Missed Opportunities Two and Three

by John Morgan on Nov 2, 2009 1:32 PM PST

The drive never recovered from its first big attempt. Matt Hasselbeck targeted John Carlson and nearly threw an interception to Gerald Sensabaugh. Justin Griffith motioned out of right trips to fullback and Julius Jones picked his way up the middle for ten. Part of Griffith's value is that he guides Jones where to rush. On a previous run I didn't detail, Griffith and Jones started slight-right, but Griffith circled wide left and Jones followed. It was the right read and Jones ran for six.

Griffith was out for Jones next rush, and Jones misread his blockers and effectively tackled himself. The play was a pitch right. Seattle's blockers swooped to the right and attempted to create a long lane to the right flat. Spencer was beat back at the snap. John Owens blocked in and did his best against left defensive end Marcus Spears, but was blown back by play's end. Right tackle Ray Willis released into the right flat.

Jones picked his way towards right end, but cut in and into the teeth of Dallas' defense. He ran into Spears and struggled to get back to the line. The best explanation I can offer for Jones cutting in when the play was designed to be run right, is Jones was minimizing damage. He saw the beaten blockers and decided to avoid a costly tackle for a loss. He had space in the right flat, but didn't take it.

Then Hasselbeck threw the sure to be infamous strike that should have been a lob. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, mouthy as he is, was right. Terence Newman swatted it, Housh couldn't track the deflection and the ball fell incomplete. He was single covered and had timed his burst just enough to separate from Newman. Newman was turned and a slight step behind, but Hasselbeck threw it flat, as if Houshmandzadeh were breaking in, and Newman jumped and deflected it.

It was another opportunity lost and led to yet another lost opportunity. Strike three stopped the drive. Dallas blitzed six out of a 3-3 nickel formation. Hasselbeck sagged and sagged, drawing the defenders in. At the last moment he jumped and threw across his body. The pass was flat and slapped away by Stephen Bowen. Justin Forsett dropped his shoulders, Chris Spencer to his front, Max Unger and Rob Sims at either side; not a defender between him and the first.

Olindo Mare converted from 43 to put Seattle ahead.

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Anyone who can help

Where is the best place to go to get data regarding teams yards gained by quarter. I’m looking to matrix our offensive production by quarter to see if my impression that we do not adjust well at halftime is pure hyperbole or truth.

Thanks in advance.

It is what it is...

by kidder95 on Nov 2, 2009 1:50 PM PST reply actions

My bad, wrong thread

It is what it is...

by kidder95 on Nov 2, 2009 1:52 PM PST up reply actions

Housh was right

I don’t think the mouthing off of that play is what bothered Mora, I think it’s the shouting later.

by GarethLewin on Nov 2, 2009 2:48 PM PST reply actions

Once again, I have to ask

Where is your evidence that Mora was “bothered” by anything Housh said or shouted?

I haven’t seen anything that backs it up, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s just something that some fans are trying to read into the situation. Why they insist on that interpretation, I don’t care to speculate.

by Mr Fish on Nov 2, 2009 6:47 PM PST up reply actions

if I was Housh I'd be pissed too.

Matt has looked terrible when throwing to Housh. He leads him low, instead of high and he has not been on the same page as Housh. There is a reason these two don’t hook up more often.

Matt has this thing where he goes through his progressions and doesn’t trust his receivers to be where there supposed to be. That is why Matt and Engram were so good. They were automatic as Hass put it.

I ROCK out with my HAWK out, therefore I am....

by durteehawk on Nov 2, 2009 3:12 PM PST reply actions

I think you've got a good point here.

by jacobstevens on Nov 2, 2009 3:15 PM PST up reply actions

I watched the game

on DVR until the Seahawks started being…well, the Seahawks. I won’t watch bad football no matter who is playing, but when it is “my team” there is an element of psychological pain involved. I can’t sit and watch that dreck. I have scanned the remaining schedule and have settled on what I believe will be the likely record this year.

7 – 9

Seahawks will be swept by the Niners and Cards and will sweep the Rams, beat the Lions, the Bucs, the Texans and the Titans. I did not used to be a bandwagon fan but of the remaining games, I only plan on watching those that I think the Hawks will win. Seattle will have a mid 1st round pick and a late first round pick. One should be a gamebreaking RB the other better be a solid LT. QB can wait and I personally believe that Seneca should be traded or cut, bring in a FA to back up Matt, help groom Teel for the job starting in 2011.

This is all personal opinion and I hope they wind up winning more than I have listed, but there is no logical reason to believe they can or will.

by mrcoffee1969 on Nov 3, 2009 8:43 AM PST reply actions

Houston and the Titans will both be hard to win.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer, Sam Bradford*.

by Misfit74 on Nov 3, 2009 2:42 PM PST up reply actions