The game today will tell us a lot of things. I've already talked about the weather. They are predicting nasty conditions. How does this team perform in that stuff? I can't recall a bad weather game yet this year.
The Eagles are a solid team. If you trust in our Power Rankings--which I have started to--they are better than the Giants and not all that far behind us. What is escaping them is the cupcake schedule we've had. Where we've had the Cards, 49ers and Rams, they've had the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins. They are good enough to beat us soundly on their home field. They are 3 pt favorites, which is what all homes teams get, so oddsmakers consider the teams even. I'd consider it a statement and an upset if we take this game.
Things I'll be looking for:
- Passing in the weather.
Will it even be reasonable to expect a passing game from either team? Won't know until I see the conditions live.
- Protection
We can afford a loss, but we can't afford an injury to Hass. If we thought the Rams pressure packages were creative, just wait.
- Shaun and the running game
Don't be surprised if we see a breakout game from one or both of our RBs today. However, if we can't pass the ball to setup the run, don't blame these guys. We've seen all year that this team can't run on it's own. Everyone talks about how Mo helps us in the passing game where Shaun can't. He has 5 receptions in the past 3 games. Not exactly Tomlinson numbers. That said, if we are having some success running with Mo today and Shaun doesn't match or exceed it...
- Sack parade continue?
Philly is near the bottom of the league in sacks allowed (34 tied for 26th in the league). The Hawks are second in the NFL in sacks. Kearney should get some attention, although he's going up against a good tackle in Jon Runyan. The hope is that the attention will shift toward him and allow Julian, Tapp and/or others to get some sacks today. Remember, this is the right tackle that allowed 6 sacks in one game to Osi Umenyiora.
- Pursuit and gang tackling
With Westbrook getting the ball in space for screens and pitches, we need everyone rallying to the ball.
- Turnovers and Special Teams
With the weather, you'd expect some silly turnovers, and they often come on special teams. Will anyone be able to kick? Will we be going for it on 4th down to avoid trying FGs? Does that put an increased emphasis on red zone execution?
I'm excited to see the game, but believe we will lose. A win here today would be a significant step towards being more than a mediocre team.
NOTE: The lovely HawkBloggerWife scheduled a brunch at our house starting at 10AM. Awesome! I am DVR'ing the game, unless I can find a way to watch. We have better luck with cwu91 commenting anyway! :)
79 comments:
Field looks to be in fair shape...last cold weather regular season game on the road this year.
Eagles win the toss...good
Lofa with the pick....nicely done. Just like the 05 game ....weird
Nice call on second, welcome back Shaun
Nice call, 97 Blast (sort of), only without the guard pulling, LOL
Field is favoring he offense on both teams....the D is having trouble reacting
Matt audibled on that 3rd and short...poor choice in that case. Pound Weaver....
Wilson injured....
Lofa again!....
Run the ball please
Nice post route Bobby!....and a nice adjustment by Matt. He won the guest guesser on that one.
Gotta make that play tru....at least get em out of bounds
Good job D!...Kearney applying the heat
I'd pound it again here on third
Nice run Mo.....good adjustment by Matt
Crap, Walter is out
Roll Matt away from the pressure....yes indeedy
Walter back in the house....phew
Pollard not where he should be...and Matt letting him know about. Come on Josh
There not getting to AJ with 4 down....let the adjustments begin
Bring the heat
They brought it that time, but didn't get anywhere near him....nice return Nate
WOOT! that was a nice route...crossing route that cleaned em out for Nate. That's what the threat of a runing game does. Safety bit, hook, line and sinker
Broken play there...almost got to AJ
Westbrook is a damn fine back....he should have been cut down for a loss on that run
Field conditions are making the secondaries on both team look silly.
Nice catch by Branch.....poor concentration by Weaver
Special teams are not doing us any favors today....shanked punt being the latest example.
Westbrook again on 3rd and short.....eaglets doing a nice job of play calling....Mortingwig another offspring from the Holgrem coaching tree
2:00 minute warning helpful here... D is on its heels a bit
Shold have been illegal contact on that call....lets go D
Yeah, I think westbrook got in on that
run westbrook wide, would be my guess here
HELL of a job D!....should have taken it wide Andy
21-17 at the half and the Hawks are playing well. Holmgren should basically ask one question...do you guys want this?
Then take it.
I would expect the trend to continue over the last two games...more running. See if play action out of the I makes an appearance
Crap a fumble by engram...that was just laying the wood
Nice run by westbrook...lets go O!
There play action out of the I....nice gain
Maybe the sprint draw
Almost.....Branch should have caught that
Bernard is having a nice game
Lets go D! get em out of there
Nicely done....good pressure
Okay, we got the ball at midfield....lets go
Hell of run by Morris
LOL....Lofa flat blew that receiver screen up
Come on guys....they run 5-wide and you drop into coverage, curtis should not be that open
Come on guys....they run 5-wide and you drop into coverage, curtis should not be that open
Nice pass defense right there, ball banged Deon right in the nogin. Turn around dude, lol, your already 2 yards dep in the end zone!
And the kick is denied. Lets go O!
Nice run Shawn..Hawks are pounding it.
Run the sprint draw
That was PI on brown....he got there early
Rant at Johnson here.......me thinks he's forgotten how difficult it is to win on the road.
They hammered AJ on that one...nice pressure package
Matt was late on that and didn't lead Branch....
Guys are having problems pushing off.....pressure is going to have to come from extra edge.
Nice pick JP!
2nd and short, throw the ball
Okay Goose, the Hawks are closing in on a c-note running the ball. Shut yer yap
Now, I like that call on 4th, but teams have been scouting it.
Need to be able to run on short
Good job D! Bought time to take a shot along the sideline if the situation presents itself. Maybe work Obamanu in here.
Nice 3rd down catch . I'd still love to see play action out of the I here
Nice catch Bobby...he's jawin a little bit
Spencer out, gray at center? And Womack...didn't catch that earlier
You gotta jump for that Nate...that last series was a mess...wonder when the line changes took place?
One more stand D...lets go!
Bring the heat
Good job D! Wyms did the plowing on that one...nice pressure
Now run weaver right here on short.
Come on D....close it out!
Good coverage by hill on that
Now bring the pressure....2nd and long
Good tackle by tru....4th down
Thats the game right there......WAY TO GO SLIM!
No timeouts taken the entire game by either team....weird stat of the day.
That's about to change
Okay....do not kick it to westbrook...too late
Lets go D
LOFA!!!!......like a deer in the headlights.
Another legacy in this version of the Seattle Seahawks.....livin on the edge.
Just don't step off the cliff.
Let the #2 conference seed discussions begin.
nicely called game cwu91. Just finished watching the game myself (2:10PM PST). My comments were mostly not suitable for public viewing. Can we stop the Plack praise on the TNT blog now? For gosh sakes, he almost lost the game as a punter!
Yeah, the ST does not make the grade today....still there have been other games where they were the difference.
Win two of three phases, win the game. The long snapper may get the axe over this, but I'll need to watch the game again.
Okay, Im gonna dig out those old Jack La-lane exercise videos. I distinctly remember Jack and the German Shepherd doing the oblique stretching exercises (1-2-3, and switch). Hughes at the TNT reporting Spencer out with an oblique injury.
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/2007/12/02/p17771#more17771
Uh...300 pound lineman don't have obliques...their removed at birth. Most of them don't have necks either.
Wilson with sore quads...
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