View: https://www.reddit.com/r/Seahawks/comments/7jt7ne/to_anyone_going_to_the_game_on_sunday_please_tell/
To anyone going to the game on Sunday: please tell everyone around you that they need to be loudest when the Play Clock is between 40 and 15 seconds
That's when Jared Goff is getting his
instructions from his
puppet master. McVay is feeding Goff all of the information through the headset during that time, so we need to be loudest during that period so Goff can't be spoonfed all of the audibles and tendencies that he can't see on his own.
As soon as the play is over and the clock begins to run, McVay can start pulling on Goff's strings. Any disruption that the 12s can do at that point could have a legitimate impact on the game.
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This works not very well against our defense. We do the same thing 90% of the time.
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This makes the vocal chords bleed. The stadium would be silent by halftime.
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https://www.fieldgulls.com/2017/12/...ussell-wilson-jared-goff-nfc-west-todd-gurley
Seahawks-Rams preview: Pressuring Jared Goff and more to watch for
By Alistair Corp
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
The L.A.
Rams will head to Seattle to face the
Seahawks for the second and final time this regular season, with both teams coming off disappointing losses. Seattle lost the game and subsequently their composure in a grueling fight against the
Jacksonville Jaguars, one of the league’s most physically imposing teams.
The Rams, on the other hand, fell short against the
Philadelphia Eagles, 43-35. The loss allows the Seahawks the opportunity to retake the NFC West lead on Sunday, as well as win the season series against L.A. and ensure themselves the tiebreaker against the Rams. The division lead, and perhaps title, is on the line on Sunday in Seattle. Here’s what to watch for:
Can the Seahawks’ revitalized line hold up against L.A.?
In the first five years of Russell Wilson’s career, the Rams were an entirely maddening opponent. Under Jeff Fisher, they were noncompetitive and uninspiring, yet they always found a way to play their best football against Seattle.
Despite the talent-gap separating the two teams, L.A. was always a tough matchup for the Seahawks. Seattle struggled to protect up-front, and the Rams seemingly
only had talent in their defensive front-seven. And so Wilson’s career against L.A.
paints an ugly picture: In 11 games, Wilson is 6-5, has turned the ball over nine times, sacked 42 times, and hit 89 times.
In 2017, the outlook has changed for both teams. The Rams are a promising team, full of young talent and innovation on offense. And for the Seahawks, well, they can actually keep their franchise quarterback upright — at least since a mid-season trade for Duane Brown. Since his arrival in Seattle, Brown has
allowed just nine total pressures - three hits and six hurries - while not allowing a sack.
The nine pressures are the fourth-fewest of all qualifying tackles over that span, and it’s extended across the offensive line. Since week 9, the Seahawks’ pass block efficiency has gone from 30th in the league to 9th. And so now a g..g..good (!?) offensive line faces yet another test, in the shape of Wade Phillips’ L.A. defense.
Against a fearsome Jaguars front, Wilson was pressured on 17 of 35 dropbacks, being sacked just twice. The pressure numbers aren’t great, but a marked improvement from where they were just a couple months ago. And so now they’ll face the opposition who has given Wilson and Seattle more trouble than anyone else over the last five years, in the biggest game of the year.
Can the Seahawks pressure Jared Goff?
Jared Goff is enjoying a career-salvaging season in 2017. Saved by Sean McVay and a fresh set of offensive weapons, his game and numbers have improved in every area. In 2016, Goff was a historically poor rookie quarterback: completing under 55-percent of his passes, finishing with a QBR of 22.2, 34th ranked passer by DYAR, an ANY/A of 2.82 and a passer rating of 63.6.
Through 13 games in 2017, his numbers tell a different story: He’s completing 62.2-percent of his passes, has a QBR of 53.6, has the seventh highest DYAR among quarterbacks, an ANY/A of 7.75 and a passer rating of 99.2.
Of all the acquisitions made by the Rams this offseason to aid Goff, none have been more important than the improvements made along the offensive line. Left tackle
Andrew Whitworth has been outstanding, as has center John Sullivan. Like Brown in Seattle, their additions have improved the entire unit.
Rodger Saffold looks settled at left guard for the first time in his career, and right tackle
Rob Havenstein is back on track as one of the game’s premier run blockers after a down year in 2016. If the Seahawks are going to impact the game defensively, they’ll need to win against a strong Rams offensive line and pressure Goff.
Rooted in Goff’s step forward this year is the massive step forward their offensive line has taken, and it’s reflected in his numbers as well.
Without pressure this year Goff has excelled, throwing for 16 touchdowns and 2482 yards, with a passer rating of 108.8. Under pressure, his efficiency drops: Just six touchdowns, 901 yards and
a passer rating of 68.
He’s benefited from great protection, a superstar in the backfield and a host of weapons — L.A. receivers are averaging 7.2 yards after the catch this season,
the second best mark in the league, and are dropping the
second-lowest percentage of passes.
If allowed time, Goff has the ability and the playmakers to pick apart a depleted defense and move his offense. To make up for the missing pieces in the secondary, Seattle’s defensive line is going to need to get home versus the Rams.
Slowing down Gurley despite injuries at linebacker
While it’s still unclear as of Wednesday whether
Bobby Wagner and
K.J. Wright will play on Sunday, the outlook doesn’t look good. Wright remains in concussion protocol, and Wagner is dealing with a hamstring injury that’s different from the one he’s been dealing with for several weeks. Injuries have hit the Seahawks’ second level at just the wrong time, with do-it-all ‘back
Todd Gurley coming to town.
