Field Gulls Football Snapshot: Your first mistake is your last

Russell Wilson's night ended after just one pass, and that heave propelled Tyler Lockett to Seahawk immortality.

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but the Seahawks have been without a natural big-play threat since Koren Robinson was cut in 2005, and while many have sought to follow in that mold, Lockett's tools represent the first time I've seen a whole package like Robinson's since.

However, I wanted to illustrate the point by taking a look at Keith McGill's coverage.

Watch the replay in slower motion because it's tough to catch live.

This play isn't just about McGill's hands, but also about his outside shoulder. He backpedals at the snap (a no-no), but he also opens his outside shoulder, turning himself inside, almost appearing to expect a quick slant or even a run-block attempt (Seattle's in a two-back heavy set). McGill's feet are carrying him to the inside and away from Lockett as he turns, which makes press impossible in terms of a jam. It also means that his help, which is to the inside in a single high look has no chance to help. In McGill's first step (the mistake) he opens the door completely to the outside, and on his second (which compounds it) he insures that he has no ability to jam Lockett at all.

Even if McGill wanted to throw his hands out now and try and slow up the speedster, he's already surrendered the entire outside space to Lockett, who now drifts harmlessly down field avoiding any issue with the safety. He hesitates after his first step, then just opens the flood gates with his second. If he's supposed to redirect he has to do that where his help is, which is inside. You wouldn't redirect outside where you have absolutely no backup. It's his hesitation that kills him, but if his intent was to jam, not staying square with Lockett is bad.

In a normal press situation, a corner will first have to stay square and then work a jam. Richard Sherman does this with a one arm technique, some guys like Ty Law or Brandon Browner like to fully square up with two hands. What makes Lockett and others of his type so dangerous is his first move puts guys on edge, and therefore unsure of how to approach a good jam. McGill appears to guess.

This play has absolutely no chance of being disrupted because by the time McGill could have thrown his hands up to redirect, he was off balance and out of position to try it. That first move caused him to hesitate, and before long, he realizes "Oh crap he has the outside, what do I do? WHAT DO I-HOLY SH--he's fast."

Brock Huard indicates during the broadcast replay that if you don't disrupt or get your hands on Lockett in a one on one, you're dead and this play is a good example of how something fundamental like a jam doesn't happen the way it's supposed to. What looks like a simple move is actually a huge error. Next time you hear "he didn't get a jam," snag a look at the first move from the snap, it's an eye opener.

Bottom line for the Seahawks? It looks like your first mistake with Lockett, will be your last mistake.