Game Day Open Thread -- Week 1: Tampa Bay at Seattle

LETS GO HAWKS!!!

We like cured meats a lot if you want to send us a thank-you gift, buddy! (wink emoticon)

-- The Hawks offense is stifled. Consistent pressure disrupts Beck's timing, the Bucs short zones limit the Hawks yards after catch and eventually thanks to a healthy dose of bad field position, bad down and distance and poor execution, Gaines Adams breaks through and forces a fumble. Alexander has lost all explosiveness and consistently gets chased down when attempting to cutback. The Hawks D fails to provide consistent pressure and the young secondary is slowly carved up by Jeff Garcia. The game becomes unbearable by the late third quarter as the Bucs feed Cadillac the ball and a demoralized Seahawks' defense whiffs on tackle after tackle. Telling Stat: Cadillac Williams 150 yards. Final Score: 23-10.

- The Hawks pass offense is inconsistent. They get yards but cough up some untimely turnovers. Beck gets pretty good time but has trouble connecting with any receiver other than Deion Branch. Alexander looks slower, but not completely stuck in the mud---league average. The Hawks D contains big gains but allows too many first down conversions, getting insufficient pass rush and watching Garcia find hole after hole in zone. Still, the Hawks stay in contention. Telling stat: Nate Burleson + DJ Hackett < 5 total receptions. Final Score: 23-17 Pick`em.

0 The Hawks are the clearly better team, but never put the game away. The offense is efficient in sputters, but fails to convert in the red zone. Alexander gets 20-25 carries, but barely sniffs 90 yards. Beck doesn't get hit, but doesn't have time either. The defense looks mediocre, occasionally exploding for a big play, but also missing tackles, failing to convert sacks, breaking coverage and generally making life uncomfortable for Seahawks fans. The Hawks stake a double digit lead in the third, but watch it get chipped away at before finally locking down the win in the fourth. Telling Stat: Jeff Garcia 300 yards passing. Final Score: 27-17 Seahawks

+ The Hawks return game makes noise. Seattle quickly establishes the run behind their dominant (in this game) left side. Seattle stakes an early double digit lead. Beck looks efficient, unrushed and poised. The defense gets consistent pressure thanks to a number of creative blitz packages. The early lead forces the Bucs to pass, Garcia nails some completions but eventually gets picked. The Seahawks become impenetrable in the red zone and have at least one really impressive goal line stand. The Hawks dominate an inferior opponent at home but don't look quite like a contender. Telling Stat: Alexander 120 yards, 2 TDs. Final Score: 28-10 Seahawks

++ The Hawks return game dominates. Alexander records a big rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Hasselbeck completes 75%+ of his passes before being pulled in the fourth. The story here, though, is the defense. Seattle gets consistent pressure from its front-four (and front-three); watch for one of the Hawks' linebackers to get a pick. Seattle dominates every phase of the game, recording 170+ total yards rushing, getting 3+ receptions from 4 different receivers, recording 3+ TOs, 4+ Sacks and keeping Williams under 15 carries. Telling stat: Seneca Wallace 5-7 65 yards. Final Score: 35-3.

Was that supposed to be a fake out?

Joey Galloway catches a 49 yard jump ball. Jennings was tied to the Bucs #1, just excellent coverage for a second year corner, but Galloway wins the hand fight and secures the ball. Replay that five more times and I doubt Galloway makes the reception more than 3 times. My point? This is not a predicative thing. Yes Galloway is good, but deep balls are one of the least stable things in the NFL. Don't read too much into the outcome of the play, look at Jennings skill--that's what matters.

Leroy Hill picks up a roughing the passer penalty on what otherwise would have been a third down stop courtesy of good, not great (which would have been a pick. He just watches the ball fall between his hands--AGAIN) coverage by Marcus Trufant. It was a flagrant penalty, but Hill earned it. What matters is the timing. It's never good to get a big personal foul penalty at any point, but it's bad luck that it happened on such a crucial down.

The Hawks front seven has looked ALIVE. Gang tackling, bodies flying and just great push by the front four. Don't underestimate this, the Bucs have a very young, very talented offensive line that is particularly skilled at pass protection. Further, Jeff Garcia has been excellent at avoiding the pass rush throughout his career. Babin and Wyms join the rotation next week.

Watch for Seattle to pull away in the second half.

Only game on at home is San Diego and Chicago.

Go Hawks.