OK, as I promised earlier today -- here is a scouting report of the Seahawks Offense. Fair warning, this one’s a bit extensive. For those who might be interested in a further breakdown of the Seahawks Defense, you can see my earlier posting –
#137 (on Page 14)
2012 Seattle Seahawks Offense
Running Backs …
I’m going to start with the RB’s because obviously Marshawn Lynch is getting the lion’s share of the attention going in to this game – and he should really. When Pete Carroll was first hired on by the Hawks, one of the first moves he and GM John Schneider did was to go out and ship Buffalo a 4th Round choice for Lynch (a guy that Pete simply had to have). Lynch is very much the heart and soul of this team -- a tone setter for this offense and the rest of the team. As Marshawn Lynch goes … so goes the rest of the offense in many ways. As I’m sure you also know, stopping Beast Mode is often easier said than done. In all my years watching football, this guy is one of the toughest, hardest, nastiest runners I have ever seen. He’s a bit like the Terminator in many ways – he never, ever quits on a play and you’d better be darn sure you wrap him up and get him down. The Saints found that out the hard way back in 2010. I don’t care if you’re a Seahawks fan or not, that Beast Quake run was nothing short of epic – one of the best runs in the history of the game. If you’ve never had a chance to see it, here is a
Youtube clip of it – just watch it as a football fan. As I might have mentioned before, seismologists literally recorded a tremor that coincided with that run. Lynch’s toughness has the effect of rubbing off on his teammates, as he inspires them with the way he plays. Lynch will actually SEEK OUT contact … as getting hit and dealing out punishment actually fires this guy up. Stopping him will be the key to the game IMO because Carroll WANTS very much to implement ball control, dominate the clock, keep away offense. And in spite of what we saw from Lynch this last Sunday (he had a very costly juggled ball that led to an interception) he has pretty good hands and is definitely a receiving threat coming out of the backfield as well.
Besides Lynch, another guy that you’re going to see in the backfield on Sunday from time to time is Robert Turbin – rookie out of Utah State (and ironically, a former teammate of fellow Seahawks rookie MLB Bobby Wagner). Turbin is a guy that IF Marshawn Lynch ever did go down … I think could do an adequate job in handling the load. Turbin’s arms are the size of most guys quads (I kid you not) and he has earned the nicknames, “The Hulk” and “The Turbinator”. To me at least, Turbin looks to run a mite faster than Lynch, but he runs with a different style. Turbin is more of the traditional find the hole, get to it quick, slash runner. – he doesn’t SEEK OUT contact like Lynch. He’s a tough runner as well and a bit of a load (5’10 … 222 pounds). He also has good hands coming out of the backfield. He presents opposing defense his own issues. He’s averaged 4.18 yards/rush on the carries he’s gotten … but has also been utilized in the passing game as well. A very quality RB and IMO, Lynch’s eventual successor.
Leon Washington is another guy you might see a bit in the backfield as a change of pace option … though his real value to this team and where he makes his impact is on Special Teams. I’m sure many of you will remember him from his days with the Jets. Let me tell you, he is still every bit as dangerous as a kick and punt returner – one of the best in the game and very much a threat to go all the way every time he touches the ball.
Fullback Michael Robinson is what he is – a good blocking back who has been used in short yardage, draw situations. Mostly though, they’ll use him to open up holes for Lynch – which he generally does a good job of.
Offensive Line …
Sainthawk was absolutely right in saying that the Offensive Line has been a mixed bag. Going from Left to Right across the line …
LT -- Russell Okung has been the very definition of an enigma. During his rookie season, Okung had a game against the Bears where he went up against Julius Peppers 1:1 and completely neutralized him (both run and pass blocking). That’s the game that every Seahawk fan (including me) keeps hearkening back to when they think about him and the potential of what this guy is capable of. Okung though, has since struggled with injuries and has many out there starting to ponder whether this guy is destined to be fragile (quite ironic, as he was a virtual iron man in college). Okung has appeared slow at times this year and has been guilty of 4 false starts and 2 holding penalties already. He’s got to get it together or he’s going to eventually find himself on the train out of town.
LG -- Paul McQuistan is a guy that I’d have to concur with HawkSoc in calling Solid. I’d call him very much a road grader – good in run blocking, but like the rest of this group has been a bit suspect when it comes to pass protection.
C -- Max Unger is a guy whom I’ve heard absolutely NONE of the local or national media focus on or talk about. And for an offensive lineman, that’s perhaps one of the biggest compliments you can give. He’s a solid vet who (from what I can see at least) doesn’t make a whole ton of mistakes.
RG – (a definite revolving door position) John Moffitt was out for the first game of the season due to still rehabbing from injury (according to Pete, that is), which is why rookie J.R. Sweezy was in there. Sweezy, by the way, is one heck of a story in his own right, as this guy was a 7th Round DEFENSIVE tackle. They converted him to OL in the Pre-season (a position he’s really never played) … and low and behold with his athleticism found himself starting Game 1. Now Moffitt’s back in there (a 3rd Round choice out of Wisconsin) and a guy the coaching staff was really high on last year. He HAS struggled at times in pass protection, but has done relatively well in run blocking. Some of that might have been related to his elbow issues from Elbow surgery last year. If he goes out, I would actually expect them to replace him with James Carpenter, the Hawks #1 Draft Choice from last season. Carpenter had been earmarked as the team’s RT, BUT injuries and inconsistency plagued him there, so they have moved him back to guard. Carpenter is a guy whose natural position IS guard, so I actually expect him to do well there. But as is the case with all Offensive Lineman – you’ve got to have a cohesive group that works together A LOT in order to have good line play. I would fully expect this to be a potential area of weakness that the Pats could exploit.
RT – Breno Giacomini is another guy who one could say has been very Bipolar in terms of his play. In many ways, Breno is the very epitome of the kind of guy you want at that position. At 6’7” 318 pounds, Breno is absolutely huge – a monster, actually in terms of the way he plays. He’s very much a street brawler and guys on the team if asked, “Who would you want with you in a dark alley” would answer “Breno.” But as a real tough guy, Breno has at times been undisciplined, as that mean streak has at times led to penalties. He’s been guilty of his share of holding penalties, false starts, and just dumb play – so much so that Carroll actually pulled him out and had him sit on the pine some during last week’s game. That seemed to refocus him a bit. We’ll see which Breno shows up to play on Sunday. If he does go out, look for Frank Omiyale (former Bears OT and a guy who’s done a decent job when he’s been in there) to be inserted in to the lineup here.
End of Pt 1 --
