classicaaron":1yph70sl said:
they got beat by short completions, not sure how earl would have helped much. sure he could have made a couple tackles to save some yards. all that would have done was prolonged the falcons drives as they picked us apart. not like they were throwing 60 yard bombs all day. Maybe he accounts for saving a touchdown but no way does he turn the game into a victory.
Thomas flashes in and keeps those short completions to short completions. He limits the YAC like few other safeties I have ever seen.
He covers sideline to sideline across the top, allowing Sherman and co to play press man or something closer to that, rather than playing 10 yards off the line of scrimmage, like they had to in his absence.
He is a vital component of our red zone defense. You correctly note that Atlanta would have had long drives. Seattle, under Carroll, has not been a team that forces a ton of 3 and outs. We give up long drives, but we are stingy in the Red Zone, when the field gets small. It's why we have lead the league in points allowed, but not in yards. Thomas is a huge contributor to that success.
He a team leader in PD and INTs for many years. In this, injury shortened, season, he almost matched Sherman and Shead for PD.
With Thomas, we have home field advantage. With Thomas, we are hosting the NFCCG. Without Thomas, the Seahawks, and their fans, will all be watching the NFCCG on TV.