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blstoker
Bill Bergen for HoF!
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- Apr 17, 2013
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- WA
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As requested:
Positives:
Thomas Rawls - Thomas Rawls was the key to the win against Detroit. His 161 rushing yards enabled the Seahawks offense to have the ball for over 36 minutes of time of possession. The formula to beat Atlanta is the same as it is to beat Detroit - keep the ball away from the Falcon's offense. The run defense in Atlanta is atrocious, and the Seahawks HAVE to take advantage of that early and often. Rawls (and possibly Prosise) will be key in trying to once again dominate time of possession against a high flying passing offense.
Russell Wilson - This season the team has gone the way that Russell Wilson has gone. He's had his well documented ups and downs, but this is the time of year where he needs to perform. His 119.3 QB rating last Saturday was key in the win, and he'll need to do it again. Atlanta may sell all out to stop Rawls and the run, so Wilson will need to make them play honest. If he can make them respect the pass (which he should be able to) then this game could be a huge positive for the offense.
Cliff Avril - Avril has been a disruptive force this season on the defensive line - but this line tends to be all or nothing at times. Pressure on Matt Ryan will be key this game. There are just too many weapons on the Falcons offense to give Ryan 5 seconds + to throw the ball. It didn't hurt the Seahawks nearly as much as it should have against Detroit - but the 3 sacks they had seemed to be the only times they pressured Stafford on his 35 drop backs. If that happens with Ryan - look for the Falcons to have over 300 yards instead of just 182.
Negatives:
Julio Jones - Jones killed the Hawks the last time these two teams played (7-139-1) and look for the Falcons to make him a focal point of the offense again. He had his 4th straight year where he averaged 100 yards receiving per game this season, and the Hawks are going to find that shutting him down will go a long way to winning this game.
RB Duo - 2482 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns, that's what Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman did this year for the Falcons and 40% of the #1 offense's output. They love to use both these guys, and they are both deadly. Seattle did a good job containing them last time (67 yard of offense on 20 touches), and they'll have to do it again. They have to make the Falcon's offense one dimensional - not because facing the passing game is a walk in the park - but because facing that passing game is a nightmare if you also have to worry about that running game.
Matt Ryan - Matt Ryan has been unreal this season, completing just shy of 70% of his passes and a 117.1 rating. He has the weapons to hurt you if you give him the time to throw, and he can make it a very long day for a defense. The Seahawks have to take his run game away, as well as put consistent pressure on him all game. Make sure he has a Hawk in his face on every drop back. Don't give the Falcons time to run complicated and/or deep routes. Make him check down and limit the yard after catch. This has been our strategy on defense for years, and this year we need to make it happen - as Terrell hasn't been bad, but he isn't Earl Thomas.
Matchups:
Gary Gilliam/George Fant vs. Vic Beasley - Our struggles at tackle have been well documented this entire season, and a lot of the criticism has been warranted. Beasley led the NFL in sacks this season, and it'll be a chore to keep him away from Russell. They failed against Ziggy Ansah last week (who got as many sacks that game as he did in the regular season). The entire line needs to keep the pocket clean for Russell and open holes for Rawls.
DeShawn Shead vs. Mohamed Sanu - Shead has been up and down this season, but it didn't even take til half time for the Hawks to put Sherman on Jones last time. I don't know if Sherman will shadow Jones, but if he does, that means that Shead will have to limit Sanu. Sanu is a pretty good receiver in his own right (no Roddy White in his prime, but still really good). Sanu was the #2 receiver all season long, and if Jones and Sherman battle it out, there could be plenty of opportunity for this matchup to be highlighted.
Paul Richardson vs. Jalen Collins - With Trufant out, Collins has been starting in his place, while Richardson showed a little last week what Seattle needs him to be while Lockett his out. Collins is a more physical corner, but Richardson is fast and athletic. Seattle will need another big day from Richardson, and Collins and co. will have to stop him as well as Baldwin and Graham.
Overview:
In years past, Seattle was built specifically to beat teams like Atlanta, but this season they've struggled more than expected. The injury to Earl Thomas has hurt, but not as much as was feared (at this point) and the defense needs to play better this week than last if they want to give the offense enough time to hurt the Falcons. The offense really needs a repeat performance from last week and if they have the ball 35+ minutes, the team could be in a great position to win the game. This will not be a cake walk. I expect another high scoring game, that is a close game that could come down to whoever has the ball last.
