Justin Forsett Saves the Season (Maybe)
Nate Burleson capped the half with a well-timed skinny post for the touchdown. Burleson stutter stepped to stall at the top of his route. That allowed the defender to finish his backpedal into a deep zone. Burly then cut in front, used his body to shield him out of the play and made a touchdown reception that looked easy. Maybe it was.
- Seattle started the second half with the ball. It set in trips right, a wide receiver left and Julius Jones in the backfield. On the surface, that's a pass play, but the trips were comprised of Nate Burleson, John Owens and John Carlson. Another way to look at it is, Seattle started the half in a two tight end set. It didn't, but that's how it played it.
- Jones ran off right end. Owens effectively sealed the inside. Burleson and Carlson moved into the second level and both did an excellent job lead blocking. Jones second gear betrayed him, and he didn't slingshot around the end. I think Seattle invests in a speed back this next offseason. Jones can turn the corner, but he doesn't break away when he does. The run went for seven.
- The Seahawks motioned Jones out wide-right where he became the fourth wide receiver in an empty set. Empty sets seem aggressive, but often they are actually ultra conservative. Offensive coordinators spread the defense horizontally and direct the quarterback to take a three step drop and fire. An offense can't withstand a blitz from an empty set, so the goal is get someone free and get the quarterback out of danger. Carlson ran a short out from the slot and Hasselbeck hit him for five.
- Owens sealed the inside and Sean Locklear pulled out and engaged Will Witherspoon. The execution of the blocking was almost flawless, and give Locklear credit for engaging Witherspoon and walking him towards the sideline, but two things kept this play from popping. Owens couldn't hold the inside and Rams defensive end James Hall narrowed the hole. The other is again on Jones. He turned the corner but didn't hit the hole with much speed. I think maybe Jones hasn't become fully confident in the system and is still a little hesitant picking his rush lane. I don't think he's slow.
- Hasselbeck found Housh for six to end the drive. Seattle needed seven. It was a Justin Forsett block from disaster. Seattle overloaded the right. Greg Knapp had used this formation before. The first ended with a nine yard pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh on first and ten. It put Housh in the slot and matched him against a linebacker. The second converted a long first down by isolating Burleson on one side and getting him one-on-one cover. The third attempted the same, but Burleson didn't high-point the ball.
- This time Hasselbeck went back to Houshmandzadeh attacking the middle, but Steve Spagnuolo was prepared. He assigned two corners to defend the middle. Hasselbeck waited a beat too long to throw, and Justin King and Jonathan Wade closed on Housh before he could run past the marker.
- On that same play, Spagnuolo had another trick that almost trapped the Hawks. The Rams set with only two down linemen, both ends, one standing defensive end, Chris Long, and one linebacker, James Laurinaitis. The rush targeted Seattle's weak side -- the side only a wide receiver was aligned. It would have worked if not for an incredible block by Justin Forsett.
- O.J. Atogwe timed his blitz perfectly and ran around left end untouched. The Rams were only rushing four, but with a free blitzer fractions after the snap, it was working. Forsett crossed in front of Hasselbeck and hit Atogwe in stride, holding him off enough for Hasselbeck to throw. With the pass targeting an area with two corners, Forsett's block didn't just stop a sack, it could have stopped a turnover. It could have stopped Hasselbeck from hobbling off the field holding his back.
0 recs |
14 comments
|
Comments
If Forsett had one more gear, he'd be a hell of a running back
If he had two more gears, maybe Barry Sanders.
Spanuolo sounds like a new italian dish. But I guess Spagnuolo does as well.
by B.B.Finnegan on Sep 17, 2009 7:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I said 'maybe'!
The mans got some moves, just not fast enough to make them always work. Of course, if he had a couple more gears he wouldn’t have went to Cal, been a 7th round pick, or be a Seahawk.
by B.B.Finnegan on Sep 18, 2009 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Forsett is a poor man's Darren Sproles
I wouldn’t want to give him more than 150 carries a season for fear that he’d break down, but he’s not a bad starter for a 7th round pick.
by ninjasocks on Sep 18, 2009 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe a poor man's Warrick Dunn.
Sproles is more physical in his running style than I’ve seen from Forsett.
by abender20 on Sep 18, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Funny, I remember thinking it was a crummy block
By Forsett, as Atogwe was practically grabbing Hass as he walked through the block. I gave credit to Hass for standing in and throwing the ball. But better a crummy block than no block at all coughJJcough
by Groundhog on Sep 17, 2009 8:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It wasn't a great block
It was a great block for a third down back coming across the formation after recognizing a tricky blitz. It would not have stood up against DeMarcus Ware.
by John Morgan on Sep 17, 2009 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love that kid
Part of me wishes he could step in for J. Jones when the time comes – he certainly hasn’t disappointed. I wanted his jersey but I had to buy one right away and they didn’t have any #20 in stock. Weak sauce.
Glenn Beck likes argument, but has a deap-seated hatred for logic.
by Cheddar28 on Sep 17, 2009 10:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Forsett should be the starter.
As I’ve said in previous posts, Forsett should be the starter. I think his vision and quickness to the hole makes up for the lack of break away speed. The zone blocking scheme is built for backs with good vision and “ultra” quick cut back ability. Forsett fits that mold better then Seattle’s other options. This kid reminds me a lot of Brian Westbrook when he broke in with the Eagles returning kicks, then becoming the 3rd down back and next thing you know Duce Staley was shipped out of town. He’s a pretty good blocker to. The biggest criticism against Westbrook was would he hold up through a whole season with a #1 RB workload. He’s more then proved he can, even though lately he seems to wearing down a bit. It might serve Seattle good to give him some carries on 1st and 2nd down and see how he responds. Also, Juluis Jones scares me wtih fumbles. He has not convinced me that he can protect the ball. Forsett does seem to protect the ball well, even though we have had only 1 1/4 years to evaluate him.
by Mr. Blache III on Sep 18, 2009 1:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Westbrook hasn't shown he can hold up for a full season
He’s missed games every season of his career and played through injury on a regular basis.
by ninjasocks on Sep 18, 2009 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
JUST-IN TIME
There is NO doubt in my mind that Justin will be the standard to which all backs are held. Mark my words! He’s gonna be a superstar! He has a great coaching staff, plus the tutelidge of one of the best backs in the past decade. Good ol Knapps zone blocking scheme is a PERFECT PERFECT setup for His Awareness to spot the hole and speed to get thru it.
If Justin catches the ball in space especially with screens and dump off’s LOOK out. Because it will almost always benefit the HAWKS. I know theres still alot of scrutiny and only if he had “one more gear”. Guys he’s a second year man. i think he’ll find it. So for now im gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. GO HAWKS!!!
Are you kidding me!
by NW_BRED on Sep 18, 2009 2:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I like your enthusiasm
I would bet the lives of loved ones that Forsett will never be a superstar. I think Seahawks fans should be happy with what they have and not fool themselves into thinking he is something he can’t be.
by John Morgan on Sep 18, 2009 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah.
I’m perfectly happy that he made the team and looks like a fine 3rd down option.
"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."
by Fearless Frog on Sep 18, 2009 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
*howls of protest*
He’s not gonna be the next Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Adrian Peterson all in one?
by thebyron on Sep 19, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

by 















