Failures Disguised as Victories and Other Acts of Kelly Jennings and Brian Russell

We've talked about Thursday and the future, but it's time we got back to the game. We left off with Aaron Curry cutting behind the Chiefs offensive line and tracking down Larry Johnson from behind. It was beautiful. In the years to come, I think this kind of play will be ordinary for Curry and an extraordinary play for Curry will be NFL Films worthy. The drive wasn't done though.

3. Seattle had stuck a Terrill in their line and sprung a leak. Kansas City was driving and one flashy play wouldn't stop them. Terrill was out, but another classic Seahawks weakness was about to rear its head.

2-10-SEA 44 (:11) 25-J.Charles right guard to SEA 13 for 31 yards (24-D.Grant).

KC: 2WR (left), WR (right), TE (left), RB

Sea: 4-2 Nickel

Curry leaves the field and Seattle sets to defend the pass. That's what Kansas City wants. It's a draw. Seattle's line crashes forward and rushing lanes multiply like amoeba. Jamaal Charles starts left and then cuts back right. Leroy Hill and Lofa Tatupu bite on the motion left. Center Rudy Niswanger pulls to the second level and joins the line judge setting an impenetrable pick for Tatupu and Deon Grant. Hill is aligned over the developing right "B" gap, but when Charles hits the hole and emerges, Hill can only dive at his feet. Charles squares and starts up field. Tatupu tracks, but his angle is hopeless and when he dives for the tackle, he is no more effective than Brian Russell. Russell, attempting to plant, slips onto his butt, but, never the quitter, holds his arms out for the tackle. Tatupu and Russell collide with Tatupu sliding over Russell and Russell sliding under Tatupu. Charles cuts towards the center. Josh Wilson gets a hook on him, slows him and Grant completes the tackle. Just an ugly play all around.

2. The Chiefs run twice into the pile to set up third and seven. That's when Russell exacts his revenge.

1. When you're a critic, there's nothing better than writing a bad review. It's an excuse to be creative and, let's face it, insult comedy is great comedy. Plus, there's no pressure. I hate writing about Brian Russell. I could host a weekly roast and never run out of material. But roasts happen to the beloved. And bad reviews are funny because the review itself is good and the subject of the review avoided. Russell is like a 24 hour loop of moments in my life I've hit my head. Hard. If I describe the feeling, it's only to be sure I can still comprehend it.

Hill can flail and Tatupu can take a bad angle, but neither can completely eff up the one thing they are given credit for. Russell supporters will sometimes tell me he succeeds because we don't see him. Funny, I see him blow cover all the time.

3-7-SEA 10 (13:50) 4-T.Thigpen pass incomplete short right to 82-D.Bowe (21-K.Jennings).

KC: 2 WR (left), WR (right), TE (left), RB

Sea: 4-3 Over

Seattle debuts their pass rush line. From defensive left to right: Darryl Tapp, Cory Redding, Brandon Mebane and Patrick Kerney. The linebackers and secondary are in cover-2 man. Ken Lucas is assigned (I think) Ashley Lelie. Curry is assigned Bobby Engram. Tatupu, Sean Ryan. Hill, Charles. And, the pivotal matchup, Kelly Jennings is on Dwayne Bowe.

The line performs ably, crashing the pocket and getting good pressure from all sides even if no one player breaks into the backfield. Lucas, Curry and Tatupu pick up their assignments. Jennings does what he does well: Assuming man cover and not letting Bowe get separation, but this is a mismatch. Bowe is 221 and physical and likely to body-shield Jennings, or as Vincent Jackson did, jump on top of him. This is exactly why the Seahawks safeties are in a cover-2 shell.

When Bowe and Jennings run up the right sideline and into the end zone, Brian Russell doesn't react and provide deep cover, no he stands staring into the pocket a la Michael Boulware. It's only after the pass that he breaks on Bowe, and he's so far out of position that his contribution to Jennings' near pick is a little attaboy hop step from just beyond the goal line.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Jennings plays the ball for once and more importantly high-points it. His great position and timing put him in perfect position to pick it in the end zone, but his ball skills betray him. He doesn't snatch the ball but watch it smack him in the facemask and then luck into pinning it there. The motion is clumsy enough and the catch tenuous enough that any hope Jennings has cerebellum capacity remaining to drag his feet is lost. All reserves are keeping his heart pumping and his detrusor relaxed. He falls out of bounds to finish an incomplete pass.

Ryan Succop misses a chip shot. It's a Failurama and who is the kicker to make waves!?