Week 9. Book it.
Over the last two weeks, there has been a bunch of 5 wide, 4 wide, and very spread 3 WR looks. The 4 and 5 WR looks have not been real effective, and especially the 5 wr looks had a lot of us scratching our heads because they were inviting pressure on an already stressed line.
Those spread looks? All about Harvin. They are getting the offense prepped for his return. I was worried about how they are going to get 10 touches per game for the guy, and I still don't know if we will see him fully integrate to the offense this year, but Pete and Bevell are already taking steps to alter the offense and create space for Harvin. Last year, it was mid season when we really saw them drop some read option looks on defenses, and it stressed those defenses to no end. This year, the wrinkle is going to be these spread looks with the threat of Harvin in space.
This has me VERY excited about Lynch. Lynch has been at his very best this year from single back sets vs nickel looks. Lynch intimidates the hell out of secondary players (paging Tracy Porter), and Harvin means a lot more 3 and 4 WR sets for Lynch. More nickel, more dime, more space. I don't expect a lot of 5 WR, but if any team in the league can maintain the threat of play action with 5 wr, it is a team with Russell Wilson toting the rock.
So, in order, I would expect a lot of 3WR, 1 TE, 1 RB, with some 4WR 1 RB, and a smattering of 5 WR (with Lynch or Turbin motioning to the 5th WR sometimes). I bet they can get at least 30 snaps a game with Harvin on the field this way.
