The Tape: Sunday's Story-Truth

by John Morgan on Oct 8, 2008 2:26 PM PDT in Game Recap Comment 7 comments

I watched the first drive of the first quarter, saw defeat in the eyes of Seattle, victory in the eyes of New York, and figured this is as close to a mercy rule the NFL will ever have. Reflecting on this loss, the words of Tim O'Brien sprung to mind, about happening-truth and story-truth. The happening-truth is Seattle entered Sunday's contest a mediocre team with a hard loss and a bad loss and a lot left to be decided about how good or bad they are. That team left Sunday's contest in the bottom tier of the NFL, suffering a secondary collapse few anticipated, and staring down the hardest part of their schedule. The story-truth is that Seattle was embarrassed, battered and tossed around by a clearly better opponent. That good teams don't lose like that. That I felt embarrassed rooting for Josh Wilson. Embarrassed I've championed Lofa Tatupu as a future Hall of Fame inductee. Embarrassed thinking this team could compete. And that I'm scared to make the same mistake.

I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth. -Tim O'Brien

Fans gravitate towards story-truth, because it better explains how it felt to lose. As an analyst, I understand both, but must attempt to stay grounded in happening-truth. Right now, this team is very bad, but its talent is not. Until that changes, I'm not abandoning hope for this season.

Why Brandon Jacobs was the least important part of 41 yards per carry: The rushing totals stick with Jacobs, but few backs in the NFL squander clear shots into the third level. Jacobs bruised for some good gains and first downs and certainly had something to do with his 44 and 38 yard rushes, but I would argue he was one of the lesser components.

Fourth play of New York's first drive of the quarter, 2^nd and 10 from the Giants 32. Giants break 3WR, TE, Rb. Seattle in a base 4-3 with its rotation tackles in. At the snap, Shaun O'Hare easily single blocks Howard Green, Chris Snee pulls clean and engages Tatupu, Leroy Hill runs into the pile, and Jacobs breaks free into the third level. Brian Russell squares, circles around and then tackles Jacobs from behind. It's been true since 2005, Seattle needs a right defensive tackle that can occupy two blockers. Green is a one gap tackle. However raw, Red Bryant has proven he demands blockers. It's time, free Red Bryant.

A play later New York scored and the game was effectively over. The blown coverage, a little Russell and a little Deon Grant, was ugly and inexplicable and perfectly in accordance with Sunday's story.

Tomorrow we'll begin previewing Green Bay.

0 recs | Comment 7 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Happening-truth

and story-truth. That cuts right to the heart of it. Our linebackers got bunched up like Jr. high kids in a stairwell during a fire drill.

by Bodach on Oct 8, 2008 3:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Deon Grant should not have tried making a play on Jacobs

He should have engaged Snee and tried to force Jacobs inside. By trying to ‘swim’ around Snee, he let Snee stumble into Tatupu and Peterson, who were both right behind Grant ready to make a play. By the time Grant was completely free of Snee, Jacobs was long gone.

IMO, Grant made the major mistake on that play. Yeah, if we had gotten more push from our right DT, maybe Jacobs can’t cut back as easily and get a good angle to the outside, but there’s not that many DT’s that can push a guard 5 yards back off the line of scrimmage on a running play. If Grant does what he’s supposed to do, that play only goes for 10, max.

by kmedic on Oct 8, 2008 8:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

John's talking about the first drive of the second half...

You’re talking about the first drive of the first half; and I agree with you both. Grant’s move also shielded Hill, effectively blocking Hill out of the play. Grant essentially took out four defenders in his attempt to make the play.

by Azimeir on Oct 9, 2008 12:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Tomorrow we'll begin previewing Green Bay"

Thank God! Can’t wait to put this week behind us!

Yeah we played bad, but repeating what everyone else has said, we do have good players on our team….and last time we started 1-3 we made playoffs, and actually we started 0-3. So hope is not all lost. Lets take it back to Qwest and let Aaron Rogers feel the 12th man, let our Hawks know we still support them and let there confidence rebuild. Destroy and rebuild it, get the weak out (Jennings, Wison, and Russle)and let the strong prevail

by collyb on Oct 8, 2008 9:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"Lets take it back to Qwest and let Aaron Rogers feel the 12th man"

I don’t like that we have to depend so much on home-field advantage to get some wins. It’s rare that we see a road win, just gives me a bad feeling when we play road games. The feeling of “oh man, not a home game, we’re in trouble.”

by Ovreel on Oct 9, 2008 2:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can we effectively say the season depends on this week?

It seems climbing out of a 1 and 4 record with our schedule is nearly impossible.

by Sir_Fiendish on Oct 9, 2008 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like it either

But it is what it is, eventually our guys will learn to play on the road and at 10am, I hope. But for now, Qwest field is a fun place to watch a game. And our Hawks need some confidence and motivation after last weeks ass kicking! And with Frye starting, I hope it is silent on the O and he has been working really hard on his hard counts

by collyb on Oct 10, 2008 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs