The Tape: John Carlson's First Touchdown

by John Morgan on Oct 14, 2008 12:21 PM PDT in Game Recap Comment 7 comments

One of the cool things about being as fan is that there's more to root for than just victory. There's firsts. There's great play. There's great Seahawks just starting their careers. And that's why I want to memorialize John Carlson's first touchdown reception. Here's to many more big guy.

Packers 3 - Seahawks 3

3-2-GB 6 (Q2: 8:22)

One thing about Mike Holmgren I'll miss are his elegant red zone plays. This one qualifies. It's a slick bit of strategy that makes it easy for Frye and Carlson, bang-bang, though Carlson adds a little flourish at the end.

Seattle breaks 2 tight ends right, 2 wide receivers left, single back deep, off center left. The Packers in an aggressive 4-3, outside linebackers threatening blitz along the outside, Dbs and middle linebacker just out, just in or straddling the goal line. Before the snap, Bobby Engram motions into the slot, just inside slot receiver Koren Robinson. At the snap, Frye fakes a pitch left to Leonard Weaver. Walter Jones pulls outside to sell the play fake. No one bites. Outside tight end Will Heller slants in, out and into the end zone. Carlson blocks left, Frye rolls right, Carlson spins right, Brady Poppinga wiggles, tries to stay square with Frye, blitzes; Frye lobs it to Carlson, Carlson turns up field, nears the goal line, is pinched by Aaron Rouse and a charging Charles Woodson, takes flight, outstretches and somersaults nearly untouched for the touchdown.

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Elegant is a nice way to put it...

I always loved our offense in the red zone, going back to the days of Ricky Watters, Derrick Mayes, and Sean Dawkins. Even with mediocre offensive lines we managed to six from our red zone trips at a pretty high rate during the Holmgren era. That’s a skill that not every would-be offensive guru has. I will miss that from Holmgren.

It’s too bad this thing has just crumbled around him. It’s too bad in the sense that no one was really expecting it to be this bad. It’s one thing to come into a season knowing that you’re playing for next year. At least a kind of poetry is possible then. You can value developing other aspects of the game necessary to eventually win. It’s another thing to have the rug pulled out by injuries and poor performance. You gotta think that Holmgren looks at his offensive out on the practice field and thinks, “We’re not winning with this.” (It’s increasingly obvious that the defense has made the same assessment and is just going through the motions.)

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

by dcrockett17 on Oct 14, 2008 1:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs