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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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- Fav. Team #3
Positives:
Russell Wilson - Reports are that Russell feels 100%, which is great news for Seahawk fans, but Falcon fans should be worried. In his last 11 regular season games, Russell has 2970 passing yards, a 29/2 TD:INT ratio and a 120.1 rating. The Falcon's pass defense hasn't had much success against opposing passers, giving up 300 yards per game and over a 100 rating.
Doug Baldwin/Jimmy Graham - The one constant in Russell's explosion into the ranks of elite passers has been the performance of Doug Baldwin (71/1054/14 last 12 games). Baldwin has always been a reliable possession receiver, but he has upped his game and brought in more explosiveness and an amazing 72% completion rate on targets over his last 41 games. Getting Graham back, and the production he has put up the last 2 games will make this offense even more of a nightmare than it already was. With Lockett battling a knee injury and Kearse all but disappearing so far this year - these two are a great 1-2 punch to keep the passing game rolling.
Defense - #1 offense versus #3 defense (1 & 1 in yardage) will be a great matchup. Atlanta likes to set up the pass (#1 passing offense) with the run, and they use 2 backs to great effect. Freeman will be the biggest rushing threat (410 yards vs. 160), but Coleman will be the real threat (313 receiving yards) as Seattle has had issues with the dump pass to the back this season. Seattle's will need to show Atlanta the 2013 SB treatment and shut down the run and make the Falcons run shallow routes.
Negatives:
Christine Michael - I've actually stuck up for him in the discussions about his productivity going forward, but this has nothing to do with that. With the weather as it has been (we all know about the storm), the latest forecast I saw stated 15-20+ mph winds and heavy rain. Michael has ball control issues in the past that came back to haunt Seattle against LA, and though he had a good game (all things considered) in the detrimental weather in Minnesota last season - he could be the focal point of the offense if the conditions make the passing game ineffective. I like him just ok, just not sure that I want the offense dependent upon his performance and his ability to hold onto a slick ball.
Injuries - Seattle got some healing during the bye, but Rawls is still out (and this would be a good game for him to back with the conditions and whatnot), Chancellor and Clark are both questionable right now, and Reed and Lockett are both probable with leg issues.
Matt Ryan - Atlanta has put the entire offense on Matt Ryan's shoulders for years, but this season they're running a much more balanced attack. Ryan is using the help from the running game to some astonishing success. Despite being on pace to throw the fewest passes since 2009, Ryan is having the best season of his career. Seattle's D is going to have to stuff the run, and get pressure on Ryan, cause with the probable weather conditions, yards and points may be difficult to come by.
Matchups:
Julio Jones vs. Richard Sherman - This is the marquee matchup for the week, in the entire NFL. These two are at the very top of the NFL in the respective positions. Jones' knee is slightly banged up, and there is no telling how that will affect him. Jones has the monster game against Carolina, but otherwise is just been good, but like that Carolina game shows - he can have a big game at any time. Sherman is one of the few corners in the league that doesn't give up all that much in height to Jones, and though Jones is faster, Sherman has shown over and over, that even when he appears beat - he still makes the plays. Should be a great matchup to watch (if either team can throw the ball down the field).
Tevin Coleman vs. K.J. Wright - Dump off passes have at times been frustrating to see, as RBs have gotten the ball on 3rd and long and run for a first down on multiple occasions this early season. Coleman is great at this exact thing - so Wright (and Wagner) will need to be on top of their game in this one. No missed tackles, limit his YAC and just take him out of the passing game.
Vic Beasley/Dwight Freeney vs. Bradley Sowell/Gary Gilliam - Beasley terrorized the Broncos last week, recording 3 1/2 sacks and 8 total tackles, and 75% percent of the Falcons' pressure comes from Freeney and Beasley. Both tackles will have to have solid games, and keep the pressure from Russell, as there may not be much in diversity of the route tree today. If they can give Russell the time he needs, and the interior line can keep the middle of the pocket clean (which they have done pretty well this year) then the Falcons defensive backfield could be in serious trouble.
Overview:
This game really depends on the weather. Both offenses can light it up if the weather allows it, but Seattle's defense has the better chance of shutting down the Atlanta offense than that Atlanta defense has to shutting down Seattle. The weather though, could turn this game into an ugly mud bowl style contest, with whichever team who can run the ball better, and not turn it over could win a very low scoring game. Only time will tell what will happen.
