I Was Mad at Matt for Checking Down So Much.

by DJ C-Raig on Nov 9, 2009 10:06 PM PST

But, as is the story of my life, I learned the facts after I reacted. I don't know if anybody else read this article on the Lions game, but in it Matt says that when he tackled Delmas (Seriously Matt? Jesus Christ) after the first Offensive play of the game, he tweaked his right shoulder.

After that he said he had to play it safe and hit alot of low risk throws, and since that was working for him he kept doing it after the pain subsided. One could of course argue that it was not really working for him since they had to kick so many FGs and nearly let Lions back into the game, even giving them a chance for victory.

I'm glad when I have a reason to excuse Matt for poor play. Whether it is justifiable or not, I'm not above sticking my head in the sand for a week or 17.

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Comments

Hopefully Matthew has learned his lesson...

Don’t throw interceptions!!!!

If life gives you lemons, keep the receipt

by Bramlet A. on Nov 9, 2009 11:17 PM PST reply actions

Didn't he go 12 for 12 after the pick?

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Nov 10, 2009 8:56 AM PST up reply actions

I thought it was 17 straight completions.

Stafford had a QB rating of 130 ish in the first quater, and something like. 8.4 in the 4th quarter

*stats are an estimation

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

by durteehawk on Nov 10, 2009 10:00 AM PST up reply actions

Probably

I just remember seeing a 12 for 13 stat sometime early in the game.

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Nov 10, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

Obligatory and asinine 'QB Rating is not a reliable stat' comment.

by LantermanC on Nov 10, 2009 9:43 PM PST up reply actions

I know

it’s the ERA of the NFL

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

by durteehawk on Nov 11, 2009 7:26 AM PST up reply actions

Poor play?

I wouldn’t say that. He was productive, made few mistakes, had very few sacks, and was accurate. He just made few ambitious throws. I understand what you’re saying though.

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

by Cheddar28 on Nov 9, 2009 11:18 PM PST reply actions

Well, you got the essence of my comment.

I suppose you’re right, his overall level of play was not precisely poor for that game. I meant my comment to be umbrella-esque in scope though. In any game EVER, if Matt makes mistakes I like to be able to somehow twist truth into an excuse, or maybe even (gasp) a reason!

by DJ C-Raig on Nov 10, 2009 12:48 AM PST up reply actions

he did look very tentative to throw downfield or into coverage.

no confidence in your zip will do that I guess. Another turnover when we were already down 17-0 at home against Detroit probably would have made me chuck a beer at my TV, so I guess I can thank Matt for that.

by zscratch on Nov 10, 2009 2:11 AM PST reply actions

I think the gameplan worked.

That is the beauty of the West Coast offense. Short throws for modest yardage – convert on 3rd down.

by fender on Nov 10, 2009 7:27 AM PST reply actions

I agree,

I think that the Hawks knew the Lions would try to bring pressure and cover deep. WCO works that way. Takes time off the clock and pushes forward using 3 downs sometimes all 4.

Zscratch, I don’t think it had to do with confidence. Remember, Matt still has two broken ribs. Throwing at all hurts still, let alone throwing deep.

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

by durteehawk on Nov 10, 2009 7:40 AM PST up reply actions

I believe he meant

confidence in his arm. What with the shoulder injury, it was definitely smart to not take the risk by testing his injured (however slightly) arm. I’m really happy with what Matt did in the circumstances.

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

by Cheddar28 on Nov 10, 2009 11:55 AM PST up reply actions

I not just saying deep passes

he was passing up on intermediate throws as well. He was checking down to his outlet almost every time. Very small chance that was the entire game plan going into the game, and if it was, I’m even more disturbed

by zscratch on Nov 10, 2009 11:13 AM PST reply actions

Deep, intermediate....

there was nothing there most of the day. I re-watched the game twice since Sunday and I saw good zone coverage throughout the game by the Lions. They probably knew we were going to throw more than run so they were playing soft shell cover two.

I don’t think Hasselbeck was all that worried about throwing another pick, maybe for the first couple series’ after the 17-0 lead was established.

I saw more of a design check down option in the plays Knapp was calling.

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

by durteehawk on Nov 10, 2009 1:11 PM PST up reply actions

I can't remember where I read it

but I saw somewhere where there were 17 (if I remember correctly) intermediate or deep plays called in, and Hass changed them at the line. Haven’t seen anything about if they were because his shoulder or ribs, because he saw something in the defense or he just didn’t like the plays at the time.

by Trepidation on Nov 10, 2009 1:55 PM PST up reply actions

Kind of hard to track something like that unless you were Greg Knapp

how the heck could anyone know if the play was supposed to be a deep/intermediate pass if Hass changed the play at the line. The only way you could know that is if you were on the sidelines, or whoever wrote what you read.

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

by durteehawk on Nov 10, 2009 2:09 PM PST up reply actions

The run game..

Another thing to consider is that our running game wasn’t doing great, so I think they were using short passes to the backs as a kind of very long toss. ’Zona does a similar thing.

by GarethLewin on Nov 10, 2009 2:32 PM PST reply actions

I've watched that tackle several times and do not see how Hasselbeck injured his shoulder.

He jumped up from the tackle and showed no signs he was hurting. I am left wondering if this is another Hasselbeck fabrication or if what looked like anything but a violent hit injured his throwing shoulder. I do not find either explanation very satisfactory.

by John Morgan on Nov 10, 2009 2:59 PM PST reply actions

"another Hasselbeck fabrication"?

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Nov 10, 2009 3:07 PM PST up reply actions

Perhaps I misremember

but wasn’t his first response to leaving the game in San Francisco that he hadn’t in fact been taken to the hospital.

by John Morgan on Nov 10, 2009 4:00 PM PST up reply actions

I know I shouldn't take Twitter too seriously

but I see no indication he hurt his shoulder here.

by John Morgan on Nov 10, 2009 4:03 PM PST up reply actions

It looks to me

Like he was diving to the left, with his right hand extended perpendicular to the direction Delmas was running. I don’t know how much contant was made there, but it looks like a recipe for a lot of leverage to tweak his shoulder.

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Nov 10, 2009 4:27 PM PST up reply actions

I thought long and hard about posting this. I dont want to get myself in the doghouse...

BUT

John, doesn’t this seem a little like a double standard to you?

People are forbidden from posting speculation about Holmgren or Vick, but your comments contain wild speculation about Hasselbeck lying about hurting his shoulder to exonerate all his check downs?

Bring Your Game, Leave Your Name.

by iverson2169 on Nov 13, 2009 12:07 AM PST up reply actions

by ninjasocks on Nov 10, 2009 5:18 PM PST up reply actions

"What is it about good sex that makes me have to crap?"

by durteehawk on Nov 12, 2009 8:16 AM PST up reply actions

Matt tooks some snaps yesterday

He’s been limited in practice but has been practicing.

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Nov 12, 2009 9:05 AM PST up reply actions

Source?

"What is it about good sex that makes me have to crap?"

by durteehawk on Nov 12, 2009 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

From the TNT:

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/2009/11/11/wednesday-practice-report-hasselbeck-sees-time-under-center/

Heading into this week, Seahawks head coach Jim Mora made it sound while talking to reporters that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck would be held back during the first, couple practices this week.