Field Gulls: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Race to the BCS: rankings, in-game scores & blogs Bar-right-arrows



Everything Else

This is a running thread of anything else that I think is worth mentioning in the next 23 hours. Feel free to post questions if you want, I'll try and answer all of them. Just not between 3 and 6, that's Morgan time!

Star-divide

Mr. Popularity

Shaun Alexander is a huge wildcard heading into this weekend. He only had 8 rushes in week 17, so could be fresh, but only had 8 rushes after taking a hard hit that clearly fazed him. The Hawks are more dependent on him than maybe any other time of his career, because in the past Shaun was always either good or great, Shaun V. 2007 is sometimes good, and often deadly bad. Third and longs are only going to embolden Gregg Williams. I do not fear blitzes, but I do fear our blitz pickup. If Seattle can play like the efficient, Walsh style offense they were designed to be, they'll have plenty of exploitable weaknesses, but if Alexander's rushing makes the Skins' run D transform into the Hawks run D, Seattle's offense will sputter. It's not that I don't respect the Skins' rush D, it's just that I don't think how they play will mean half as much as which Shaun Alexander shows up on Sunday.

The Weather

The weather shouldn't be a relevant. Don't worry about the weather.

Special Teams

It's very hard to get a grasp on the Hawks special teams. My head and my gut say that, yes, Boone Klutz was that bad. Brown, Plack and the whole gang have looked again like that dominant unit that soared to first place mid-season. Plack better be back, because Randle El shall give no quarter.

The Media

The Skins had one of their very best players die suddenly, and without reason. The Hawks are a perennial contender with little flash and a buncha smack shootin' lumberjacks for fans. The Hawks are going to get picked against, picked on and generally reviled, win, lose or draw. Hopefully, should Seattle make it into the next round, the Hawks can be put down for their football merits, rather than for just being unpopular.

An Off Week for Old Men

Chris Gray, who has been 7 layers of suck, may, may, like Alexander, benefit quite a bit from the week off. Gray was a substantially better player at the beginning of the season, and has clearly worn down as the season has progressed. I don't think that particular batch of Geritol is likely to last more than one week, but for one week, Seattle might have a league average right guard again. Jones has been playing well, I don't think he will be too positively, or too negatively affected by a week off.

From the Wayback Machine: A Complete Offense

The Hawks may finally show off that vaunted four deep, stupendously terrific wide receiver corps they've teased us with all season. As I wrote, what?, 3 infinity times:

The 2007 Hawks don't need Hackett to be a true #2 for him to be immensely valuable, though. Ever since Mike Holmgren drafted Jerramy Stevens in 2002, Holmgren has looked desperately for a seam stretcher to allow his modified Walsh offense to work. The key isn't consistent production deep, but only a consistent deep threat. When the Hawks can align an explosive player at tight end or in the slot to force the safety or safeties deep, Holmgren's preferred real estate opens underneath. In a Walsh offense, a deep skinny post is a stock play, while a wide receiver drag is a potential homerun. The true failure of Ben Obomanu is not simply that he's been awful at receiving the football, it's that his struggles have allowed teams to essentially ignore him. Hackett, already an elite slot receiver, will make everyone else around him better. Branch can become the deadly possession and run after catch threat he was brought in to be. Burleson can work underneath against zones and in slants and wide receiver screen patterns, plays that minimize his hands and maximize his open field prowess. Engram can once again become the first down machine that shreds linebackers and picks apart short zones. So Hackett doesn't need to be as good as we think he can be, with Hackett being only as good as he already is, the 2007 Seattle Seahawks should have one of the five best passing attacks in the NFL. If he arrives, becomes a force at split end, the Hawks will have the deadliest four receiver set in football.

A healthy Hackett, could be enough to take Seattle to the Super Bowl.

Hasselbeck's Wrist

Better be okay.

One Last Needle for an Outgoing Legend

If I were Gregg Williams, and I saw Shaun Alexander in the backfield, I'd blitz like crazy, knowing he's neither suited for draw plays, nor anything as a receiver. Even if Shaun has an excellent rushing performance, his deficit as a receiver is so great that it's almost impossible for him to match Morris' contributions.

0 recs | Comment 18 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

n/s
can't really think of any questions that you haven't already answered, So I guess I'll ask this:

John, you actually sound kinda optimistic about Alexander for tomorrow.  If you were coaching the team tomorrow how would you divided the carries between Mo/Shaun/Weaver?

Oh and is there a team the Hawks have played this season that compares to the Redskins? Like a team that blitzes a lot and what not?

Josh Brown is better than you. The Rest of the team is worse.

by MFAN on Jan 4, 2008 2:14 PM PST   0 recs

oh and just too add
Great job this week John, the work you did was fantastic!
Josh Brown is better than you. The Rest of the team is worse.

by MFAN on Jan 4, 2008 2:15 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Mo, Weaver, no Alexander...
I just don't think a back who can't catch is viable in the modern NFL. But I don't coach the team, so...

I'm guardedly optimistic about Alexander. The way he runs after rest, compared to the way he runs after a heavy workload makes all the difference. He's a semi-decent rusher when he's rested, but after a little wear and tear you get the guy who tackles himself that surfaced mid-season.

The Skins blitz a lot, and it's from very traditional blitz packages. Really, not unlike a lot of what the Hawks run. The Saints did sort of the same thing, sit on the pass, blitz a lot, largely traditional blitzes, but the Saints were an inferior defense. That's not very encouraging, I know, but, hopefully, the Hawks O doesn't look anything like the one that took the field against the Saints. Plus, I don't foresee Seattle giving the Skins a touchdown to start the game.

by John Morgan on Jan 4, 2008 6:25 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

If its rainy and windy like it says it going to be
That will only work in our favor
V. 1.0, mutherf***er, know what I'm sayin'?

by Scruffy Lefty on Jan 4, 2008 2:20 PM PST   0 recs

Just a quick scenario
A Seattle win means an automatic trip to Green Bay next Saturday afternoon on FOX.
Bring on the Redskins!

by SSreporters on Jan 4, 2008 2:56 PM PST   0 recs

GB
How many times have we played them since Holmy got to Seattle?  Seems like every freaking year we play them.  I don't remember the Hawks playing them much at all before that.

If we make it that far, I like Beck for a little "we want the ball and we're going to score" revenge.

by jeager on Jan 4, 2008 3:26 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I'd expect Mo Mo to see lots of snaps
We're probably going to throw the ball 50 times and Alexander likely has some sore ribs.

My big concern in the running game is what we do in short yardage. I want to see more Weaver and less Alexander or Morris in those situations.

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Jan 4, 2008 3:17 PM PST   0 recs

Weaver did well against Atlanta
Hopefully thats enough for the coaches to use him more in those situations.
V. 1.0, mutherf***er, know what I'm sayin'?

by Scruffy Lefty on Jan 4, 2008 3:25 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Media un-darlings
Happens every year in the playoffs.  For whatever reason, the media always have more to say about the other team.  This year, the Skins have their stuff going on.  Then, if we win, it's the Brett Favre-a-thon.  Then if we win that it'll be TO/Romo/Jessica Simpson.

If it's Hawks-Tampa in the NFC Championship, the media might have to resort to their silly "isn't it interesting how Gruden and Holmgren used to coach together" line.  The media would hate that matchup.  Too boring.

Finally, if we make it to the Super Bowl, we'll be viewed (probably accurately so) as a speedbump on the Patsies juggernaut (bitch).  

Oh well, at least we have good coffee and no humidity in the summer.

by jeager on Jan 4, 2008 3:31 PM PST   0 recs

I have that NFC champ matchup in my office pool
V. 1.0, mutherf***er, know what I'm sayin'?

by Scruffy Lefty on Jan 4, 2008 3:53 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

heh, same here. Bucs at Seahawks
my AFC championship is more boring: Colts at Patriots.
Josh Brown is better than you. The Rest of the team is worse.

by MFAN on Jan 4, 2008 3:56 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

SB
Call me crazy but I see a 'Hawks/Steelers rematch coming up.....with a different outcome.

by FarNorth on Jan 4, 2008 3:39 PM PST   0 recs

Okay.
Crazy.
Bring on the Redskins!

by SSreporters on Jan 4, 2008 4:54 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Thanks!
Just wanted to say thank you for all of this great Hawks coverage! It is very interesting and informative.

by UW Alex on Jan 4, 2008 4:02 PM PST   0 recs

Chris Berman was all like
I think the Patriots and the Seahawks will play in the Super Bowl.
omg wtf

by John Spartan on Jan 4, 2008 4:04 PM PST   0 recs

Ah Ha!
One thing I wanted to write about but forgot:

In the 4 games Collins has played in, 22 of the Skins 77 receptions have gone to backs. Collins has a very suspect arm, and don't think the Skins coaching staff doesn't know that. As we all know by now, the Hawks are very good at defending receiving running backs (23.1% DVOA, 5th in the NFL). If they can shut down the Skins underneath game, it will put a ton of pressure on Collins to make throws he's just not a skilled at making.

by John Morgan on Jan 4, 2008 6:34 PM PST   0 recs

jags will beat steelers
why will they beat? [citation needed]

by paul2 on Jan 5, 2008 9:39 AM PST   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Damn, Double Bastard is tasty.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Patspulpit_small
Q&A with Pats Pulpit
621hawks_calendar_37632_duckett_small
Spencer, Wahle likely headed to IR
Small
The recipe: how should the Hawks draft?
Picture_1_small
Scruffy's Video now live - Need feedback
Small
NFL Rules
Picture_1_small
Field Gulls Lounge: Eat, Drink, Socialize
Picture_1_small
Video Preview: Scruffy is out of steam
Small
Offseason Satefy Shakeup
Vp081-c_small
Post Your Hawk the Redskins
Small
Putzier Re-signed, Adams Back to Practice Squad

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini


Managers

Image_114_small Shrug

Jj_flag_detail1_small John Morgan

Graphics Editor

Picture_1_small Scruffy Lefty

ad

Site Meter