Lynch'sLamborghini
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AFC Championship Game Review
Last week, I attended the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink, so I was unable to watch the Broncos/Patriots except on the projection screens at the stadium. This weekend is my first opportunity to watch the AFC Championship Game in full and the TV broadcast of our victory and it really is kind of eye-opening. I'm only at the end of the first quarter of the AFC game, but already that's a tremendous amount to observe:
Pass Rush and Time in Pocket: It's truly amazing how much time Peyton has in the pocket - embarrassing actually, from the Patriots' standpoint. I've heard people say that the difference is striking on this count between the two title games; I'm eager to see if that's the case. I truly can't say whether the Hawks front seven will be successful in getting to Peyton, but I am more convinced than ever on watching this that it's the key to victory.
Brady Was Off: Any QB can have an off day, including Russell Wilson next Sunday - or, for that matter, Peyton Manning. Brady had his last weekend in Denver. The overthrows so far are really striking. There's a sideline route early in the first quarter to Amendola that could have changed the whole complexion of the first quarter, but Brady overshot by five yards.
Danger Zone: Earl Thomas?: One area of concern that I see potentially bearing out is Demaryius Thomas vs. Earl Thomas. Putting it plainly, I'm having nightmares of D. Thomas running middle and skinny posts and using a height advantage over E. Thomas in single-high safety defensive looks. The superior man coverage skills of our corner backs should help with this relative to the Patriot defensive backfield, but I worry about this being exploitable more than any other feature of our defense. Am I crazy here?
Soft in the Middle: The absence of Vince Wilfork for the Patriots is so very keenly felt. The Pats couldn't do anything without their linebackers.
So Much Green: More than once I've seen huge open spaces in front of Brady here in the first quarter. Perhaps the defense was allowing it knowing that Brady wouldn't take advantage of it, although of course he ultimately would on the TD run later in the game. But if Russell gets those kind of looks - his legs could very well be the story of the game. It will surely be scream-inducing if Russell is unwilling to run in the Meadowlands.
Patriots Defensive Backfield: ...is mediocre. Mediocre. Receivers were getting 5-6 extra yards because of the corners' unwillingness to tackle. Bizarre.
Not So Historic So Far: I think I'm coming up on the Aquib Talib injury here soon, and maybe that's the inflection point in the game - but at this stage, hard to see Peyton overwhelming the Seahawks. This team can be had.
Screen Game Was Working For Patriots: Now just under 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter and a couple of nice screen plays by the Patriots, one for 13 yards. This raises a lot of potential for Percy, of course, but both Baldwin and Tate could make hay out of them.
Lynch > Blount: I have to believe that Lynch will have far greater success than Blount managed, aided chiefly by their unfamiliarity with his refusal to be brought down. The Broncos will also have to take care to keep Pot Roast Knighton fresh, as a bunch of running around after Russell Wilson could gas him. Opposite side of the coin: Knowshon Moreno is fast - it leaps out at you. K.J., get your pads on.
Angry Prediction: Unless we're all stewing in our soup because Russell refuses to run, I predict that Seahawks fans will be going nuts over blocks, legal and otherwise, thrown by Welker. He's exceptional at getting into traffic and mucking everything up, allowing other Broncos receivers to get free. It's a very different approach to a strength approach, such as when they run Julius Thomas on a shallow cross on 2nd/3rd and short. Incredibly frustrating.
Runner Up: On the Broncos touchdown with just under 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter to make it 20-3, Demaryius Thomas executes a perfect/gets away with an obvious pushoff on Alfonso Dennard. It's not called because the refs are letting 'em play, but also because it's executed perfectly and Dennard looks badly beaten. That's going to be maddening if they pull it off on Sherm or Byron Maxwell, but hopefully "letting 'em play" goes both ways.
