falcongoggles
Active member
There is precedent for WC teams to win and we should know as one of them was the 2005 Stealers. The key ingredients are a hot streak to end the season, a scrappy defense and an elite QB. Does Seattle have what it takes to make it?
QB Play - Russel has great statistics this year with 34 TDs, 6 Ints and 3,400 yards. Anyone watching the whole season knows that Wilson can be lights out (last night) or simply ho-hum (San Fran, Minnesota). The pass into the helmet at SF, the 20-yard run backwards rabbit sacks (all season) and the heinous pick before the half at Minnesota come to mind. Can Russel Wilson put together four DangerRuss games in a row to end the season. If yes, why not us?
Carson, the O-line and Schotty - Every game has ebbs and flows. Even with Russ having an overall solid game, there might be a quarter where he misses a few throws (Baldwin last night to put it on ice) and that's where Carson comes in. Can we get 4-5 yards on first, miss a bomb and come back for a run or catch out of the backfield on third for a first down? If yes, why not us?
The Intermediate Passing Game - If the Hawks want to win the whole thing they will do it by beating some stout running defenses (Saints-1, Bears-2, Dallas-5). Seattle loves play action, but it doesn't fool anyone unless Carson and company can get those 4-6 yards on 1st or 2nd down. If the opposing team is stacking the box, RW has to incorporate slants, quick outs and screen passes into the repertoire for get some breathing room against and keep the defense from stacking the ox with 8 on early downs.
The Pass Rush - Seattle just has to do enough. Last night, Dion Jordan was the only Hawk with a sack and the team only had three tackles for a loss. Yet watching the game you would see that the pocket got crunched in a similar pattern play after play for for the chiefs. Mahone's left edge would crumple in, the right edge would loop behind and he would flush forward and right repeatedly. While the rush didn't get home per se, it was enough to throw off his mechanics and result in 4-5 balls going into the dirt or being overthrown.
Special Teams - This is the tail of two players. BB Dickson is going to the pro-bowl as our only starter while Janikowski might be nursing a tight back following his fall. SeaBass needs to find his directional control and back of the end zone umph to stymy the long runbacks. The guy is 11/11 in the second half so I'm not worried about him being clutch. Hit the ones that are gimmies (35 yards and in) and avoid big kick returns. BBD - just be you.
This is a tall order and hence why few Wild Cards win the whole thing. The team has some holes in a rebuilding year, but if they can paper over them by hitting on all cylinders for four games, we can win the whole thing.
What are you guys seeing as the key factors?
QB Play - Russel has great statistics this year with 34 TDs, 6 Ints and 3,400 yards. Anyone watching the whole season knows that Wilson can be lights out (last night) or simply ho-hum (San Fran, Minnesota). The pass into the helmet at SF, the 20-yard run backwards rabbit sacks (all season) and the heinous pick before the half at Minnesota come to mind. Can Russel Wilson put together four DangerRuss games in a row to end the season. If yes, why not us?
Carson, the O-line and Schotty - Every game has ebbs and flows. Even with Russ having an overall solid game, there might be a quarter where he misses a few throws (Baldwin last night to put it on ice) and that's where Carson comes in. Can we get 4-5 yards on first, miss a bomb and come back for a run or catch out of the backfield on third for a first down? If yes, why not us?
The Intermediate Passing Game - If the Hawks want to win the whole thing they will do it by beating some stout running defenses (Saints-1, Bears-2, Dallas-5). Seattle loves play action, but it doesn't fool anyone unless Carson and company can get those 4-6 yards on 1st or 2nd down. If the opposing team is stacking the box, RW has to incorporate slants, quick outs and screen passes into the repertoire for get some breathing room against and keep the defense from stacking the ox with 8 on early downs.
The Pass Rush - Seattle just has to do enough. Last night, Dion Jordan was the only Hawk with a sack and the team only had three tackles for a loss. Yet watching the game you would see that the pocket got crunched in a similar pattern play after play for for the chiefs. Mahone's left edge would crumple in, the right edge would loop behind and he would flush forward and right repeatedly. While the rush didn't get home per se, it was enough to throw off his mechanics and result in 4-5 balls going into the dirt or being overthrown.
Special Teams - This is the tail of two players. BB Dickson is going to the pro-bowl as our only starter while Janikowski might be nursing a tight back following his fall. SeaBass needs to find his directional control and back of the end zone umph to stymy the long runbacks. The guy is 11/11 in the second half so I'm not worried about him being clutch. Hit the ones that are gimmies (35 yards and in) and avoid big kick returns. BBD - just be you.
This is a tall order and hence why few Wild Cards win the whole thing. The team has some holes in a rebuilding year, but if they can paper over them by hitting on all cylinders for four games, we can win the whole thing.
What are you guys seeing as the key factors?
