MORSE: Patriots at Seattle Pre-Game Report
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Let Wilson Cook! That has been the mantra from Seahawks fans. Russell Wilson is the only NFL passer to thrown for 30 TDs in each of the last three seasons and the only passer do to it consecutive seasons. Last season Wilson was 4th in the league in completion %
On Offense: Last week Wilson was 31 of 35 (88.6%), 322 yards, 4 TDS’s for a 141.3 passing rating. He also rushed 3 times for 29 yards. He was magnificent. Bill Belichick heaped praise on him all week and its well founded.
For the last two seasons Seattle was dead last in passing on early downs (1st & 2nd). Last week they went against their trend and passed early, the 2nd most of any team in the league.
Seattle has been a run first offense under Brian Schottenheimer . They finished 4th in the league last year with 2,200 yards rushing. Chris Carson, their lead back, has some ball security issues. They signed Carlos Hyde to back him up until Rashard Penny can recover from off season surgery.
Seattle is a team that need to play from the lead. Last season Wilson brought them back 7 times in the first half of the season, but while trailing after halftime in the second half of the season, Wilson was unable to create his magic when trailing at halftime 4 times, and lost all 4 games. I believe this related to being a run heavy offense.
Their most successful pass routes are passes to the flat (80%), 7 step drops (92%) and rollouts (69%). However, they are only 48% against Man to Man, which is the Patriots strength.
Seattle added TE Greg Olsen giving Wilson another weapon. The other TE, Will Dissly is not too bad either, they make a nice duo.
On Defense, they still have Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright. They have added All Pro Safety Jamaal Adams from the Jets, and he was all over the field last week. They have a weakness at CB which the Pats can exploit.
What should the Patriots do on offense?
Limit the number of carries by Newton. 15 runs a game is not sustainable and Newton will get hurt. Pass more on 1st and 2nd downs. Patriots were only 23rd in the league last week. The Pats have established they will run. Continue to use play action passes and keep Seattle off balance. Newton has to do a better job of recognition at the LOS pre-snap. Long time consuming drives that eat up the clock and limit the number of possession by Seattle.
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