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Greg Knapp, Nate Burleson for 31 and the Importance of the Seattle Seahawks Run Game

It reads like propaganda. Julius Jones is steady. Edgerrin James is undemanding. It reads like euphemisms for "not very good." It's not. I am not an apologist for Seattle's run game. I possess no delusions that it will be great or intimidate the opponent. Instead, I understand that running the ball, in the NFL, in this offense, is about making the passing offense work.

Play-action is an execution play. It's not radical and it's not flexible. A well executed play-action pass can have one read. In the case of Matt Hasselbeck's play-action pass to Nate Burleson for 31, it had one read and three receivers. Greg Knapp made a beautiful play call.

(10:36) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep right to 81-N.Burleson to KC 33 for 31 yards (47-J.McGraw).
3874774243_4280ba478d_medium

Matt Hasselbeck drops, sells play-action to Julius Jones and looks for Nate Burleson. Kansas City's 3-4 is swallowed by the fake. The defensive line and both outside linebackers are charging Hasselbeck. Both inside linebackers and free safety Jon McGraw are playing run. Seattle's seven blocker, the offensive line and tight ends John Carlson and John Owens, are in max protect. Not a hint of pressure arrives. Jones, finding no one to block, releases into the right flat, but he is an outlet only. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, after motioning inside to draw deep safety Bernard Pollard, is running a deep post. Burleson, slices through Kansas City's zone with a deep crossing pattern. He is alone in the right flat, 19 yards down the field.

Hasselbeck finds him. Bulreson makes a jumping, twisting catch that, on landing, instantly redirects into a run. He is tackled after a gain of 31 yards. Impressive athleticism by Burleson and his ability to run after the catch is rightly lauded, but this is a good play call by Knapp that is executed to perfection by the Seattle Seahawks.

3874774335_9ea1aef8c3_medium

The deep cross is not foreign to the West Coast. Bill Walsh used it. But there are elements of this play that are counter to what most think of the West Coast. There are only three receivers, and had Jones needed to pick up a blitzer, only two. It has a designed read and the play is designed to stretch the field vertically as much as horizontally.

This is why a steady, undemanding rusher that is threat enough to grind out first downs and aggregate meaningful yards, is enough for Seattle to have a successful offense.

0 recs  |  Comment 23 comments |

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I haven't read it yet

But the graphics are awesome.

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

by Nick Andron on Aug 31, 2009 12:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I've read it now

And only hope that Knapp continues to call plays at the appropriate times and for the players to execute them well.

Very exciting!

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

by Nick Andron on Aug 31, 2009 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

What time does the play start?

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

by Misfit74 on Aug 31, 2009 12:10 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Great graphics and post

Really impressive. These graphics are really a great addition.

by killacamkilla2 on Aug 31, 2009 12:12 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes! I love these graphics, they are perfect.

I like the “blur” effect on the guys as the play starts.

by djafrot on Aug 31, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed.

Thanks Alain!

by thebyron on Aug 31, 2009 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Would like to add my voice to the great graphics

Really made reading your already great analysis much easier.

by GarethLewin on Aug 31, 2009 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sometimes the casual fan may forget...

the run really does set up the pass (and vice versa) and this is a perfect example.

by Strictnine on Aug 31, 2009 12:46 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

love the graphics

after reading your “how the Seahawks make the Superbowl” post it’s encouraging to see that one part of that may be looking great(passing game). Nate easily added 10-12 yards on that play with YAC, if he can do that consistently, with TJ, Carlson, and Branch contributing!

by Hancock.Brett on Aug 31, 2009 12:53 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

TY (time)

:)

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

by Misfit74 on Aug 31, 2009 12:57 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

wait: which qtr?

1st Qtr?

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

by Misfit74 on Aug 31, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm impressed early by Nate's explosiveness.

You wouldn’t think he had a relatively recent ACL injury/surgery. He’s looked very good at times and might be the 2nd best WR currently in the division (and on the team).

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

by Misfit74 on Aug 31, 2009 1:15 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

whoa. they play in our division?

major brain fart.

2nd best in 3/4ths of our division just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

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

by Misfit74 on Aug 31, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Great graphics and analysis

This makes your already great analysis 3x easier to visualize. Two suggestions: 1) could you add a legend either on the blog sidebar or initial graphic which indicates pre-snap motion, route, delayed route, etc. and 2) can you show how the line engages/sags in the first 4 seconds?

Keep it up the outstanding work!

by beaks of fury on Aug 31, 2009 1:23 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I am going feature by feature

working to get faster and better at each so that I can quickly assemble a detailed graphic during the regular season. I’ll work in the second suggestion for sure and do something about making everything clearly defined.

by John Morgan on Aug 31, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Awesome.

Very intuitive and easy to read/understand.

Glenn Beck likes argument, but has a deap-seated hatred for logic.

by Cheddar28 on Aug 31, 2009 5:43 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Nice graphic

It adds to nicely to the analysis.

by ASeahawkfan on Sep 1, 2009 6:39 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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