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Bill Bergen for HoF!
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I slept in last week, and the game thread was made. Can't sleep this week (shouldn't've taken that 4 hour nap this afternoon), so I guess I'll just make it now. So, in honor of last year's threads, here's my overview of the upcoming game.
Positives:
Percy Harvin - Last week was a showcase of how the Seahawks will be using Harvin, which appears to be very similar to how the Vikings used him when Bevell was there. The jet sweep will kill you, though I'm not sure the Chargers will be caught as off guard with him motioning to the RB spot (Green Bay just didn't seem to know what to do about that). I wouldn't be surprised to see the play 2-3 times (they did average 10.3 yards an attempt), but I also wouldn't be surprised to not see it at all (make the Chargers prepare for something that they won't even see). He's a very dangerous weapon.
OLine - Last week was one of the better OLine performances in a long time, maybe since Hutch left. Granted, it was against the Packers, who despite their fans' reassurances that their defenses was gonna be a top 5 (and some seemed to think better than the Hawks) defense this season, they really weren't that great. If Lynch, Harvin, Turbin and Wilson get the same holes/protection they got last week, the Chargers are done.
Bobby Wagner - Probably the most underrated player on the Seahawks defense, his play really leads the D. He lead the team in tackles last year (154) while missing 2 games, and had 14 last week. He was second last year on the D in approximate value (11) behind Richard Sherman. He's unsung, and if the Hawks want to dominate the Chargers O, then they have to stop the run, and that's where Wagner has his most value.
Negatives:
Marcus Burley/Josh Thomas - I have nothing against either of them, but the fact that either is on the team just shows how different the depth at CB is this season compared to last. Lane going down was a worst case scenario for the LOB, so these two will have to man that spot well. Burley played ok there against the Packers, so we'll have to see what he does today. I was happy with the Thomas signing, and maybe he becomes the next man up that Lane and Maxwell were last year.
Phillip Rivers - He's Tony Romo without the negative reputation. He'll single-handedly throw you into a game, and throw you out of it. People do seem to forget that first one though. I highly doubt that the Chargers receivers will have the drops they had against Arizona. If the Seahawk pass rush cannot get pressure on him, it could be a long day for those injury depleted DBs.
Size - The Charger's OLine is just massive, all five are listed at 300 or more, with only the center (Rich Ohrnberg) listed less than 320. The Seahawks are not that big (I think someone posted this week that Seattle was the lightest team in the NFL. The DLine isn't the big concern, but they will have to keep these big boys off our linebackers. Maybe even bring in Scruggs to be the Bryant-type end on run downs to help bulk up the line, and keep the holes for Matthews smaller.
Matchups:
Keenan Allen vs. Richard Sherman - Are the Chargers going to do the same thing that the Packers did with Nelson and make Allen and Floyd line up on the right side every play? If not, how often is Sherman targeted? The mind game between Sherman and the leagues' offensive coordinators started last week, and Sherman definitely won that round.
Injuries - Both teams are going to be missing players, but the Chargers appear to be more banged up than the Hawks. 6 of their defensive players are on their injury report, the most notable are Brandon Flowers (Q), Sean Lissemore (P) and Corey Luiget (P). Though people know how physical the Seahawk D is, they tend to forget just how physical the O can be. With the improved play of guys like James Carpenter, this could be a long day on those not 100% ankles.
TEs vs. LBs - Bobby Wagner's athletic play running with Randall Cobb last week just shows how athletic our LBs are. Last year, they shut Jimmy Graham down twice, and they play Vernon Davis twice a year. Antonio Gates has been one of the best for many years, and Rivers' favorite security blanket, and I really like Ladarius Green coming out of college (guy is just an athletic freak). If the Seahawks linebackers can hold up against these TEs, then it could help get them off the field quicker.
Overview:
People have been saying there isn't anyone on the Chargers that scares them, but I don't entirely agree. The Chargers don't seem to have anyone who is that big play threat, but they do have the guys that are needed to sustain long drives, which the Seahawks have been known to give up from time to time. Seattle needs to keep them in 3rd and long, and get off the field (a few turnovers would help). Talent wise, Seattle is much better, and if they come at this game with the every game is a championship mentality, then they should be fine.
