contemplated retirement over the past off season, and you know why? Getting burned by deep balls! Can you say Terrell Bierra?
While I too get nervous with the "bend but don't break" soft zone defense, it was dismantled and carefully constructed specifically to keep from getting beat by one big play, like we were at least three times last season.
Additionally, without a clear stud on the D-line, offenses are not forced into "maximum protect" which means they're able to put more guys into the patterns, giving a better than average QB more targets to choose from.
But you know what? Even with all this clear documentation on the short-comings of our defense (no pun intended Lofa) they've been able to "get 'er done" throughout the season. albiet in games that were a little too close for comfort. (Rams I, Giants, Titans, Slurs)
The ace up our sleeve, our secret weapon, which proved to be the difference between the Redskins loss and the wins against the Giants and 'Boys, is the fearsome defender who wears #12, better known as HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE!
Granted, two of our last three playoff losses have been at home, but those were different teams with a myriad of dysfunctional issues.
This team, with Home Field, and the "bend but don't break" defense will be just fine.
Don't forget....we're on a mission from God!
Posted by alba
Good write monkey. And it's tough to disagree, the only point I think to be made to counter is that we don't have the personnel to do press/man coverage. Not one of the CBs is a *shut-down* corner. So for this year, the zone coverages are probably what we're stuck with.
ReplyDeleteAs far as QB pressures, same thing, we don't have a Freeney, we'll have to be happy with the motor guys to get decent pressure, not overwhelming. And I think they get pretty good pressure unless the QB is mobile at all (Leftwich, Brunell) or the team goes max protect (Bledsoe).
I also say in agreement of you and alba, #12 and the endzone will continue to be valuable defenders. Manning couldn't score on us in 2 series... Harrison schmarrison, he had Wayne, Stokely, Edge, and Clark, plus that other guy, he wasn't exactly weaponless.
Posted by JoSCh
I don't disagree with you guys at all, I think that our biggest advantage which offsets the defenses weaknesses is the 12th man, homefield advantage.
ReplyDeleteLike I said, I am not panicking at all, just very concerned that against the right kind of team, our defense MIGHT not get it done. I THINK we'll win all the way to the SuperBowl, I really do, but I can just see that there are a few teams who give us serious mathcup problems.
Good job monkey our pass rush was one of my key concerns too. Have i said that I HATE ZONE DEFENSES! To be honest with you if it's not the 4th quarter i would rather see our defense give up the big play the 80yard TD reception, because i know our offense can come back and do a 9play 6:35 TD. Whats the difference both end in a TD but ours dominates time of possessiomn.
ReplyDeleteThats why we lost the Washington game cause our offense couldn't get on the field.
Our offense is made to dominate time of possession and that helps the defense out because they don't have to be on the field as much. Time of possesion is key to winning.
Posted by o-meezy
I wish we would blitz more but it seems that everytime we send more people if they aren't named Lofa or Leroy they don't get their on time. We need to send more people but we don't blitz effectively enough thus we only rush four at the QB and drop the rest back hoping we can cover up.
ReplyDeleteI also read somewher that opposing teams are now keeping an extra tightend or back to block. Why don't we just put Joe Tafoya in at tackle and let him bust a center up and hit the Quarterback in the mouth.
Anyways as long as our defense is givin up field goals instead of touchdowns we will be fine.
Posted by o-meezy
Monkey great point. This has been my major concern all year. Watching teams tear up the middle of the field with screen passes and quick slants kills me every week. I do agree with what others said that we haven't been giving up the homerun plays like in previous years, which has been good. I think the thing with giving up big plays is that they are demoralizing to both the team and the fans. Not that giving up a 8 minute touchdown drive makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but it somehow doesn't seem as bad.
ReplyDeleteI think the teams that can give us problems are the Giants, Cowboys, followed by a lesser extent the Panthers and Redskins.
The reason I say that is that the Giants and Cowboys both have large possession type WR (Burress and Johnson) and good pass catching TE (Shockey and Whitten), plus a pretty good QB (up for debate how good each one is, but overall they both can make plays when needed). Both teams gave us fits on offense in our previous games and for long stretches shut our offense down. Granted we now have D-jack back which should open things up a little bit more.
The Redskins also have a tough D, which gave us problems. On the offensive side they have guys that can make plays (Santana Moss, Portis, and Cooley) and a serviceable QB (Brunell, assuming he plays) who if given time (like we did in the game earlier this year) he can pick us apart.
The Panthers seem very similar to me to the Redskins. They have a great WR in Steve Smith, a decent QB in Delhome (I think he made the Pro Bowl by default) and a tough D. I'll admit I haven't watched them much this year, but from what I've gathered they are not the powerhouse that people were making them out to be earlier in the year.
From what I've seen Tampa and Chicago don't match up well with us and I don't think they stand much of a chance, especially in our house.
Anyway, that's enough of my rant. Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents.
good to see you posting again Dusto!
ReplyDeleteRemember too that we didn't have D-Jack when we played the Skins and Giants, so our offense may be more effective should we meet again.
I wonder what fans on other team sites are saying about THEIR defenses, as we constantly put up drives of 80 and 90 yards on opponents?
Posted by alba
Thanks Alba. I've been lurking in the shadows. I try to check out the site pretty often while I'm pretending I'm busy at work. Very enjoyable reading everyones thoughts. Pretty cool to read Seahawks and Super Bowl in a sentence that's not talking about teams that have never been there.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I really wish we had the pass rush to get at opposing qbs, and make them force bad throws.
ReplyDeleteOur defense's bend but don't break is not my favorite defensive strategy. This is sort of like roasting a marshmallow with the toast but don't burn strategy. Eventually, the things going to catch on fire, and eventually some team will finish off drives.
Why I think the Seahawks can beat any team in the playoffs is, there are no balanced teams. Either a team has an amazing defense, but no offense (Chicago, Tampa) or they have a great offense, but no D (Carolina, New York) The Seahawks are the most balanced team out of anybody in the NFL.
The reason the pundits aren't sold on Seattle is that neither side is dominating (at least to them). Our defense is middle of the pack, and as great as our offense is, its not one of those offenses that people will talk about in twenty years.
The Seahawks are the team to beat in the NFC, but the playoffs are so wide open that I won't sit here and predict us going to Detroit, no questions asked. We have the team to do it, we have the crowd to do it, and there's nothing saying we can't go.
There's five other teams thinking exactly the same thing. I can't wait for round two already.
Posted by Alan
I agree with you 1000%!!! I dont think I can take another loss like the one against Washington this year when Brunell was faced with third and forever all day long and kept on converting them to keep the drives alive. Is there anyway you can email your post to the seahawks coaching staff?
ReplyDeletePosted by Joshua McMillan
I wish I could Joshua, believe me I wish I could!
ReplyDelete"This is sort of like roasting a marshmallow with the toast but don't burn strategy. Eventually, the things going to catch on fire, and eventually some team will finish off drives. " That is probably the most insightful thing I've ever read... if you can break football down and explain it using childhood campfire analogies you truly are a genius. Well done Alan, it brought tears to my eyes... sniff.
ReplyDeletePosted by JoSCh
JoSCh - I'm sure Alan appreciates the kudos in your comment, you should have REALLY enshired this precious nugget in the Quote Bucket!
ReplyDeletePosted by alba