Like Goff, Gurley is enjoying a career-salvaging season. He’s trailing Le’Veon Bell by just 47 yards for the league lead in yards from scrimmage, and is leading the league in rushing/receiving touchdowns. His devastating track speed has been on full display this year, averaging just over five yards per carry on outside runs, while averaging a healthy 3.8 yards per carry inside.
More importantly the ghosts he was seeing in the backfield and in the hole last year have seemingly vanished; he has the fourth highest success rate by Football Outsiders, and the team’s
4.32 yards per carry on first down is the eighth highest in the NFL..
In addition to his revitalized running, McVay has unlocked the playmaker in the passing game. He’s already surpassed his career highs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and he ranks fourth among all ‘backs in
yards per route run. McVay and L.A. are getting explosive plays out of their superstar in both the running game and passing game.
Not allowing Gurley to turn the corner on outside runs is imperative to slowing down the big play, and a hampered Wagner makes that task much more difficult. Nobody goes sideline-to-sideline quite like Seattle’s DPOY candidate, and if it’s
Michael Wilhoite in his place, they face a serious downgrade.
In the passing game, Gurley gets in space via screen passes, and using misdirection with
Tavon Austin before releasing into a pass pattern. Wright, like Wagner, excels in coverage against running backs. Both of the Seahawks’ linebackers are crucial against opposing 'backs. Facing one of the best in the league, Seattle could be missing both of them.
Can the Seahawks take advantage of a depleted secondary?
The Rams lost one of their starting cornerbacks for the season last Sunday when
Kayvon Webster went down with a torn Achilles. Slot corner
Nickell Robey-Coleman shifted outside in his place, and the Eagles recognized the change. By the end of the game, Robey-Coleman had been targeted 10 times, allowing seven catches for 81 yards.
He’s been having a strong season at the nickel corner spot, but his struggles were apparent after moving outside. Across from Robey-Coleman,
Trumaine Johnson suffered a stinger versus Philadelphia. He claims he’s
“Good to go,” but Seattle of all teams knows how complicated stingers can get.
Already down a starter and with his replacement perhaps unfit on the outside, the Seahawks would be smart to test Robey-Coleman immediately, and often on Sunday. A mid-game switch isn’t ideal, and it’s possible his play returns to the level it has been at all season with a week of practice under his belt. But it’s also possible he won’t adjust and by testing him early, Seattle could force Phillips’ hand to make another mid-game switch, and put points on the board along the way.
Jimmy Graham back on track and back in the endzone
After a scintillating stretch of games starting with the Seahawks’ first matchup against L.A. in October, Jimmy Graham came rocketing back down to Earth last Sunday. After scoring nine touchdowns in his past 10 games, Graham posted a 0/0/0 stat-line in Jacksonville, his only noteworthy act being a 15-yard penalty following a Wilson interception.
It was a disappointing performance, made even worse by the Jaguars’ terrific cornerbacks and the idea that Graham would be able to capitalize against a favorable one-on-one matchup.
Graham will look to return to his touchdown scoring, defender posterizing ways in another favorable matchup. Rams’ rookie safety Joe Johnson has had a solid year on balance, but is coming off the worst game of his young career. Missing Zach Ertz, the Eagles looked to third-string tight end
Trey Burton against the Rams, and Johnson was the victim.
If only for a week, Graham’s Elite Touchdown Maker label was transferred to Burton as the fourth-year tight end enjoyed a career day, catching five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. He nearly doubled his career touchdowns while exceeding his single-game high in receiving yards, all of which was against Johnson. Seattle likely won’t get a career day from Graham on Sunday, but getting the ball back in his hands and in the paint would go a long way.
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42-41
This will be a barn burner of a game.
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If the Hawks lose on Sunday, they won't make the playoffs.
Here is why:
- Tied with Atlanta currently, but they have a tiebreaker. Atlanta will likely beat Tampa bay, so our loss would put us a game back with Atlanta having the tiebreaker. Divisional games against CAR and NO could allow them to win a game of those two depending on what the others are playing for.
- GB is a game behind us, with A-A-Ron back at the helm. They will likely rally and win this week. If we lose, they own the tiebreaker over us and would have to win out. They play MIN, and DET to end the year. Possible for them to keep the lead.
- DAL has a chance to rally and win out with Elliot coming back soon and the Eagles missing their QB. If they win out, that means they beat us in their house with Zeke back. Possible. They would then have a tie breaker over us as well.
- DET is lingering around only a game back of us. They could still make a little noise.
I firmly believe this game is playoffs or bust for the Hawks.
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Wagner's injury neither different nor new
Per coach’s interviews in Seattle on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Wagner is not dealing with a new hamstring injury but merely aggravation of the injury he has battled since game 5. He will be a game time decision but most expect him to start even if he cannot play the whole game.
Wilson will test Ram’s corners and Wilson is playing better now than he was early in the season. Richardson was able to pressure Goff early in the season. I expect his play will be even more important Sunday.
I expect a narrow Seahawks victory and a close, low-scoring game
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McDougald has been a great surprise for us
But I feel like this is a game where we will really miss Chancellor. I would feel a lot better about the Gurley screen pass threat if Bam Bam Kam were the one patrolling it.
Also, if we can’t get pressure against Goff early can we please, please try to generate some via a blitz from time to time? I know it runs anathema to our defensive philosophy but we can’t hope to win if we don’t get any pressure. Bortles had far too long to throw and it showed.
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Am I the only one who doesn’t have a great feeling about our coordinator? I credit coach Carrol for promoting from within… However, I see alot of frustration and big gaps in consistency with our defense. I understand the injury bug. But even with healthy starters it seems like too many communication breakdowns and costly big plays given up.