Seattle 35, San Diego 13
Positives:
Percy Harvin - Last week was a showcase of how the Seahawks will be using Harvin, which appears to be very similar to how the Vikings used him when Bevell was there. The jet sweep will kill you, though I'm not sure the Chargers will be caught as off guard with him motioning to the RB spot (Green Bay just didn't seem to know what to do about that). I wouldn't be surprised to see the play 2-3 times (they did average 10.3 yards an attempt), but I also wouldn't be surprised to not see it at all (make the Chargers prepare for something that they won't even see). He's a very dangerous weapon.
OLine - Last week was one of the better OLine performances in a long time, maybe since Hutch left. Granted, it was against the Packers, who despite their fans' reassurances that their defenses was gonna be a top 5 (and some seemed to think better than the Hawks) defense this season, they really weren't that great. If Lynch, Harvin, Turbin and Wilson get the same holes/protection they got last week, the Chargers are done.
Bobby Wagner - Probably the most underrated player on the Seahawks defense, his play really leads the D. He lead the team in tackles last year (154) while missing 2 games, and had 14 last week. He was second last year on the D in approximate value (11) behind Richard Sherman. He's unsung, and if the Hawks want to dominate the Chargers O, then they have to stop the run, and that's where Wagner has his most value.
Negatives:
Marcus Burley/Josh Thomas - I have nothing against either of them, but the fact that either is on the team just shows how different the depth at CB is this season compared to last. Lane going down was a worst case scenario for the LOB, so these two will have to man that spot well. Burley played ok there against the Packers, so we'll have to see what he does today. I was happy with the Thomas signing, and maybe he becomes the next man up that Lane and Maxwell were last year.
Phillip Rivers - He's Tony Romo without the negative reputation. He'll single-handedly throw you into a game, and throw you out of it. People do seem to forget that first one though. I highly doubt that the Chargers receivers will have the drops they had against Arizona. If the Seahawk pass rush cannot get pressure on him, it could be a long day for those injury depleted DBs.
Size - The Charger's OLine is just massive, all five are listed at 300 or more, with only the center (Rich Ohrnberg) listed less than 320. The Seahawks are not that big (I think someone posted this week that Seattle was the lightest team in the NFL. The DLine isn't the big concern, but they will have to keep these big boys off our linebackers. Maybe even bring in Scruggs to be the Bryant-type end on run downs to help bulk up the line, and keep the holes for Matthews smaller.
Matchups:
Keenan Allen vs. Richard Sherman - Are the Chargers going to do the same thing that the Packers did with Nelson and make Allen and Floyd line up on the right side every play? If not, how often is Sherman targeted? The mind game between Sherman and the leagues' offensive coordinators started last week, and Sherman definitely won that round.
Injuries - Both teams are going to be missing players, but the Chargers appear to be more banged up than the Hawks. 6 of their defensive players are on their injury report, the most notable are Brandon Flowers (Q), Sean Lissemore (P) and Corey Luiget (P). Though people know how physical the Seahawk D is, they tend to forget just how physical the O can be. With the improved play of guys like James Carpenter, this could be a long day on those not 100% ankles.
TEs vs. LBs - Bobby Wagner's athletic play running with Randall Cobb last week just shows how athletic our LBs are. Last year, they shut Jimmy Graham down twice, and they play Vernon Davis twice a year. Antonio Gates has been one of the best for many years, and Rivers' favorite security blanket, and I really like Ladarius Green coming out of college (guy is just an athletic freak). If the Seahawks linebackers can hold up against these TEs, then it could help get them off the field quicker.
Overview:
People have been saying there isn't anyone on the Chargers that scares them, but I don't entirely agree. The Chargers don't seem to have anyone who is that big play threat, but they do have the guys that are needed to sustain long drives, which the Seahawks have been known to give up from time to time. Seattle needs to keep them in 3rd and long, and get off the field (a few turnovers would help). Talent wise, Seattle is much better, and if they come at this game with the every game is a championship mentality, then they should be fine.
Seattle 35, San Diego 13