Positives:
Thomas Rawls - Thomas Rawls was the key to the win against Detroit. His 161 rushing yards enabled the Seahawks offense to have the ball for over 36 minutes of time of possession. The formula to beat Atlanta is the same as it is to beat Detroit - keep the ball away from the Falcon's offense. The run defense in Atlanta is atrocious, and the Seahawks HAVE to take advantage of that early and often. Rawls (and possibly Prosise) will be key in trying to once again dominate time of possession against a high flying passing offense.
Russell Wilson - This season the team has gone the way that Russell Wilson has gone. He's had his well documented ups and downs, but this is the time of year where he needs to perform. His 119.3 QB rating last Saturday was key in the win, and he'll need to do it again. Atlanta may sell all out to stop Rawls and the run, so Wilson will need to make them play honest. If he can make them respect the pass (which he should be able to) then this game could be a huge positive for the offense.
Cliff Avril - Avril has been a disruptive force this season on the defensive line - but this line tends to be all or nothing at times. Pressure on Matt Ryan will be key this game. There are just too many weapons on the Falcons offense to give Ryan 5 seconds + to throw the ball. It didn't hurt the Seahawks nearly as much as it should have against Detroit - but the 3 sacks they had seemed to be the only times they pressured Stafford on his 35 drop backs. If that happens with Ryan - look for the Falcons to have over 300 yards instead of just 182.
Negatives:
Julio Jones - Jones killed the Hawks the last time these two teams played (7-139-1) and look for the Falcons to make him a focal point of the offense again. He had his 4th straight year where he averaged 100 yards receiving per game this season, and the Hawks are going to find that shutting him down will go a long way to winning this game.
RB Duo - 2482 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns, that's what Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman did this year for the Falcons and 40% of the #1 offense's output. They love to use both these guys, and they are both deadly. Seattle did a good job containing them last time (67 yard of offense on 20 touches), and they'll have to do it again. They have to make the Falcon's offense one dimensional - not because facing the passing game is a walk in the park - but because facing that passing game is a nightmare if you also have to worry about that running game.
Matt Ryan - Matt Ryan has been unreal this season, completing just shy of 70% of his passes and a 117.1 rating. He has the weapons to hurt you if you give him the time to throw, and he can make it a very long day for a defense. The Seahawks have to take his run game away, as well as put consistent pressure on him all game. Make sure he has a Hawk in his face on every drop back. Don't give the Falcons time to run complicated and/or deep routes. Make him check down and limit the yard after catch. This has been our strategy on defense for years, and this year we need to make it happen - as Terrell hasn't been bad, but he isn't Earl Thomas.
Matchups:
Gary Gilliam/George Fant vs. Vic Beasley - Our struggles at tackle have been well documented this entire season, and a lot of the criticism has been warranted. Beasley led the NFL in sacks this season, and it'll be a chore to keep him away from Russell. They failed against Ziggy Ansah last week (who got as many sacks that game as he did in the regular season). The entire line needs to keep the pocket clean for Russell and open holes for Rawls.
DeShawn Shead vs. Mohamed Sanu - Shead has been up and down this season, but it didn't even take til half time for the Hawks to put Sherman on Jones last time. I don't know if Sherman will shadow Jones, but if he does, that means that Shead will have to limit Sanu. Sanu is a pretty good receiver in his own right (no Roddy White in his prime, but still really good). Sanu was the #2 receiver all season long, and if Jones and Sherman battle it out, there could be plenty of opportunity for this matchup to be highlighted.
Paul Richardson vs. Jalen Collins - With Trufant out, Collins has been starting in his place, while Richardson showed a little last week what Seattle needs him to be while Lockett his out. Collins is a more physical corner, but Richardson is fast and athletic. Seattle will need another big day from Richardson, and Collins and co. will have to stop him as well as Baldwin and Graham.
Overview:
In years past, Seattle was built specifically to beat teams like Atlanta, but this season they've struggled more than expected. The injury to Earl Thomas has hurt, but not as much as was feared (at this point) and the defense needs to play better this week than last if they want to give the offense enough time to hurt the Falcons. The offense really needs a repeat performance from last week and if they have the ball 35+ minutes, the team could be in a great position to win the game. This will not be a cake walk. I expect another high scoring game, that is a close game that could come down to whoever has the ball last.
