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Five Observations from the Seattle Seahawks Second Offensive Drive

5. Eric Weddle discarded a blocking Deion Branch on Julius Jones two yard rush. If Branch is traded, it might not be his injuries but his fit within this offense that instigates the move.

4. Nate Burleson was Matt Hasselbeck's second progression on Seattle's drive opening play-action pass for 12. I can't critique the route-running itself, but Burleson found a soft spot in the zone and that's progress.

3. Seattle went five wide on its second play with T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the modern flex TE/WR position. Housh outmatched Tim Dobbins and got open in a heartbeat. The fringe benefit of going five wide is it gives the pass rush little time to develop.

2. Shaun Phillips pressed John Carlson and rerouted him out on Seattle's attempted third down completion. Carlson released between Phillips and Kevin Burnett and curled. Hasselbeck thread the needle and led Carlson left, perhaps expecting a dig or post route, but Carlson was out of position for the pass. He grasped but could not catch it one-handed. It's debatable decision making by Hasselbeck. Carlson is bracketed by Chargers, but neither is a great pass defender and neither looks the least aware as the pass zings past them. Had the two been on the same page, it would have been a first down. Had Phillips or Burnett been aware, it could have been an interception.

1. Phillips beat Sean Locklear to the inside and pressured Hasselbeck out of the pocket. There looked to be some confusion between Locklear and Owen Schmitt. Schmitt engaged inside linebacker Dobbins rushing outside, while Locklear feigned out and then was beat in by Phillips. The blown block was especially damaging because Hasselbeck's hot route, the route running into the area vacated by the blitz, was cut off by the pressure. Instead, upon scrambling right, Hasselbeck faced Burnett and Shawne Merriman crowding the right flat. He threw it away towards Carlson.