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- #1
blstoker
Bill Bergen for HoF!
- 14,275
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- Joined
- Apr 17, 2013
- Location
- WA
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- $ 9,816.00
- Fav. Team #1
- Fav. Team #2
- Fav. Team #3
Positives:
Chris Carson - Injury concerns aside, Carson has had a great season to this point. He's handled the workload well, and will be tested by the 7th ranked run defense. Carson (as well as Davis and Penny) will need to have a good day, or the offense will sputter, that's kind've what happens when the running game is the focal point of the offense.
Russell Wilson - Wilson's having a better year than he's been getting credit for, he's just been inconsistent in ways that fans aren't used to seeing. We're coming into the part of the season where he generally plays extremely well - and the team needs him to be great if they want to make the run at the playoffs.
Bobby Wagner - Wagner has been up and down this season, possibly trying to make up for an inexperienced line and holes in the linebacker lineup. He needs to be at his best as Seattle has to limit the running game in ways they haven't been consistent at this season and put the game in Cam Newton's arm.
Negatives:
Christian McCaffrey - Having a break out season, McCaffery has been a huge part of the Carolina offense. Seattle has struggled a great deal with running backs catching passes out of the backfield, and McCaffery has already had 60 of those and leads the team in receiving. He's also running the ball at a great clip as well. If Seattle can't stop him running and catching - then it will be a difficult day.
Luke Kuechly - Look for Kuechly to be around the ball a lot today - especially with how much the Seahawks run. The Seahawks need to make him work for the tackles he's gonna get - hit him hard, make him make plays in the second level and keep him from shooting gaps to get tfl. He's the leader of their defense, and the Hawks need to keep him in check.
Cam Newton - Newton is having a great year, he's throwing the ball as well as ever and he's still a threat in the running game. McCaffery has made his life easier - but he can still be a threat on his own. The Defense is going to have a hard day if they allow Newton to get the looks he wants.
Matchups:
Tre Flowers vs. Devin Funchess - Flowers has been great at times at CB this season, and at times he looks like a converted rookie safety. Funchess will be a different challenge than Flowers has faced this year (and Griffin) as he's the physical type receiver that corners like Flowers were brought in the face. Flowers need to have a good game and limit Newton's options.
Barkevious Mingo/Austin Calitro vs. Greg Olson - Olson has had huge games against the Seahawks defense, and our best TE coverage backer is out. Though his numbers a down this year - don't think Newton won't use his weapons that will expose a LB corps that has had issues keeping tabs on their assignments this year.
D.J. Fluker/Justin Britt/J.R. Sweezy vs. Kawann Short/Dontari Poe/Luke Keuchly - This is where the Seahawks offense has to dominate to win this game. The interior line of the Panthers is good, and the Seahawks need to be able to run the ball right at it - as that's where their bread and butter is. Control the LOS and the game is winnable.
Overview:
This is going to come down to which defense can stop the run, and which offense can take advantage of the defense's run focus in the passing game. Both teams have been inconsistent in some areas, and the game is a must win for both in the playoff race. The playoffs truly do start now, and the pressure is on.
Chris Carson - Injury concerns aside, Carson has had a great season to this point. He's handled the workload well, and will be tested by the 7th ranked run defense. Carson (as well as Davis and Penny) will need to have a good day, or the offense will sputter, that's kind've what happens when the running game is the focal point of the offense.
Russell Wilson - Wilson's having a better year than he's been getting credit for, he's just been inconsistent in ways that fans aren't used to seeing. We're coming into the part of the season where he generally plays extremely well - and the team needs him to be great if they want to make the run at the playoffs.
Bobby Wagner - Wagner has been up and down this season, possibly trying to make up for an inexperienced line and holes in the linebacker lineup. He needs to be at his best as Seattle has to limit the running game in ways they haven't been consistent at this season and put the game in Cam Newton's arm.
Negatives:
Christian McCaffrey - Having a break out season, McCaffery has been a huge part of the Carolina offense. Seattle has struggled a great deal with running backs catching passes out of the backfield, and McCaffery has already had 60 of those and leads the team in receiving. He's also running the ball at a great clip as well. If Seattle can't stop him running and catching - then it will be a difficult day.
Luke Kuechly - Look for Kuechly to be around the ball a lot today - especially with how much the Seahawks run. The Seahawks need to make him work for the tackles he's gonna get - hit him hard, make him make plays in the second level and keep him from shooting gaps to get tfl. He's the leader of their defense, and the Hawks need to keep him in check.
Cam Newton - Newton is having a great year, he's throwing the ball as well as ever and he's still a threat in the running game. McCaffery has made his life easier - but he can still be a threat on his own. The Defense is going to have a hard day if they allow Newton to get the looks he wants.
Matchups:
Tre Flowers vs. Devin Funchess - Flowers has been great at times at CB this season, and at times he looks like a converted rookie safety. Funchess will be a different challenge than Flowers has faced this year (and Griffin) as he's the physical type receiver that corners like Flowers were brought in the face. Flowers need to have a good game and limit Newton's options.
Barkevious Mingo/Austin Calitro vs. Greg Olson - Olson has had huge games against the Seahawks defense, and our best TE coverage backer is out. Though his numbers a down this year - don't think Newton won't use his weapons that will expose a LB corps that has had issues keeping tabs on their assignments this year.
D.J. Fluker/Justin Britt/J.R. Sweezy vs. Kawann Short/Dontari Poe/Luke Keuchly - This is where the Seahawks offense has to dominate to win this game. The interior line of the Panthers is good, and the Seahawks need to be able to run the ball right at it - as that's where their bread and butter is. Control the LOS and the game is winnable.
Overview:
This is going to come down to which defense can stop the run, and which offense can take advantage of the defense's run focus in the passing game. Both teams have been inconsistent in some areas, and the game is a must win for both in the playoff race. The playoffs truly do start now, and the pressure is on.
