Seattle's Run Game--Not Broken at All?

by John Morgan on Nov 24, 2009 2:38 PM PST

A bit of perspective is in order. A lot of hand wringing, finger pointing and alarm sounding is being done by coaches and fans about the Seahawks running game. Seattle has faced ten opponents and those ten opponents rank 1, 3, 5, 9, 9, 11, 12, 17, 20 and 31 against the run. Seattle does not have a good rushing attack, it ranks 27th by the same metric, but it is attempting to learn a new system against a stacked schedule of elite and good run defenses.

Julius Jones is expected back this Sunday. If he stays healthy and finishes the season, hopefully sharing carries with Justin Forsett, he will reestablish himself against the 29, 5, 23, 32, 4 and 22 ranked rush defenses. The fifth ranked team is the top ten ranked 49ers defense. The fourth ranked team is the first ranked Packers defense. Green Bay is facing a wave of late season injuries and could decline before week 16.

Seattle is likely to look a lot better rushing the ball over the next six weeks than it did in the previous ten. The starting line is starting and the offense is executing the zone blocking scheme better and better, but the biggest difference is likely to be the strength of opponent. Over the coming months, the former and lesser will be spotlighted by commentators and coaches. The truth is: Seattle's running game is neither broken nor two months from now will it be fixed. It's not very talented. It has a couple pieces in place to build from, and assuming a healthier Matt Hasselbeck, those pieces could burst out against lesser opponents and push the running game towards average. And average is as much as I ever hoped from Jones, Forsett and the motley crew that blasts holes for them.

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I believe the bboy move Jones is busting is an airflare.

by DetectiveM on Nov 24, 2009 3:20 PM PST reply actions

You are correct

that’s a transferred typo.

by John Morgan on Nov 24, 2009 3:35 PM PST up reply actions

I'd love a break down on how assignment correct

the offensive line has been on run and pass plays. It seems like our line has been getting better by the week as they get back from injuries and get used to playing with each other. Going up against some bad run defenses might be just the pick me up they need to establish themselves as solidly average.

by Fear on Nov 24, 2009 3:21 PM PST reply actions

You comment on talent is apt.

I don’t exactly know how one would define a phase as broken and not just lack of talent. Our O-Line has been struggling w/ ZBS, and our RBs are fairly average.

by DJ C-Raig on Nov 24, 2009 3:46 PM PST via mobile reply actions

So what's the schedule look like next year?

AFC North (where up to three teams could be formidable) and the NFC South (where maybe two teams could be formidable, but all four could end up being better in run defense, particularly compared to Detroit). And then we’ll probably get Chicago and the Giants.

might be a slightly stiffer schedule, might be about the same. And of course anything can happen. But there’s not great likelihood of the opponent strength against the run significantly changing soon.

So I think the assessment is spot on. I would then go on to suggest that maybe average isn’t remotely enough.

by jacobstevens on Nov 24, 2009 4:11 PM PST reply actions

The problem is the O-line.

No blocky, no runny.

by mrcoffee1969 on Nov 24, 2009 5:30 PM PST reply actions

O-line do good job of blocky against goody Arizona runny D

O-line no blocky for pass pro.

Seattle Seahawks: The only team in the NFL to trail 17-17 according to Dick Stockton.

by SSreporters on Nov 24, 2009 5:39 PM PST up reply actions

This is funny.

by djafrot on Nov 25, 2009 5:04 PM PST up reply actions

To be honest

I had a feeling Forsett would do notably better than J.Jones in Arizona. Neither of them could have hoped to do much against the Vikes but, though. The evidence is showing that Forsett is becoming a solid starting RB. His size and receiving seem to be the biggest limiting factors but I wonder if he’s becoming very good other than that? Man it’s fun watching him slip through holes and disappear before re-emerging in the second level.

And all the land was in ruin, and burnination had forsaken the countryside.

by Cheddar28 on Nov 26, 2009 2:36 AM PST reply actions