I can't be the only one still trying to figure out how they feel about yesterday's game against the Bengals. We won, that is the ultimate takeaway, in a league where it is so hard to win on any given Sunday, and where teams go from worst to first in at least one division without fail. The first game of the year is always tough to sort out, because we don't know what to expect from ourselves or the opponents. You let last year tell it, and the Bengals have the worst defense in the league. You let the preseason tell it, and we have the best offensive line in the league. You really don't have a clue how teams are going to perform until about week 4. So let's look at week one from all sides of the ball, but let's look at it in a vacuum, because I don't think we can draw many conclusions about the Seahawks or this season based on our win yesterday.
OFFENSE: The Good
I always like to start with the positive. So, let's get it started with DK "Motherfucking" Metcalf. He shows up to the game in a Steve Largent throwback (so he already won our hearts) then he goes out and plays perhaps the biggest role in the offense on Sunday, without scoring a TD. He ended the game with 4 catches for 89 yards, most ever in a rookie WR debut for the Seahawks since, get this, Largent had 86 yards in the very first game of franchise existence in 1976. While the catches were great, in traffic, deep, quick slants, I was most impressed by the other ways he contributed. Drawing the pass interference in the end zone, let me know that teams are already afraid of his size and recognize his potential as a guy you can throw it up to in the back of the end zone. Even more note worthy, was when he caught the deep pass, during the 2 minute drill in the first half, he didn't celebrate, flex, or signal a first down. Instead, he had the situational awareness to quickly run the ball over to the ref and get back on the line. We still had over minute on the clock, and first and goal, but that maturity and mental focus is not often found in rookies, let alone a potential future star wide receiver. Before I get off the DK train, he did something after the game that I feel should be applauded. In a league and time where Antonio Brown can literally quit on 2 teams in 2 consecutive game weeks (Steelers, week 16 & Raiders, week 1) , make everything about himself, and somehow get rewarded by being signed to the Super Bowl favorite Patriots. DK Metcalf tweeted out a highlight from yesterdays game, in which he had many of himself to choose from, and the player he chose to draw attention to was Tyler Lockett. Captioning Tyler's only catch of the game, a beautifully thrown deep ball from Wilson for a Touchdown, with " Big Bro 💗". I loved everything from pregame to postgame from our standout rookie wide receiver yesterday.
OFFENSE: The Not So Good
I've thought long and hard about how much I should go in on the offense, and I decided to not burn the place down after one game. Still, I was most disappointed with the game plan, lack of offensive adjustments, and offensive line play yesterday. Let's start with the game plan. The plan was to run it, and run it, and run it. The usually works for us, and we won yesterday so in essence it worked again. We only had 3 active WRs on game day, a total of 5 catches between those 3 players, and our RB lead the team in receptions. When we continually are starting drives with negative plays, I feel we need to look at how better to set up the run. I am not saying we should abandon the run. I love Chris Carson, he runs harder than anybody in the league in my opinion and the fact he had the most broken tackles of any RB last season is a testament to that. However, if they know it's coming, we aren't utilizing our playbook or personnel properly. For example, we ran the ball on read-option several times yesterday, and Russell didn't keep the ball until the 4th quarter. The read option only works if the opposing defense respects the idea that the quarterback keeping the ball IS ACTUALLY AN OPTION. and with Russell IT IS! We have, again, in my opinion, the best QB in the league on read-option. I love to see Russ keep it on the first play of the game. Not only do we almost always get positive yards when Russ keeps it, but he knows how to protect himself, and it makes the guys setting the edge hesitate just a second longer on every run play. That can be the difference between 0 or negative yards and the 3-4 yards you hope to get on an average run play. The pressure on Russell was brutal. It seemed like we started each drive with a sack, 2nd & 16, then still ran the ball again for a loss, 3rd & 20. If we are going to be as dedicated to the run as we were yesterday then we have to set it up better. Play- action needs to get Russell outside the pocket on some roll outs to give receivers more time to get down field. If the O-line can't provide a pocket for Russell to throw from, then we need to be able to get Russ in space and allow him time to go deep. We did that on a couple of plays and had great success. That threat to throw deep, and the option of Russell's legs are what is going to help our run-first offense be successful.
DEFENSE: The Good
The defense won the game yesterday. We gave up a lot of plays we shouldn't have, but I'll get to that next, for now let's focus on what went right on defense for the Seahawks. Clowney had his Seahawks debut, and he was impactful on the plays that he was in on. QB pressures, caused sacks, knocked down a ball at the line of scrimmage, and was held on probably like 10 other plays. For only having a week to practice in an entirely new system, and not having really any preseason to get in game shape, I was pleased with how Clowney showed up against the Bengals. I won't go any further without acknowledging Bobby Wagner, the man doesn't miss a tackle. I saw players opt to go down when they saw that he was the one going to be tackling them. Receivers sliding down like quarterbacks, when he got close. Bobby is, and has been the best middle line backer in the game, and he was solid once again. Other stand outs were Quentin Jefferson with 2 sacks, 2 TFL, and 2 pass deflections at the line. He had his best game as a Seahawk, and it made me feel a little bit better about missing Ansah, Collier, and Reed on the D-line. Al Woods had my favorite defensive play of all time, which is a lineman interception. It's just the fat boy joy, the attempt at running it back, how happy the rest is the team is for him. It's better than a corner back pick-six as far as I am concerned. Woods had a few good plays, and he is a veteran who started 24 games the last 2 years with the Indianapolis Colts, and he is going to provide great depth on the defensive line once we get those 3 starters back.
DEFENSE: The Straight Up Bad
There is no way to shake it, no matter what way I turn my heard to look at the play of our secondary yesterday, I can't get past the way Tedric Thompson played the deep ball on that pass to Ross II for the touch down. Like everyone else, all I could think was how different that play would have gone is Earl Thomas was at Safety. On respect alone, that ball doesn't get thrown. Still it's not fair to compare Thompson to Thomas. Earl was the best FS in the league, and Tedric is only 24 years old. At the very least, he has room for growth, and he is in the right system with the right coaching to become the player we need him to be. With that being said, I wouldn't be mad if news comes out that we resigned Deshawn Shead. I am uncomfortable with our secondary play, to say the least. Pete Carroll said they had to give up some yards, and do a little " rope-a-dope" in order to tighten up in the redzone, which did show up in the Bengals going 0 for 3 within 20 yards. Over 400 yards passing for Andy Dalton, and them scoring on a GOD DAMN FLEA FLICKER, is just stuck in my craw this morning. Still, it's only week 1, and with all the room we have for improvement, we still walked away with the W and a lot to be encouraged about. Tre Flowers can play corner, but he has to earn the right to use that outside arm when deflecting a pass, the way Sherman can and get away with it. He isn't proven and he has to clean that up until he makes a name for himself as someone who knows how to defend the pass. The refs will continue to call that pass interference, every damn time, so adjustments in technique need to be made, because he is in position to make plays, and we are going to need him to.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I love the heart and hustle by Cody Barton, but I was as mad as Pete on that roughing the kicker penalty that extended Cincinnati's drive. We had a take away on special teams that made up for it later. The turn over on the first play of the second half could have really been a game changer, and taken all of the momentum if the defense didn't step up and get the ball right back with a takeaway of our own. We don't know what kind of team the Bengals are going to be this year, but they stood toe to toe with us at Century Link, and we are going to have to do the same next week when we go to Hines Field to take on the Steelers who were embarrassed by the Patriots in prime time. As always, GO 'HAWKS!!
