citysaint":2l9wn111 said:
I agree they will definitely get better, but as of right now it's a major question mark to me. When you aren't playing games together on a regular basis there is no cohesion the game against Minny is proof of that.
Outside of the spike by Wilson he had 17 drop backs, Minny had 12 total pressures. Now you can say pressures are a questionable stat when Wilson has the wheels to get out of it, but to me with the line will be a big question mark.
To expand a bit on what KK84 is saying, that offensive line is the exact same unit that played all 16 games together last season. I take it that you've already read about all the injuries that the Seahawks Offensive Line has had (and all the shuffling that's gone on because of it) -- if not, I've detailed that back on Pg. 1. Anyway, yeah the Hawks Starting 5 has only played together (and I mean all of them) in Week 1 against the Panthers ... and last game against the Vikings. That's it. Keep in mind though WHO it is that they just got back: Russell Okung (Pro Bowl starting LT last year), Russell Okung (Pro Bowl starting C), and RT Breno Giacomini (an underrated tackle, who though is good for a penalty or 2 a game, is also a real tough guy. Tom Cable was asked, "If you were in a dark alley, who would you want with you?" He answered without hesitation, Breno). This OL played together all last season ... all of training camp ... and the entire Preseason. And they'll have had a whole week's worth of extra practice by the time this game rolls around.
Something else to keep in mind when it comes to pressure (as you're noting). Up until last game, the Seahawks Offensive Line has been complete and utter garbage all season long. It really has. Against some of the top Defensive Lines out there (like the Rams), Wilson has had defenders in his face from the moment he's said, "Go." (his version of "hike"). Much of that has had to do with McQuistan and Carpenter, who are some of the more slow footed lineman I've seen. McQuistan as a Left Tackle, there isn't much worse. Here's a little snippet from ProFootballFocus that really illustrates it for ya ...
Paul McQuistan is attempting to hold down the fort during the absence of Russell Okung. He has our second-worst pass blocking grade (-16.0 as an OT) and his Pass Blocking Efficiency of 90.1% puts him 57th out of 59 tackles.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/11/08/3tfo-seahawks-falcons-week-10/
Because of that kind of "protection" Russell Wilson (up until last week) was THE MOST pressured QB in the NFL bar none (on nearly 44% of all his drop-backs). So, almost 50% of the time he dropped back to pass ... Wilson had a guy in his face.
And yet despite all of that ... Wilson (unbelievably) has thrived. On the season, here are Wilson's numbers
QB Rating
Total ... 105.1
Away ... 103.5
Home ... 107.4
He also has a Total QBR of 64.2 on the season (Pro Bowl Level for that stat).
Amazingly consistent numbers when you think about it, given the circumstances he's dealt with. For Russell Wilson to put up numbers like that and for the Seahawks to be 10-1 given all of that? That's unreal.
What's really unreal is when you can make plays like this under pressure (and he does on a regular basis) ...
http://www.seahawks.com/videos-phot...ouchdown/cebcec8f-2517-425c-90cc-ed24b8d586ef
Now He's got his starting offensive line back ... a new play toy that's certainly going to change things in Percy Harvin ... and will be playing at home.
Pressure on the QB or no pressure on the QB, Wilson is an issue for any defensive coordinator. The question I ask myself is,
"If I were an opposing Defensive Coordinator, how would I neutralize this guy?" In all honesty, I don't know the answer to that question.