4th and 2 Sack on Brady - The Backbreaker: I suppose this could just as easily happen to us, but it really appears to be poor play. With 2:30 left in the 3rd quarter, Brady is sacked on 4th and 2 to end the Patriots best drive to that point. The center pulls up and zone blocks, but appears to get lost in an assignment and helps on a double team of #97, Malik Jackson. Pot Roast Knighton then blows through and takes Brady to the turf. This does not appear to be designed: Knighton doesn't stunt but immediately is on the passrush and blows right past the right guard Logan Mankins, right where the center #62 would have been. Blocking is excellent elsewhere, so in a similar situation Russell should be able to scramble out of the pocket.
Pick Plays - Ugh: The use of pick plays in the Broncos offense is well-known, but it's really impressive how reliant they are on it. Julius Thomas dropped a touchdown on such a play on 3rd and goal on an obvious pick. It was so obvious, in fact, that Phil Simms, NFL Company Man outright called it a pick - perhaps overlooking that such a thing is illegal under NFL rules. Another candidate for angrymaking! The best way to prevent this from being a factor will be keeping the Broncos offense outside of the Red Zone (easier said than done).
Broncos Defense Can Be Had: The Broncos defense was never especially lighting it up during the AFC Championship Game - Patriots WRs were open most of the game, but the defense was aided immeasurably by Brady's inaccuracy. Brady came alive in the 4th Quarter and, prevent defense or not, he had his way with them. Much will be available for Marshawn and Russell. Most importantly - this extends to the run defense. They were able to stop Blount early on and the Patriots were forced to move away from the run, but both Ridley and Vereen were able to rip off big chunks in the 2nd half. This defense can be effectively worn down.
Conclusion:
There's simply no question that Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos present one of Seattle's most significant challenges this year. Yet while I started watching this game concerned that I would see something that Seattle wouldn't be able to beat, I finish the game more confident that the Seahawks have everything they need to win Super Bowl 48. The Patriots were weak all around, but the defense was porous, Dallas Cowboys-level porous. It was a bloodless, weak performance. Was some of that due to the skill of the Broncos? Of course, and they will get their licks in against us. But the Broncos quite simply faced little effective opposition. Whatever happens on February 2nd, you won't be able to say that about the Seattle Seahawks.
AFC Championship Game Review
Last week, I attended the NFC Championship Game at CenturyLink, so I was unable to watch the Broncos/Patriots except on the projection screens at the stadium. This weekend is my first opportunity to watch the AFC Championship Game in full and the TV broadcast of our victory and it really is kind of eye-opening. I'm only at the end of the first quarter of the AFC game, but already that's a tremendous amount to observe:
Pass Rush and Time in Pocket: It's truly amazing how much time Peyton has in the pocket - embarrassing actually, from the Patriots' standpoint. I've heard people say that the difference is striking on this count between the two title games; I'm eager to see if that's the case. I truly can't say whether the Hawks front seven will be successful in getting to Peyton, but I am more convinced than ever on watching this that it's the key to victory.
Brady Was Off: Any QB can have an off day, including Russell Wilson next Sunday - or, for that matter, Peyton Manning. Brady had his last weekend in Denver. The overthrows so far are really striking. There's a sideline route early in the first quarter to Amendola that could have changed the whole complexion of the first quarter, but Brady overshot by five yards.
Danger Zone: Earl Thomas?: One area of concern that I see potentially bearing out is Demaryius Thomas vs. Earl Thomas. Putting it plainly, I'm having nightmares of D. Thomas running middle and skinny posts and using a height advantage over E. Thomas in single-high safety defensive looks. The superior man coverage skills of our corner backs should help with this relative to the Patriot defensive backfield, but I worry about this being exploitable more than any other feature of our defense. Am I crazy here?
Soft in the Middle: The absence of Vince Wilfork for the Patriots is so very keenly felt. The Pats couldn't do anything without their linebackers.
So Much Green: More than once I've seen huge open spaces in front of Brady here in the first quarter. Perhaps the defense was allowing it knowing that Brady wouldn't take advantage of it, although of course he ultimately would on the TD run later in the game. But if Russell gets those kind of looks - his legs could very well be the story of the game. It will surely be scream-inducing if Russell is unwilling to run in the Meadowlands.