Russell Wilson - Reports are that Russell feels 100%, which is great news for Seahawk fans, but Falcon fans should be worried. In his last 11 regular season games, Russell has 2970 passing yards, a 29/2 TD:INT ratio and a 120.1 rating. The Falcon's pass defense hasn't had much success against opposing passers, giving up 300 yards per game and over a 100 rating.
Doug Baldwin/Jimmy Graham - The one constant in Russell's explosion into the ranks of elite passers has been the performance of Doug Baldwin (71/1054/14 last 12 games). Baldwin has always been a reliable possession receiver, but he has upped his game and brought in more explosiveness and an amazing 72% completion rate on targets over his last 41 games. Getting Graham back, and the production he has put up the last 2 games will make this offense even more of a nightmare than it already was. With Lockett battling a knee injury and Kearse all but disappearing so far this year - these two are a great 1-2 punch to keep the passing game rolling.
Defense - #1 offense versus #3 defense (1 & 1 in yardage) will be a great matchup. Atlanta likes to set up the pass (#1 passing offense) with the run, and they use 2 backs to great effect. Freeman will be the biggest rushing threat (410 yards vs. 160), but Coleman will be the real threat (313 receiving yards) as Seattle has had issues with the dump pass to the back this season. Seattle's will need to show Atlanta the 2013 SB treatment and shut down the run and make the Falcons run shallow routes.
Negatives:
Christine Michael - I've actually stuck up for him in the discussions about his productivity going forward, but this has nothing to do with that. With the weather as it has been (we all know about the storm), the latest forecast I saw stated 15-20+ mph winds and heavy rain. Michael has ball control issues in the past that came back to haunt Seattle against LA, and though he had a good game (all things considered) in the detrimental weather in Minnesota last season - he could be the focal point of the offense if the conditions make the passing game ineffective. I like him just ok, just not sure that I want the offense dependent upon his performance and his ability to hold onto a slick ball.
Injuries - Seattle got some healing during the bye, but Rawls is still out (and this would be a good game for him to back with the conditions and whatnot), Chancellor and Clark are both questionable right now, and Reed and Lockett are both probable with leg issues.
Matt Ryan - Atlanta has put the entire offense on Matt Ryan's shoulders for years, but this season they're running a much more balanced attack. Ryan is using the help from the running game to some astonishing success. Despite being on pace to throw the fewest passes since 2009, Ryan is having the best season of his career. Seattle's D is going to have to stuff the run, and get pressure on Ryan, cause with the probable weather conditions, yards and points may be difficult to come by.
Matchups:
Julio Jones vs. Richard Sherman - This is the marquee matchup for the week, in the entire NFL. These two are at the very top of the NFL in the respective positions. Jones' knee is slightly banged up, and there is no telling how that will affect him. Jones has the monster game against Carolina, but otherwise is just been good, but like that Carolina game shows - he can have a big game at any time. Sherman is one of the few corners in the league that doesn't give up all that much in height to Jones, and though Jones is faster, Sherman has shown over and over, that even when he appears beat - he still makes the plays. Should be a great matchup to watch (if either team can throw the ball down the field).
Tevin Coleman vs. K.J. Wright - Dump off passes have at times been frustrating to see, as RBs have gotten the ball on 3rd and long and run for a first down on multiple occasions this early season. Coleman is great at this exact thing - so Wright (and Wagner) will need to be on top of their game in this one. No missed tackles, limit his YAC and just take him out of the passing game.
Vic Beasley/Dwight Freeney vs. Bradley Sowell/Gary Gilliam - Beasley terrorized the Broncos last week, recording 3 1/2 sacks and 8 total tackles, and 75% percent of the Falcons' pressure comes from Freeney and Beasley. Both tackles will have to have solid games, and keep the pressure from Russell, as there may not be much in diversity of the route tree today. If they can give Russell the time he needs, and the interior line can keep the middle of the pocket clean (which they have done pretty well this year) then the Falcons defensive backfield could be in serious trouble.
Overview:
This game really depends on the weather. Both offenses can light it up if the weather allows it, but Seattle's defense has the better chance of shutting down the Atlanta offense than that Atlanta defense has to shutting down Seattle. The weather though, could turn this game into an ugly mud bowl style contest, with whichever team who can run the ball better, and not turn it over could win a very low scoring game. Only time will tell what will happen.
