Matt Hasselbeck Sacked--A Whodunit

by John Morgan on Aug 25, 2009 5:46 PM PDT

Seattle repaid Denver the favor, punting two plays and then getting bollocksed up by stunts. Again.

3. Seattle spreads five wide. Denver stays cas, running a 3-3 nickel. It overloads the offensive left. Matt Hasselbeck could throw to T.J. Duckett who is releasing into the left flat. Duckett is not covered. But this is a designed play and there's no read involved. Beck plants and passes to Justin Forsett. Forsett is playing right flanker opposite Champ Bailey. Bailey tackles are a gain of two.

2. Feeling futile, Seattle decides to hand off to Duckett on a stretch left. Duckett, perhaps winded from crunches, does not follow the well orchestrated stretch left but instead cuts up field. It's like suicide by cop. Unblocked left defensive end Le Kevin Smith and left outside linebacker Mario Haggan supply the bullets. Duckett rushes for one.

1. Matt Hasselbeck Sacked-a whodunit.

The suspects:

Kenny Peterson: An "opponent" and the man found fleeing the scene. Known operative of the Broncos. The journey man. The red herring.

Chris Spencer: The man that makes the calls. Seattle reacted poorly to Denver's "2-4" formation. It seemed unprepared for this radically pass-defense- and blitz-centric formation to drop cover and bring pressure.

Matt Hasselbeck: Victim. Husband of Elisabeth and known supporter of Wendell Wilkie. At his advanced age, Hasselbeck is known to become confused, even stupefied, unable to move or make decisions. "A deer in the headlights." Known aliases: Tim, Beck, The Objectivist, Screamin' Eagle and Billy.

Sean Locklear: Emigrant from right tackle. Trouble adjusting to new customs and responsibilities. Can be seen on tape misreading the stunt, chasing Elvis Dumervil "in" before attempting to regain outside protection against Peterson. Shoved and swum aside, found doubled over the victim. Locklear complied with police. The crime's chief witness and number one suspect.

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Probably worth noting that, unless there are some really weird dynamics in the Hasselbeck family, Elisabeth is with Tim.

Locklear isn’t going to make it at left tackle, is he?

by abender20 on Aug 25, 2009 5:51 PM PDT reply actions

Joke from another thread.

I am bad about in-jokes. I would be more worried about Locklear if his problems were physical and not a matter of adjustment. He seemed fine last season, but I think he’s struggling protecting a zone instead of a man. Nevertheless, he could suck. Bad.

by John Morgan on Aug 25, 2009 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I lol'd

Child please...

by Airborne Hawk Guy on Aug 26, 2009 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Trade value?

Does Locklear have any realistic trade value if he is unable to pick up zone blocking?

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Aug 26, 2009 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Sure, a few years as a good, perhaps above average RT

and a couple of showings as a decent LT shouldn’t be erased by a few preseason games and may even an entire season’s worth of bad play. Heck, look at Jason Peters.

by LantermanC on Aug 26, 2009 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions

So if he doesn't pan out at LT

Is it of more value to move him back to RT, or to trade him for an LT that’s better suited for ZBS?

I’d imagine the latter considering there are already whispers that big Walt is done for the season.

I’m not doomsaying here, I just don’t have high hopes for the guy.

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Aug 26, 2009 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Huh?

Trade the only competent backup LOT on the team??? With Walter’s career on the fence? What?

by Stevo's on Aug 26, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions

I said that if he DOESN'T acclimate to our ZBS scheme

AKA trade him for another LT that has experience in ZBS.

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Aug 26, 2009 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Locklear will be a staple of this line for a few more years

Left Offensive Tackles are the rarest species of football player. When a team finds one that can start at this position and not get their QB killed, they don’t trade them.

I’m concerned about LOT too, but I think Locklear will show he can play in this system. He has great feet and skills and he’s a proven starter. Let’s not panic. Give him a few practice games like everyone else gets.

Even if Locklear doesn’t find his footing as a ZBS LOT, and even if he is eventually pushed to backup status over the next couple of years, he will STILL likely continue to be one our most valuable O linemen. There are not many guys in the NFL who can come in and start at multiple O line positions without a major drop-off in line play.

by Stevo's on Aug 26, 2009 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Though the idea of a polyandrous Elisabeth Hasselbeck intrigues.

And fraternal polyandry at that. How Eastern! Elisabeth Hasselbeck is a member of our global village.

by John Morgan on Aug 25, 2009 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions

There's still hope!

by abender20 on Aug 25, 2009 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Lol.

by Anticitizen_One on Aug 25, 2009 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Matt isn't married to Elisabeth

Or did I miss a joke?

by boytruck on Aug 25, 2009 6:43 PM PDT reply actions

Nevermind

by boytruck on Aug 25, 2009 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Props John

That was hilarious – especially Hasselbeck’s aliases. Well played, sir.

by Camarostache '77 on Aug 25, 2009 7:46 PM PDT reply actions

Haha

Pretty funny. Poor Sean, he’s gotta get up to speed. He’ll be adequate, but I’d hate to see him as the long term guy unless he really surprises this season. I hope he is able to avoid injury this season. He’s going to be physically tested this year against the best.

by ASeahawkfan on Aug 25, 2009 10:07 PM PDT reply actions

Sean Locklear will surprise people

and become a good LOT this year.

Then Walter will come back and push Locklear to ROG, where he will become a good guard.

Not only that, but Edgerrin James will have a youth revival and really push Julius Jones to be the running back we need him to be.

How do I know all this? Because I woke up in an insanely and unreasonably optimistic mood this morning. And I’ve had a LOT of coffee.

by Stevo's on Aug 26, 2009 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

Hell yeah, that cup of coffee is half full!

Child please...

by Airborne Hawk Guy on Aug 26, 2009 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Why not to ROT and Willis to ROG?

by LantermanC on Aug 26, 2009 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions

Mike Solari had Locklear practicing at ROG and Willis at ROT

and that’s enough for me. Solari has continued to say he wants the ‘best five offensive linemen on the field’ and I love hearing that. Seems Locklear is the one with the multiple skills who projects better at multiple positions. Willis is considered more of a mauler and doesn’t have Locklear’s talented feet.

by Stevo's on Aug 26, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions