Aaron Curry Requests an Apology

by John Morgan on Sep 24, 2009 3:17 PM PDT Comment 16 comments

More photos » Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

Allowing Old Man Norris to rush for fifteen yards is angering, but don't direct your anger at Aaron Curry.

The defender closest to the play is blamed. The player closest to the play is rarely at fault.

San Francisco started their drive with an inside hand off to Moran Norris for fifteen. Seahawks fans might do it begrudgingly, but instead of blaming Aaron Curry, we should credit Jimmy Raye. Raye mercilessly attacked Seattle's inexperienced linebackers. After twice running a misdirection pitch left on the preceding drive, this rush was the payoff. Gore motioned pitch out left, but Hill handed off to Norris. Curry read the play and positioned himself, but he was isolated and out of luck. Joe Staley pulled across the line and into the hole. Curry did what he could to stop Staley. Jordan Babineaux stopped Norris after fifteen.

The player most at fault is David Hawthorne. Will Herring and Deon Grant were over the offensive left, but Hawthorne started beside Curry over offensive right. Hawthorne was too aggressive and pursued the fake, taking himself out of the play. If Hawthorne was more disciplined, Curry cuts down Staley and Hawthorne tackles Norris after a minimal gain.

The rest of the drive can be summed up in a few lines.

Second play: Red Bryant stuffs the line and Curry wraps around left end to finish a staggering Frank Gore.
Seattle puts in its double over tackle package and Bryant's presence allows Cole to isolate left guard David Baas. Cole bullies Baas into the pocket and tips Shaun Hill's pass.
Patrick Kerney reads the shovel pass and tackles Frank Gore before the play can start.
Field goal.

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Is this the play Curry tired to tackle Norris in the open field?

I remember a play where he was in position, but failed to make the tackle by not wrapping up – just bumping him and falling down. That, to me, was Curry’s fault. He got there to make the play. Pro linebackers have to make those tackles. A missed tackle does put Curry to blame.

I imagine we’re talking about the same play and if not my bad. I can’t tell for sure w/out the game 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 Sep 24, 2009 3:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That play was in the 3rd quarter. This one was earlier.

by MFAN on Sep 24, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He went low and Norris hurdled him

I have no idea what he was thinking.

by John Morgan on Sep 24, 2009 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Norris is a big dude, I'm guessing Curry thought going for the legs was his best bet to take him down.

by MFAN on Sep 24, 2009 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Curry is a big dude

but he doesn’t always tackle like it.

by John Morgan on Sep 24, 2009 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It seemed like the problem there...

…was Curry threw himself at Norris at full speed, totally out of control, instead of breaking down and making a more controlled open-field tackle. I’m sure he’ll learn soon enough that NFL-caliber backs and receivers are too shifty in space to try to tackle like that in space.

by sev79 on Sep 24, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He did learn.

I think it was the next quarter when he had a guy in the flat, slowed down, made the guy choose a direction, then took him down.

But man, that first missed tackle was absolutely painful. Had him dead to rights, we would have forced a punt from the endzone.

by djafrot on Sep 24, 2009 6:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's going to be a really good player

He’s making some very painful rookie mistakes right now, but he does seem to learn quick. It’s going to be awesome when everything really starts to click.

by B.B.Finnegan on Sep 24, 2009 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Incompetence as well as injuries are infectious

when it comes to the Seattle Seawhawks. At least it sure seems that way sometimes. When we have a bad game, it’s like everyone ends up having a bad game rather than just a few guys.

by ASeahawkfan on Sep 24, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he was watching film of Polamalu

…against the Titans. Trufant is also good at making the “take out the dude’s legs” type of tackle. Not as spectacular as Polamalu, but solid. I’m guessing it’s a risk/reward type thing. You also see it when people are going for bigger dudes, and Norris is a pretty big dude.

I don’t think there’s too much to worry about. You could make the argument that he doesn’t get there if he tries to form tackle.

I’m sure the rook will learn from it and move on. He’s shown everything – he’s crushed people, he’s made some fast plays in space, fought off blocks, and he stuck like glue to Davis on a few routes. He’s not putting it all together just yet, but I’m sure Lofa and Leroy being out didn’t help him much either.

by PerryCollective on Sep 24, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well said.

by jacobstevens on Sep 25, 2009 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want to rip my hair out watching that San Francisco game

So many guys on defense made mistakes at key times. Hawthorne did make quite a few. He even was out a position on one those Frank Gore runs. I really hope the tighten up the play this week, everyone.

Bryant is beastly. But boy does he try to get by on pure strength sometimes. I hope his technique and ability to read the play improve as well as his burst off the line.

Well, this is when we find out how good all these new defensive coaches are. Alot of the top guys defensive guys in the league find ways to win games when their top guys are out. It’s never 100%, but they find a way to keep the train on the tracks. Let’s see if our D coaches can do the same. The Seahawks can’t allow that soft play in the middle to continue or we’re going to be in some trouble.

I can’t watch another game like last week on defense. I don’t mind losing when someone makes a great play on offense. But giving up long runs for TDs because three or four guys make a mistake on the read or positioning is enough to drive a fan mad.

by ASeahawkfan on Sep 24, 2009 3:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think if Mebane was there, we win.

We could have even without him (had Matt not been hurt) but without Mebane this defense really gets exposed. If it weren’t for Big Red it could have been really REALLY ugly.

by djafrot on Sep 24, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why do you think this?

Red misplayed one of those long Frank Gore runs badly and was completely shut out of the play with no penetration. Red has a long ways to go. His physical strength is immense. His technique and football intelligence have a long way to go.

Yeah. Lofa or Mebane in might have stopped one or both runs. The entire middle of our defense is soft without those two players in.

by ASeahawkfan on Sep 25, 2009 7:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs