“If you’re anything like me,” writes sportswriter Seth Kolloen, “you want to soak up every second of a [Seahawks] season that, according to Vegas, has an 8-1 chance of ending with a win in the Super Bowl. Hence, this extended preview, which will help us all get the most out of this once-in-a-generation team.”
The extended preview — 15 glorious pages — is now available at Amazon for download onto your Kindle device (or app) for just $0.99. Kolloen says it’s written for the fans, people somewhere between “Is there a game on?” and those who spend the off-season tallying novelty songs about the Seahawks.
The inimitable Kolloen style (full disclosure: Kolloen both writes, and fails to write, for us here at The SunBreak) is apparent in this introductory set-up:
In three years, Pete Carroll and John Schneider have amassed the best talent in Seahawks’ history by eschewing Ruskell-era measures like veteran-ness and good-in-the-locker-room-osity in favor of size, speed, and strength. The Seahawks have the league’s best young players in almost every position group. From 23-year-old Bobby Wagner to 24-year-old Russell Wilson to 25-year-old Golden Tate, the Seahawks would be awful at Reagan Administration trivia. They are freaking awesome at football.
For the fans, full replays of every NFL game, online. (Screenshot: Seahawks.com)
The preview discusses the Hawks’ offensive and defensive schemes, coaching staff and their approaches, the team’s stars and position groups, and includes the season schedule as well, each game with a scouting snapshot:
Week 1: @ Carolina Panthers
Young Cam Newton is surrounded by aging skill players like Steve Smith, DeAngelo Williams, and Ted Ginn. But the Panthers have a sprightly D led by 2nd-year LB Luke Kuechly, who was dominant in preseason.
Previewing done, this might be a good time to mention the NFL’s Game Rewind service, as well. Stream every regular season Seahawks game (after it has aired), commercial-free and in HD, for $29.99. Stream all NFL regular season and playoff games, plus the Super Bowl, for $69.99. There are a variety of packages, and billing options. Take a peek.
The Philosophy
“As we looked at our team and we looked at the guys on the draft board we knew it was going to be a challenge to take guys because we like the players we have. The depth charts are situated well, and they’re young, and they’re just reaching the prime of their playing time. I look at is as hoping we can add a competitive nature to the position, and that’ll bring out the best in everybody that’s there.” —Head coach Pete Carroll
The Picks Christine Michael, RB – Round 2, #62 overall (@CMike33)
Fun Fact: Ejected from a game last season after punching an opposing player.
“He’s our kind of runner. He’s a tough, intense, one-cut upfield guy. You don’t know if he’s gonna try to make you miss or run into ya.” —General manager John Schneider
“We ran the ball more than anybody in the NFL last year, so we want this position loaded up.” —Carroll
“You can’t go through drafts passing on talents like Michael. When you start doing that is when you start to make a lot of mistakes.” —Schneider
“He’s an explosive NFL back. He’s a traditional one-cut downhill guy. Marshawn has a little more slide. Christine is: ‘Downhill now.’” —Area scout Matt Berry
“Seattle was going to find it difficult to make a tangible improvement to the team without a round one pick this year. By taking Michael, they managed it anyway.” —Rob Staton, Seahawks Draft Blog
“Michael has the athleticism, size, and physical upside of Adrian Peterson. He even looks like AP a little bit. And as I found out today, they both spent time doing offseason workouts together in Texas. Peterson has better lateral agility and doesn’t have a fumble problem, but in terms of physical dominance, Michael’s potential is sky high.” —Kip Earlywine, Seahawks Draft Blog
“Michael might be the most talented back in this class. If Seattle can keep him focused, Michael has a chance to be a steal at this point.” —ESPN
Similar Picks: Golden Tate (#60, 2010); Darryl Tapp (#63, 2006); Anton Palepoi (#60, 2002); Bob Jury (#63, 1978); Steve Raible (#59, 1976); Jeff Lloyd (#62, 1976).
Jordan Hill, DL – Round 3, #87 overall (@J_HILL_47)
Fun Fact: Led high school team to two Pennsylvania state championships.
“He’ll be right in the rotation. We’ve been trying to get more activity inside and this is the guy we thought was one of the best players in the draft at creating space inside.” —Carroll
“He can get up the field and be disruptive and is really quick laterally. That was a hole for us.” —Schneider
“Hill is a high-floor, low-ceiling option at defensive tackle. He’s good for a few nifty plays a game in the backfield, but he’s not a dominant force. In terms of upside, there were many other DTs who are better that Seattle passed on for Hill.” —Kip Earlywine, Seahawks Draft Blog
“Hill isn’t overly physical, which means his early contributions will be in sub packages.” —ESPN
Similar Picks: Brandon Mebane (#85, 2007); David Greene (#85, 2005); Kris Richard (#85, 2002); Dean Wells (#85, 1993); Chris Warren (#89, 1990); Rickey Hagood (#86, 1984); Scott Phillips (#84, 1981); John Yarno (#87, 1977), Rick Engels (#89, 1976).
Chris Harper, WR – Round 4, #123 overall (@THEChrisHarper)
Fun Fact: Started college career as a QB at Oregon.
“He’s a big, strong, physical receiver. We like that element, that’s different than the guys we have. We see him as an outside receiver.” —Carroll
“Former quarterback with a good understanding of the passing game but still developing as a route runner.” —ESPN
“He has enough speed to threaten the big play and the strength to shield defenders from the ball, often coming through with tough grabs with corners draped over him.” —Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
“I’ve only been (playing WR) three years. I’m still new but it feels more natural now.” —Chris Harper
“He’ll be a versatile weapon in the offense – he’s played inside and out in Kansas State’s offense – and his downfield blocking must have been super attractive to the Hawks.” —Danny Kelly, Field Gulls
“Harper is the size of MLB Bobby Wagner … 6-0, 234 pounds.” —Dave Boling, Tacoma News Tribune
“Love it!!! This guy is 230 lbs with speed! Over 6 feet!” —@DavisHsuSeattle
Similar Picks: Red Bryant (#121, 2008); Mansfield Wrotto (#124, 2007); Gary Dandridge (#122, 1992); Mark Napolitan (#123, 1985); Chris Castor (#123, 1983); Randy Johnson (#122, 1976); Andy Bolton (#123, 1976).
Jesse Williams, DT – Round 5, #137 overall (@TheMonstar)
Fun fact: Born and raised in Australia, didn’t play football until he was 14.
“He’ll fill a specific role for us. His strength and his ability to compress the cockpit is really intriguing to us.” —Schneider
“We’d like him to play three-technique. We think he’ll play a lot of first and second down and we’ll see how he can push the pocket on third down.” —Carroll
“A disruptor but not a finisher. Has a little bit of upside if he continues to improve array of pass rush moves and develop a better pass-rushing gameplan.” —ESPN
“Williams isn’t going to pressure the quarterback often but his size and strength will make him a force in the middle.” —Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
“Seahawks get first-round quality DT Jesse Williams in the fifth round? Of course they do.” —Will Brinson, CBS Sports
“Run-stopping is my strength. Hopefully in the NFL I’ll get a better chance at pass rushing.” —Jesse Williams
“The perfect example of the deep talent pool at defensive line in this year’s draft. At 6-3 ½ and 323 pounds, Williams is a powerhouse inside, demonstrated by his 600-pound bench press.” —Eric Williams, Tacoma News Tribune
Read more here: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/2013/04/27/seahawks-select-dt-jesse-williams-at-no-137-cb-tharold-simon-no-138-pick-in-fifth-round/#storylink=cpy
“You’re always looking for the guy whose best football is ahead of him. My hunch is that Williams may be one of those guys.” —Danny Kelly, Field Gulls
Tharold Simon, CB – Round 5, #138 overall (@t_simon24)
Fun Fact: Got arrested the Thursday before the draft for allegedly threatening a cop.
“Very long, very aggressive, should fit in very well. He’s coming in to compete outside.” —Carroll
“Good-sized athlete with quick read/react skills. Long arms and uses his reach to make plays on the ball. Not a quick-twitch athlete and lacks elite long-speed.” —NFLDraftScout.com
“I know exactly how (the Seahawks) play. They like tall physical corners. They like to press.” —Tharold Simon
“A right side corner – likely the long-term successor to Brandon Browner.” —Danny Kelly, Field Gulls
Similar Picks: Solomon Bates (#135, 2003); Alex Bannister (#140, 2001); Floyd Wedderburn (#140, 1999); Johnnie Jones (#137, 1985), Steve Durham (#140, 1981).
Luke Willson, TE – Round 5, #158 overall
Fun Fact: Played on the Canadian national junior baseball team alongside current Blue Jay Brett Lawrie.
“For us, the second-best tester of all the tight ends in this draft.” —Schneider
“We think he can get down the field for us, but we’d really like to develop him to do everything.” —Carroll
“(Had) a stellar workout at Rice’s pro day. Wilson posted a 4.49 forty-yard dash time paired with 23-reps on the bench press and a 38-inch vertical leap.” —Roni Wade, Pro Player Insiders
“Athletic tight end prospect with a large upside. Must commit to football and find a team willing to develop his skills” —Draft Insider
“He’s going to be a guy who can give us a downfield threat from that tight end position.” —Seahawks area scout Ed Dodds (via Eric Williams, Tacoma News Tribune)
Similar picks: Mark LeGree (#156, 2011); Jeb Huckeba (#159, 2005); D.J. Hackett (#157, 2004); Roy Hart (#158, 1988); Larry Bates (#156, 1976); Al Darby (#157, 1976).
Spencer Ware, RB – Round 6, #194 overall (@spenceware11)
Fun Fact: 2nd LSU underclassman taken by Seahawks (Simon).
“He’s such a tough guy. I think he really fits the style. We’re hoping that we can groom him as a fullback who can play tailback.” —Carroll
“Runs with a purpose. Plays the game with passion and energy.” —ESPN
“Valuable on third down. A willing blocker and skilled receiver with soft hands and better than average athleticism.” —Billy Gomila, SBNation
“(Ware) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 and 4.63 seconds. He posted a 34 inch vertical leap and a 10-foot-1/2 inch broad jump. Ware had a good workout on the day, and caught the ball exceptionally well.” —Gil Brandt, NFL.com
“A solid interior runner who can line up in a power-running offense or be used as a short-yardage back at the next level.” —Draft Insider
“With the backfield getting a bit crowded…(Michael) Robinson’s role and cap hit begins to come into question. Ware is a logical fullback convert, a role he played at times at LSU. Ware is a fantastic pass-catcher out of the backfield and as a former HS Quarterback, has been schooled in reading defenses, similar to Robinson.” —Danny Kelly, Field Gulls
Similar picks: Tony Jackson (#196, 2005); Craig Jarrett (#194, 2002); Ron Mattes (#193, 1985); Eric Lane (#196, 1981).
Ryan Seymour, OG – Round 7, #220 overall (@SEYMONSTER62)
“Fun” Fact: Moved from defensive line to offense early in college career.
“We talk about smart, tough, reliable, and that’s what he is.” —Schneider
“Quick enough to reach front side three-technique and cut off backside one-technique in zone scheme.” —ESPN
“Played effectively at several of line positions, taking snaps at center, guard and tackle.” —Vanderbilt Athletics
Similar picks: Josh Brown (#222, 2003); Dennis Norman (#222, 2001); Judious Lewis (#221, 1985).
Ty Powell, DE – Round 7, #231 overall (@tytan9)
Fun Fact: Was a QB in high school and led his team to a California state championship.
“We like the athleticism and the speed he brings.” —Schneider
“Ranked among the most explosive in his position group in the vertical jump (37″) and three-cone drill (6.98-seconds).” —Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com
“Very high ceiling as a pass rusher. Possesses a quick first step.” —ESPN
Similar picks: Greg Scruggs (#232, 2012); Justin Forsett (#233, 2008); Steve Vallos (#232, 2007); Jeff Kelly (#232, 2002); Rich Grimmett (#231, 1978).
Jared Smith, OG – Round 7, #241 overall (@unhsmitty90)
Fun Fact: Played defense in college, Seahawks will convert him to guard like they did with J.R. Sweezy.
“We’re excited about his upside from an athletic standpoint. Very similar mold as Sweezy.” —Schneider
“Hits all the marks in terms of height, weight and top-end speed. Average arm length (33.5).” —ESPN
“I will always feel that I need to prove to everyone why I belong, but I like having that pressure on me because I know that I will work harder than anyone. Working hard is in my nature from being a New Hampshire Wildcat and I am willing to prove that to anyone.” —Jared Smith
“(Smith) earned the nickname ‘Fat Rabbit’ for his surprising speed and agility within an outsized frame.” —Louis Bien, SB Nation
“As long as (switching positions) gets me to where I’m going, I’m going to work very hard.” —Jared Smith
Michael Bowie, OT – Round 7, #242 overall (@61likebowie)
Fun Fact: Started college career at Oklahoma State, was dismissed for violating undisclosed team rules.
“Big, athletic, great feet, long arms. Has a bit of a background, if he overcomes that has a chance to be a great pro.” —Schneider
“He’s the type of guy they call a developmental swing lineman prospect.” —Mike Mayock, NFL Network
“Bowie has a massive frame, and a lot of upside in terms of athleticism and natural power. However, he is raw.” —ESPN
Similar picks: Malcolm Smith (#242, 2011); Ryan Plackemeier (#239, 2006); Deatrich Wise (#242, 1989); M.L. Johnson (#243, 1987); Adam Schreiber (#243, 1984); Ezra Tate (#240, 1979); Bob Bos (#239, 1976).
The Undrafted Free Agents
Matt Austin, WR, Utah State: “A big, physical wide receiver with great hands.” [USU player page]
Alvin Bailey, OT, Arkansas: “Blessed with a natural anchor to limit his opponent’s opposition.” [NFL draft page]
Kenneth Boatright, DE, Southern Illinois: “Was 26th nationally in TFLs per game (1.23).” [SIU player page]
Ramon Buchanan, LB, Miami: “Was one of the top defenders out of Florida as a recruit.” [CBS draft page]
John Lotulelei, LB, UNLV: “A thick OLB (with) quickness and closing speed.” [NFL draft page]
Ray Polk, SS, Colorado: “Ran the 40 at 4.40 and had a 39-inch vertical jump.” [NFL draft page]
Jordon Roussos, OG, Bowling Green: “BGSU’s offensive line allowed just 13 sacks all season.” [NFLDraftScout page]
Dominique Whaley, RB, Oklahoma: “Walk-on turned into team’s starting RB.” [OU player page]
Craig Wilkins, LB, Old Dominion: “ODU’s all-time leader in tackles, sacks, forced fumbles, and interceptions.” [ODU player page]
The Seahawks are good again and there’s plenty of room on the bandwagon. Nate Silver has climbed aboard, so why not you? To establish your Hawks fan bonafides, this lifelong fan humbly suggests five tasks.
1. Punch Yourself Repeatedly in the Face.
This simple exercise will replicate 37 years of Seahawks fandom. Since 1976, we fans have endured such trauma as the team nearly moving to Los Angeles, the Vinnie Testaverde helmet touchdown, and Dan McGwire. Make one of the punches extra hard to represent Super Bowl XL, when referee incompetence robbed the Seahawks of a world championship.
2. Select Your Game Day Garb
From dogs to babies to the elderly to mystery beings, Seahawks fans love to dress up. If elaborate face paint and 8 pounds of Mardi Gras beads isn’t your style, snag a t-shirt at the team store. If you want to look really legit, check out the vintage Seahawks gear at Throwbacks NW. This hat says “I remember the Chuck Knox years” even if you don’t.
3. Respond to the Name “Twelve”
Seahawks fans are known collectively as “Twelves,” a reference to Seahawks fans as “the 12th man.” The Seahawks retired the #12 in honor of the fans in 1984. You’ll often see folks wearing Seahawks #12 jerseys with “Fan” on the back.
4. Join the Cult of Wilson
Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson is practically a deity in Seahawks’ fans eyes after having one of the best rookie seasons in history. Beyond that, the humble yet driven Wilson appears to be pretty much the world’s greatest person.
5. Be F***ing Loud
Perhaps as a way of throwing off our culturally inherited Scandinavian reserve, Seattle fans are exceptionally loud. The NFL instituted an anti-noise rule in 1989 because of deafening Kingdome volumes, and the tradition has continued at CenturyLink Field. Since the Seahawks began playing there, opposing offenses have committed 121 false starts–more than at any NFL stadium. Screaming fans actually caused a seismic event during a 2011 playoff game.
Ready, go! Someday, maybe we’ll randomly hug in a bar after a Seahawks touchdown. We’ll try not to get our beads tangled.
Because I want you to win friends and influence people, here are two sentences you can say during Sunday’s Seahawks/Redskins playoff game that are guaranteed to impress.
1) “They’re in the Pistol formation.”
2) “Looked like the read-option.”
You can’t just randomly blurt these statements out and look cool. Besides, you’ve already got “Who needs a Mike’s Hard?” for that. No, you must know the perfect moment to deploy these advanced football proclamations!
Say “They’re in the Pistol formation” when you see this:
This, friends, is the Pistol formation. Notice: Quarterback Russell Wilson is standing five yards behind the line of scrimmage, and running back Marshawn Lynch is directly behind him.
If pressed for further explanation by football neophytes, explain patiently that the Pistol was invented by longtime University of Nevada head coach Chris Ault in 2005, and that among its many advantages are that the running back is hidden behind the quarterback–the defense can’t see the running back’s movements at the snap, and so can’t they tell right away which way the run will go. The result of this play, incidentally, was the Hawks’ first TD in the win over San Francisco. Here’s more on how the Seahawks use the Pistol, from Field Gulls’ Danny Kelly.
Say “looked like the read-option” when you see something like this:
…followed by something like this (it may be easier just to watch the highlight of this one):
This time, running back Lynch is lined up to quarterback Wilson’s side. At the snap, Lynch runs toward Wilson. When they meet, Wilson will either hand the ball to Lynch, who’ll continue running left, or keep the ball himself and run right. Which OPTION Wilson chooses depends on how he READS the movement of the defense. Hence, the read-option.
If some smart-ass wants to quiz you about it, explain how Wilson makes his read: By watching the defensive end lined up on the side Lynch is on. If the end stays put or comes upfield, Wilson hands the ball to Lynch, who runs away from the end to the other side of the line. If the end runs down the line of scrimmage toward Lynch, Wilson keeps the ball, and runs around the end. The beauty of the read-option is that it can eliminate the defensive end from the play without anyone having to block him. The read-option is one of the plays in the spread offense, which Chip Kelly’s Oregon Ducks thrash the Huskies with every year. The result of this particular read-option play was Lynch scoring a touchdown.
The Seahawks also sometimes fake the read-option and pass instead–they scored the game-winning touchdown in Chicago that way. Here’s more on how the Seahawks use the read-option from National Football Post’s Matt Bowen.
The crazy thing about the Seahawks’ use of the Pistol and the read-option is that neither was in the playbook at the start of the season. The Seahawks used the read-option only sporadically until early December, and didn’t use the Pistol at all until Week 14 against Buffalo. Less than a month later–and after scoring more points in a three-game stretch than any team had since 1950–both strategies are a key part of the offense. Much credit is due to Seahawks’ offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell for his creativity, and quarterback Russell Wilson for running such a complicated offense as a rookie. (You know, that’s ANOTHER smart sentence you can say. On the house.)
So how are you going to sound smart when the Seahawks are on defense? Happily, the Redskins also use both the Pistol and the read-option, so you’re set there too. Don’t worry about repeating yourself, the worst TV announcers have been doing it for years and no one seems to notice.
The Seahawks play the Redskins at FedExField in Landover, MD, at 1:30 PST on Sunday. The game will be televised on FOX.
If you are inclined, as I am, to worship at the altar of advanced statistical analysis after high priest Nate Silver’s 50-for-50 election sweep, you should be feeling pretty good about our Seattle Seahawks.
Two years ago, Priest Silver himself called the Seahawks the worst playoff team in NFL history, based on a statistic developed by the guys at Football Outsiders (“geniuses,” according to Silver).
Times have changed. According to that same stat, the Seahawks are the second-best team in the NFL and one of the best teams of the past 20 years.
Before his career as a political prognosticator, Silver created a groundbreaking projection system for baseball. Then, the average baseball pundit was as math-challenged as Karl Rove. Still, the baseball world was a Math Olympiad compared to football.
In baseball, at least, the things we measure are basically even. Most hits are as valuable as other hits, outs about as valuable as other outs. Football is completely different. Performance is usually measured by yardage gained–a statistic that’s nearly meaningless out of context. If you complete a five-yard pass on 3rd and 4, you keep the ball and have a much better chance of scoring. But that same five-yard pass on 3rd and 8 is a flat-out #FAIL.
Measured by the football stat most media members and old-school football types rely on, the Seahawks aren’t spectacular. By yardage, the Seahawks are third in total defense and 21st in total offense. Decent, but nothing to throw down a Super Bowl bet over.
The Football Outsiders measure not just yardage, but the value of the yards. Think of it as the difference between the national poll numbers and the electoral college tallies predicted by the state polls. The first is nice to know, but the second is what really matters. Football Outsiders’ metric, DVOA, assigns a value to every play based on how much closer it got a team to scoring, then normalizes it based on the performance of the rest of the teams in the league.
According to DVOA, your Seattle Seahawks are #2 in the NFL, with a DVOA of 43.9 percent — that is, they are 43.9 percent better than the average team. The Patriots have a slight lead over the Seahawks, but both teams possess two of the highest DVOA ratings of the past 20 years. As Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz puts it: “If there’s one thing right now that FO readers should be telling other football fans, it’s this: Don’t sleep on the Seattle Seahawks.”
Because of the Seahawks’ slow start and some close losses, they are unlikely to secure home-field advantage in the playoffs. So despite being ranked as the second-best team, Football Outsiders thinks they’re only the fourth-most likely team to win the Super Bowl, with just an 11.9 percent chance. Still, those are pretty interesting odds considering that Vegas has the Seahawks at 18-1.
