The Seattle Seahawks are chomping at the bit and cannot wait to make amends for their transgressions in Green Bay according to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Okay, maybe positive Pete did not use those exact words, but he did allude to the fact that his team is locked and loaded to face the San Francisco 49ers in the team’s home opener Sunday at CenturyLink Field.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
The defensive strategy for Sunday’s game against the 49ers is the tried and true blueprint. Stop the run and get after quarterback Brian Hoyer. Running back Carlos Hyde had 45 of the teams 52 rushing yards in the 49ers 23 to3 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The Seahawks defense first will look to continue that trend Sunday against the 49ers Brian Hoyer a quarterback who has shown an unwillingness to shy away from tight coverage. Hoyer is the quintessential gunslinger who borders on recklessness. In the home loss to the Carolina, 48% of Hoyer’s passes were thrown with a Panther defender within one yard of a 49er receiver. Hoyer aggressiveness resulted in two turnovers an interception and a fumble. Hoyer passing numbers were 35 of 24 for 193 no touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 70.3.
If the Seahawks play solid disciplined defense Hoyer could have another tough day at the office on Sunday according to Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner.
“I think they are going to try and get the ball out of his hands pretty fast. They are going to do a lot of intermediate shots. They are going to have some shots down the field, but I think it is just going to test us being able to recognize the routes and rallying to everything that is in front of us and try to minimize all the yards after catches and things of that nature. We just got to be real disciplined this game.”
SEAHAWKS OFFENSE
The Seahawks offensive struggles at Green Bay, no touchdowns scored, 90 rushing yards, a fumble at the five-yard line and a meager three of 12 third down conversion rate have become folklore in 12’s nation.
Players, coaches, and fans have had their say about the Seahawks dismal offensive output. The Seahawks offensive line has taken more hits than a car in a demolition derby. The only way to stop the chatter according to Seahawk offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell is to get back on the field and execute.
“Well, all we can do is get better. I was just talking to a couple guys and just the way the whole game went, you could not have convinced me going into that game that that was the way we were going to perform. We’ve performed really well here in practice against a great defense out here in training camp.
We performed well in the preseason, so I was convinced that we were going to go out and have a real solid game. But it was one of those first games and we made some mistakes. We were very inconsistent, so I have no doubts that we will be better, that we will improve and we will get better in all the areas. Usually the second game, obviously from the first game, you correct a lot of things. I have no doubts that we will be able to do that.”
INJURIES: 49ers – Out: linebacker Reuben Foster (ankle); Questionable: safety Jimmie Ward (hamstring); Seahawks — Doubtful: linebacker Terence Garvin (shoulder); Questionable: cornerback Richard Sherman (hamstring).
