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blstoker
Bill Bergen for HoF!
Positives:
Century Link - Despite the loss last week, the Seahawks still enjoy the best home field advantage in the league. The Rams know this more than anyone, as they haven't won in Seattle since 2005 (technically wild card round of 2004).
Golden Tate - The Seahawks offense has struggled against good defenses and so players like Tate need to step up and make big plays (especially getting the team good field position on punt returns). Hopefully Tate has another big game like he did last time, while not doing something that allows other to talk about anything but his great game.
Russell Wilson - Smooth and calm as he can be, the Rams have pressured him more than any other team. People have talked about how the Rams should copy what the 9ers and Cardinals have done the last few weeks, but really, those teams just copied what St. Louis has been doing against Seattle. Wilson has been sacked 15 times in 3 games against the Rams, and he'll need better protection this game, but he'll also need to make better decisions.
Negatives:
Rams Run - Despite the Rams being ranked 16th running the ball, their running game is very dangerous, and Seattle remembers the 200 yards they put up last time. Including that game, the Rams are averaging 155.6 yards rushing per game the last 8 games. Seattle hasn't been lights out against the run this year, and have allowed 121.5 yards over the same time period. They will have to stop the run if they want to win.
Rams D - People can discount the Rams D because they're ranked 17 in the league, but the worst game the Seahawks have had all season on offense was against these Rams (135 yards). The offense in Seattle has been struggling against good defenses, and the Rams do have a very good defense.
Seahawks Special Teams - Odd to add this when thinking about a unit that has allowed 21 or so yards punt returning all season, but this unit has been extremely inconsistent all season. They've allowed 2 blocked punts and a blocked field goal (not to mention the botched field goal in Indy). In Seattle's 3 losses, special teams have been atrocious. Jon Ryan is averaging 38.5 yards per punt the last 4 games, punts that have been kicked from an average location of the Seahawks own 33 yard line. Expected points for the unit have been atroucious the last 4 games as well with -6.31 against the Saints, -6.78 vs the 4ers and -5.44 against the Cardinals. The Giants game was the only one with positive points and it was 0.46.
Matchups:
Robert Quinn vs. Russell Okung - Quinn leads the NFL with 18 sacks, including 3 against the Okungless offensive line last time the teams met. Seattle will have to protect Wilson, and the Rams will be coming after him.
Zac Stacy vs. Front 7 - Stacy had his breakout game against the Seahawks last time, a game where he was one of my keys of the game. Seattle needs to make the Rams throw the ball, because the Seahawks have only allowed 200 yards passing in 4 games, and only 1 more than 215. Not to mention that they're 3rd in the league with 26 picks.
Tavon Austin vs. Walter Thurmond - Austin has shown at times the big play ability that made him a top 10 pick, and Thurmond will be coming back from a suspension and could be a little rusty. Seattle will have to keep him from having a big play, cause once he's in the open field, he's very hard to catch.
Overview:
This game is important, no matter what happens in the 9er game. Seattle needs to start turning around the issues that have creeped into the teams play. This is the time for the team to put together a complete game and to show those in the playoffs what to expect when they come to Seattle. The coaches need to be better prepared, and the players need to execute better. This game needs to be put out of reach early, force the Rams to throw, something they haven't been very good at since Bradshaw went down.
Century Link - Despite the loss last week, the Seahawks still enjoy the best home field advantage in the league. The Rams know this more than anyone, as they haven't won in Seattle since 2005 (technically wild card round of 2004).
Golden Tate - The Seahawks offense has struggled against good defenses and so players like Tate need to step up and make big plays (especially getting the team good field position on punt returns). Hopefully Tate has another big game like he did last time, while not doing something that allows other to talk about anything but his great game.
Russell Wilson - Smooth and calm as he can be, the Rams have pressured him more than any other team. People have talked about how the Rams should copy what the 9ers and Cardinals have done the last few weeks, but really, those teams just copied what St. Louis has been doing against Seattle. Wilson has been sacked 15 times in 3 games against the Rams, and he'll need better protection this game, but he'll also need to make better decisions.
Negatives:
Rams Run - Despite the Rams being ranked 16th running the ball, their running game is very dangerous, and Seattle remembers the 200 yards they put up last time. Including that game, the Rams are averaging 155.6 yards rushing per game the last 8 games. Seattle hasn't been lights out against the run this year, and have allowed 121.5 yards over the same time period. They will have to stop the run if they want to win.
Rams D - People can discount the Rams D because they're ranked 17 in the league, but the worst game the Seahawks have had all season on offense was against these Rams (135 yards). The offense in Seattle has been struggling against good defenses, and the Rams do have a very good defense.
Seahawks Special Teams - Odd to add this when thinking about a unit that has allowed 21 or so yards punt returning all season, but this unit has been extremely inconsistent all season. They've allowed 2 blocked punts and a blocked field goal (not to mention the botched field goal in Indy). In Seattle's 3 losses, special teams have been atrocious. Jon Ryan is averaging 38.5 yards per punt the last 4 games, punts that have been kicked from an average location of the Seahawks own 33 yard line. Expected points for the unit have been atroucious the last 4 games as well with -6.31 against the Saints, -6.78 vs the 4ers and -5.44 against the Cardinals. The Giants game was the only one with positive points and it was 0.46.
Matchups:
Robert Quinn vs. Russell Okung - Quinn leads the NFL with 18 sacks, including 3 against the Okungless offensive line last time the teams met. Seattle will have to protect Wilson, and the Rams will be coming after him.
Zac Stacy vs. Front 7 - Stacy had his breakout game against the Seahawks last time, a game where he was one of my keys of the game. Seattle needs to make the Rams throw the ball, because the Seahawks have only allowed 200 yards passing in 4 games, and only 1 more than 215. Not to mention that they're 3rd in the league with 26 picks.
Tavon Austin vs. Walter Thurmond - Austin has shown at times the big play ability that made him a top 10 pick, and Thurmond will be coming back from a suspension and could be a little rusty. Seattle will have to keep him from having a big play, cause once he's in the open field, he's very hard to catch.
Overview:
This game is important, no matter what happens in the 9er game. Seattle needs to start turning around the issues that have creeped into the teams play. This is the time for the team to put together a complete game and to show those in the playoffs what to expect when they come to Seattle. The coaches need to be better prepared, and the players need to execute better. This game needs to be put out of reach early, force the Rams to throw, something they haven't been very good at since Bradshaw went down.