Patriots Defensive Backfield: ...is mediocre. Mediocre. Receivers were getting 5-6 extra yards because of the corners' unwillingness to tackle. Bizarre.
Not So Historic So Far: I think I'm coming up on the Aquib Talib injury here soon, and maybe that's the inflection point in the game - but at this stage, hard to see Peyton overwhelming the Seahawks. This team can be had.
Screen Game Was Working For Patriots: Now just under 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter and a couple of nice screen plays by the Patriots, one for 13 yards. This raises a lot of potential for Percy, of course, but both Baldwin and Tate could make hay out of them.
Lynch > Blount: I have to believe that Lynch will have far greater success than Blount managed, aided chiefly by their unfamiliarity with his refusal to be brought down. The Broncos will also have to take care to keep Pot Roast Knighton fresh, as a bunch of running around after Russell Wilson could gas him. Opposite side of the coin: Knowshon Moreno is fast - it leaps out at you. K.J., get your pads on.
Angry Prediction: Unless we're all stewing in our soup because Russell refuses to run, I predict that Seahawks fans will be going nuts over blocks, legal and otherwise, thrown by Welker. He's exceptional at getting into traffic and mucking everything up, allowing other Broncos receivers to get free. It's a very different approach to a strength approach, such as when they run Julius Thomas on a shallow cross on 2nd/3rd and short. Incredibly frustrating.
Runner Up: On the Broncos touchdown with just under 8 minutes left in the 3rd quarter to make it 20-3, Demaryius Thomas executes a perfect/gets away with an obvious pushoff on Alfonso Dennard. It's not called because the refs are letting 'em play, but also because it's executed perfectly and Dennard looks badly beaten. That's going to be maddening if they pull it off on Sherm or Byron Maxwell, but hopefully "letting 'em play" goes both ways.
4th and 2 Sack on Brady - The Backbreaker: I suppose this could just as easily happen to us, but it really appears to be poor play. With 2:30 left in the 3rd quarter, Brady is sacked on 4th and 2 to end the Patriots best drive to that point. The center pulls up and zone blocks, but appears to get lost in an assignment and helps on a double team of #97, Malik Jackson. Pot Roast Knighton then blows through and takes Brady to the turf. This does not appear to be designed: Knighton doesn't stunt but immediately is on the passrush and blows right past the right guard Logan Mankins, right where the center #62 would have been. Blocking is excellent elsewhere, so in a similar situation Russell should be able to scramble out of the pocket.
Pick Plays - Ugh: The use of pick plays in the Broncos offense is well-known, but it's really impressive how reliant they are on it. Julius Thomas dropped a touchdown on such a play on 3rd and goal on an obvious pick. It was so obvious, in fact, that Phil Simms, NFL Company Man outright called it a pick - perhaps overlooking that such a thing is illegal under NFL rules. Another candidate for angrymaking! The best way to prevent this from being a factor will be keeping the Broncos offense outside of the Red Zone (easier said than done).
Broncos Defense Can Be Had: The Broncos defense was never especially lighting it up during the AFC Championship Game - Patriots WRs were open most of the game, but the defense was aided immeasurably by Brady's inaccuracy. Brady came alive in the 4th Quarter and, prevent defense or not, he had his way with them. Much will be available for Marshawn and Russell. Most importantly - this extends to the run defense. They were able to stop Blount early on and the Patriots were forced to move away from the run, but both Ridley and Vereen were able to rip off big chunks in the 2nd half. This defense can be effectively worn down.
Conclusion:
There's simply no question that Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos present one of Seattle's most significant challenges this year. Yet while I started watching this game concerned that I would see something that Seattle wouldn't be able to beat, I finish the game more confident that the Seahawks have everything they need to win Super Bowl 48. The Patriots were weak all around, but the defense was porous, Dallas Cowboys-level porous. It was a bloodless, weak performance. Was some of that due to the skill of the Broncos? Of course, and they will get their licks in against us. But the Broncos quite simply faced little effective opposition. Whatever happens on February 2nd, you won't be able to say that about the Seattle Seahawks.
