Jamal Adams, Seattle Seahawks.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks. (Photo by Football Schedule, via Flickr)
The Seattle Seahawks, behind four Russell Wilson touchdown passes, beat Atlanta 38-25 in the season opener. Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf each had over 90 receiving yards for the game. Running back Chris Carson had 66 combined yards which included a pair of TD receptions.
Seattle’s offense went to work early and often. By the end of the first quarter, the Seahawks held a 14-3 lead after a pair of catch and run touchdowns by Chris Carson. They bogged down in the second quarter with just 20 yards on 11 plays. It was enough to allow the home team back into the game.
Seattle went into the locker room at half time with a 14-12 lead. They came out smoking hot in the third quarter. Russell Wilson led scoring drives on the Seattle Seahawks first three possessions of the second half. The first of which included a beautiful over the outside shoulder, 38-yard touchdown pass to D.K. Metcalf as the receiver streaked down the left side.
This game was effectively over when Jason Myers connected on a 42-yard field goal less than four minutes into the fourth quarter to put the visitors up 31-12. Atlanta, to their credit, didn’t quit. It took a Wilson seven-play, 65-yard drive, in the fourth quarter to stick the dagger in the Falcons hopes of a comeback. It ended with a Carlos Hyde one-yard plunge to seal a victory with 3:45 remaining to seal the deal.
Bobby Wagner and Jamal Adams led the Seattle Seahawks defense. At times the unit was strong at others it bent far too much. Atlanta had 506 yards of total offense. But 201 came in the fourth quarter after the Falcons fell behind by 19 points.
Jarran Reed, Seattle Seahawks. (photo by erimwad11, via_imagur)
In a week where the Seattle Seahawks won so convincingly, finding players who played below the norm seems like nitpicking. It isn’t, these guys need to step up their game.
Seattle’s defensive tackles Poona Ford and Jarran Reed were silent for most of the game. Not making plays is one thing, but they were invisible for the most part. Atlanta interior offensive linemen manhandled the Seahawks DTs.
When the Falcons did run up the middle Todd Gurley’s first contact was a linebacker. If it wasn’t for the Seattle Seahawks offense putting up points, which forced Atlanta to pass more, the home side could have succeeded with three yards and a cloud of dust.
Because Atlanta did have to throw more, some push from Ford and Reed was needed to help the pass rush. Instead, the Seahawks had to generate most of their pressure through blitzes.
It’s almost guaranteed that Darth Belichick formulates a game plan for next Sunday to take advantage of Seattle’s weak interior defensive line.
The right side of Seattle’s offensive line wasn’t bad on Sunday. Many 12’s want to put blame on guard Damien Lewis. I’m inclined to cut the rookie some slack. It was his first NFL game and he was lined up opposite Pro Bowl DT Grady Jarrett.
Right Tackle Brandon Shell, however, could have been much better. This is his fifth year in the league, by now he should be able to handle defensive linemen. Instead, Wilson had a rusher in his face far too many times because Shell was either beat or missed an assignment.
When given a choice of which Seahawks cornerback to throw against, Atlanta chose to pick on Shaquill Griffin instead of Quinton Dunbar. They were right to do it because Griffin looked far from a Pro Bowl-caliber corner on Sunday.
Yes, he made a great play in the fourth quarter when he got a hand on Matt Ryan’s intended pass to tight end Hunter Hurst. One play doesn’t make up for an entire game of poor play.
Everyone expects Falcons receiver Julio Jones to be outstanding. He’s the best wideout in football. But both Calvin Ridley and Justin Gage were able to catch passes against him. The Atlanta trio had 27 receptions for 401 yards and two TD. Over half that production was on Griffin’s side.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks.
This one will be tough. So many Seattle Seahawks played well on Sunday. Special shout out to Ethan Pocic who did a great job in his first start at center.
The Atlanta defense made it difficult for Seattle to run against them. Chris Carson gained 1,230 last year, but all he could muster on Sunday was 21 yards on six carries. The entire Seahawks team had 84 rushing yards which included a 28-yard RW3 scramble.
Instead of benching one of his top offensive weapons, Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll took advantage of Carson as a receiver out of the backfield. He caught six passes for 45 yards. More importantly, Carson found the end zone twice. That’s the ultimate goal, it doesn’t matter if his scores come via handoff or catch.
It sure felt like new Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams was everywhere. Would anyone be surprised if he was in Matt Ryan’s locker at halftime? Seriously, Adams covered the field from sideline-to-sideline, and from center field to behind the line of scrimmage.
At any given time, Adams could be guarding a receiver in man coverage, coming up to stop the run, or blitzing Ryan. He was a joy to watch.
Adams brings a completely different dimension to an already solid defense. His ability and enthusiasm are contagious. He leads by example and it’s clear that Adams earned his teammates respect in a very short period of time.
The All-Pro goes where ever he needs to be, to make plays. Every defensive player is better when he’s on the field. Ryan probably has nightmares about the Seattle Seahawks number 33. Other quarterbacks on the Seattle schedule now lie awake at night worried about how Adams will beat them.
All offseason, talk about the Seattle Seahawks offense centered around: will Pete Carroll let Russ cook. The Seahawks had to open up the offense and let Wilson go to town with deep passes. On Sunday, Russ did some cooking. He was a near-perfect 31-of-35 passing for 322 yards and four touchdowns.
He just didn’t cook in the way 12’s expected him to. During the game, FOX analyst Mark Schlereth had it right when he said let Russ simmer, like a slow cooker. The meal is just as good, but it takes a little more time.
In the Seattle Seahawks case that means, keep a balanced attack and let Wilson do what he does best, win games. He does a great job of getting the skill position players involved in the offense and gets the most he possibly can out of them. In those rare cases when Wilson can’t find someone to throw to, he is perfectly capable of taking off downfield with the ball.
Seattle doesn’t need to air it out every series to be effective.
It gets harder next week for the Seattle Seahawks as they host New England at Century Link Field.