If you didn’t already triple Junior’s college fund taking money from overconfident Republicans on InTrade, with the benefit of Nate Silver’s advice, you may have another chance. Consider the New York Giants. According to Football Outsiders, they are half as good as the Seahawks–but Vegas has them as more than twice as likely to win the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks currently have the the first of two wild-card berths into the NFL playoffs, but likely must win at least two of their final three games to hold on to it. They play the Buffalo Bills in Toronto on Sunday (where PSY will perform at halftime!), in a domed stadium that will likely be half-empty. For a road game you could hardly imagine a better setting.
Then it’s home to face San Francisco–if the Seahawks win Sunday and the Niners lose at New England, the game would be for first place in the NFC West. The Hawks stay at home for the final game of the year against St. Louis. All in all, a very promising schedule. If Football Outsiders is as right as Nate Silver was, the Hawks should storm into the playoffs with an 11-5 record, ready for a run at the Super Bowl.
Every week, Wilson and his wife visit sick kids at Seattle Children’s Hospital (via Instagram)
The key endorsement came at the conclusion of Sunday’s Bears game, after Russell Wilson had led the Seahawks to an overtime victory on an 80-yard game-winning drive.
“Are you an @DangeRussWilson believer yet?” tweeted Rainn Wilson. “I just became one.”
Rainn (a Shorecrest grad, if you didn’t know) isn’t alone. Seahawks fans, myself included have fallen hard for Wilson. Writes Kenneth Arthur of the Hawks blog Field Gulls: “Wilson is young, he’s ridiculously inexpensive, he’s good, and he’s winning. The only thing more I could ask from him is to be my date to the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance.”
Let’s break down the many reasons for the powerful municipal mancrush:
Wilson’s an underdog.
Wilson is 5’-11”, which has long been considered too small for a quarterback. Not just for an NFL quarterback — the colleges that recruited Wilson wanted him to switch positions. Wilson was a four-year starter in college. The Seahawks already had a highly-paid and 6′-2″ presumed starter in Matt Flynn…but Wilson beat him out in preseason.
Wilson studies hard
A game film addict, Wilson reported to Seahawks HQ every day during the offseason to study opposing teams. Before every game he texts his receivers a scouting report on the opposing team’s defensive backs and linebackers.
Wilson has a sense of purpose
“I know that I’m playing for a lot of kids down the road, kids in the future that are my height,” he told the Miami Herald last week.
Wilson is advanced for his age
There is actually more to being a good quarterback than being tall — or even than having a strong arm. Wilson has a handle on the nuances of the position ridiculously early. Watch what he does with his hips on this TD throw against the Vikings. The whole play, his hips and feet point left, then he fires the ball into the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown. This is Advanced Quarterbacking, people. (This Field Gulls article has the full breakdown of the play.)
Wilson can beat you with his legs
Against a gassed Chicago defense on Sunday, Wilson led the Seahawks down the field with zone-read plays, which give the quarterback the option to run. After several successful runs, the Seahawks went zone read for the winning throw, with the threat of Wilson’s legs helping his receivers get open. Bears star linebacker Brian Urlacher pulled his hamstring chasing Wilson during the end of the game and now may be out for the season.
Wilson proves that math rulez
The stats and analysis gurus at Football Outsiders were stunned when their projection system for college players, the “Lewin Career Forecast,” gave Wilson the highest rating ever — higher than first overall pick Andrew Luck. The writers of the site started calling Wilson “The Asterisk.” Turns out their numbers — just like Nate Silver’s — may have turned out to be right. Check out how Wilson compares to Luck against seven common opponents this season.
Wilson doesn’t throw over the middle
This goes under the category of “just about everything.” Wilson has thrown over the middle on just seven percent of his pass attempts this season — less than any of the top 20 quarterbacks in the NFL. Does Wilson’s stature prevent him from seeing receivers in the middle of the field? Or does it have more to do with the Seahawks using their tight ends as blockers more often than as receivers? Either way, Wilson’s use of the middle of the field is so far below QBs in the rest of the league, it may be a weakness defenses can exploit. Let’s hope not!
The Seahawks “control their own destiny,” meaning that if they win their next four games, they’ll make the playoffs. Wilson would be only the third quarterback since the NFL/AFL merger to start all 16 games as a rookie and lead his team to the postseason. And think beyond the next four games. Have the Seahawks found Seattle’s sports star for the next decade?
