Seattle's second drive was one explosive play and zero net yards otherwise earned. That play alone made this a successful drive. Such is the power of big plays in the NFL. One play was worth more yards than 22 teams averaged per offensive drive in 2008.
3. Matt Hasselbeck sailed his first pass over Nate Burleson's head. Burleson was running a deep hook route out of play-action. The interception must have given Hasselbeck jitters. Again firing over Tyson Jackson and Mike Vrabel, he overcompensated.
2. Seattle ran twice in a row after Burleson's 31 yard completion. The plays were identical except out of slightly different formations.
The first stretch-right was run with a wide receiver left and right, a tight end left and an I formation. Ray Willis and the interior stretched a hole through the right "B" gap, but instead of blowing it open, Owen Schmitt got caught inside and plugged the hole. Julius Jones ran for two.
The second stretch-right was run with a tight end on the right but no fullback. This time, Seattle baited and bullied the Chiefs hard right creating a huge cutback lane left. Too bad Tamba Hali hip threw John Carlson to the dirt. A better and especially a more elusive rusher than Jones could have evaded Hali and broken towards the sideline for a huge gain. Jones, with one man to beat, cut in and took what was given.
1. Things didn't get better for Carlson.
3-5-KC 28 (8:57) 8-M.Hasselbeck sacked at KC 33 for -5 yards (94-T.Jackson).
Sea: 2WR (left), WR (right), TE (right), RB
KC : 2-4 nickel
The key men in this play are Tyson Jackson, Mike Vrabel, Tamba Hali, Ray Willis, John Carlson, Sean Locklear and Julius Jones. Alex Magee and Jackson are the down linemen. Hali is attacking the offensive left and Vrabel the offensive right. We can't see the route, but Warren Moon calls it a double move.
Hasselbeck takes the snap, looks right and then pump fakes. He looks up and then right again. The line is crumbling around him. Carlson is completely overmatched by Vrabel and he's struggling just to stay in front of him. Locklear is sustaining but sagging, not allowing Hali around him but not stonewalling him either. Steve Vallos has engaged and single-handedly frozen Alex Magee. Jackson has swam past and blown through Willis.
 |
He's free to Hasselbeck and his burst could make this end bad and quickly.
Here's the critical point in the play. Jones can (1) Save Carlson by chipping or blocking Vrabel, (2) Put his body between Hasselbeck and Jackson and hope not to die, or (3) Release into the flat and hope Hasselbeck has enough time to target you or throw away near him. He does the third, and it looks like the right decision, but it doesn't matter because Jackson is on Hasselbeck in a second. Vrable joins in and Hali piles on after the fact.