Coach Speak
Time to show the Capital City what the real Washington team has to offer.
My furious five aspects to Coach Pete Carroll’s Seahawks game-plan in the NFC Wild Card Game against the Redskins.
1.) Load the Box
Washington’s Offence is eerily similar to that of the Seattle Seahawks, centered around a Read Option, a bruising rushing attack and opportunistic mid-range passes.
And if Coach Pete Carroll is the master of running this Offense you can be sure he’s pretty good at shutting it down too. Most likely buy loading 8 guys into the box, disguising the blitzer and cycling through his full complement of Defensive Ends to keep them fresh and fast.
This is the type of game where young talents like Bruce Irvin could make a name for himself. Seattle’s only weakness on D has been stopping the run so loading another body into the crash zone will only benefit in shutting down Alfred Morris.
2.) Islands of Trust
It’s long been said that playing Corner Back is like being on an island. Isolated and separated from the rest of the fray, which bodes well for the dynamic duo that make up the Seahawks corners.
Loading crowding the box put additional strain on the pass defenders but Coach Carroll has trusted the play of Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner all season and this winner takes all matchup should be no different.
Their value does not need to be based just on the defending the pass, against an option attack, a well-timed corner blitz can be devastatingly effective.
3.) Stretch Washington D
In all of Washington’s losses the opposing QB’s threw for over 300 yards. So the ability to throw on Washington has been proven. For a Seattle victory, look for Coach Carroll and QB Russ Wilson to go vertical against the vertically challenged Redskin corners with Sidney Rice and Golden Tate.
Look for Coach Carroll and QB Russ Wilson to go vertical Sunday!
There was a time when DeAngelo Hall was a difference maker. That time was spent in Atlanta. 4 years ago. On the other side, Josh Crawford will have his hands full if the 6’4” Rice draws his number.
Against the Falcons, TE Tony Gonzales had a field day against the ‘Skins, which bodes well for the Seahawks’ Zach Miller.
4.) Run Run Run
It kills the clock, momentum, and fan enthusiasm. All keys in a vital away game. With all eyes clearly fixed on Wilson and Marshawn Lynch, don’t be surprised if you see the odd wrinkle in the rushing game.
It could be disguised as an increased workload for Full Back Michael Robinson or designed run plays for Golden Tate, with Carroll running things we just may see a reverse this week-end as well.
5.) Hamstring RGIII
Limiting the effectiveness of a mobile QB is old hat for this Seattle Defence. They just need to pull out the game-plan they had against Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers.
Pressure from the DE’s and changing the launch pad of Washington’s exciting young passer Robert Griffin III
Against San Fran, Seattle limited Kaepernick to just 244 yards even though he had 36 attempts. This game could be defined by the play of the Hawks’ defensive ends as they will all play critical roles in both the passing and rushing game.
It’s a good thing Pete rolls two solid ends in Chris Clemons and Red Bryant.
It’s a mirror image affair between these two clubs as each possesses a prominent young passer and a suffocating defence.
This year Seattle has pulled an old skeleton from the closet and ground it to dust by showing the NFL that they can win big games on the road.
But it may be the road that holds the advantage for Wilson and the Seattle faithful, as RGIII may succumb to the debilitating pressure of playing in front of loyal fans that haven’t seen a home playoff game in 13 years.
No twelfth man just may be a good thing on Sunday.
Cheers, The Bartender
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