Key Questions That Need Answering For A Seahawks Win Over The Cardinals

Sunday’s game between the Seahawks and Arizona   Cardinals is a fantastic opportunity for the  Seahawks to trend upwards and show people how talented the team is rather than tell people. Many Seahawks fans are already tired of, “we are young talented, learning, and will get better. soon” Sunday’s  NFC West Rivalry game provides the opportunity for the team to show they have gotten better.

Is Kenneth Walker Ready For Prime Time?

With Rashaad Penny suffering another unfortunate season-ending injury the  Seahawks will look to Ken Walker to carry the load. Walker was the best running back in college football last year and the plan was to get him on the field alternating with Penny or the main back if history repeated itself. Last week history repeated itself and Walker stepped through it. Walker had a head-turning 69-yard touchdown run on his way to an eight-carry 88-yard day.  If Walker is to have another productive day he will have to do it against an Arizona run defense that is ranked fifth and allowing just 97. 4 yards a game.

Is Phil Haynes An Able  Replacement For Gabe Jackson?

Right, guard  Gabe Jackson suffered a hip flexor in the third quarter of last week’s loss at New Orleans.  Jackson has been a steady and solid pillar on an offensive line that has given Gen Smith the time he needs Haynes has played in every game but the Lions contest due to an ankle issue. The four-year pro spent most of last season on the practice squad and found his way on the field this year due to his versatility. Haynes started at left guard for Damien Lewis ( knee/ankle and replaced Lewis in the first quarter of the 49ers game due to a thigh injury. Haynes is a good run blocker and an adequate pass blocker. Head coach Pete told the media this week that he is confident Haynes can do the job

“I really have liked Phil,” Carroll said. “I don’t think our play has dropped off at all. We have three starting guards. Whether it’s right or left, it doesn’t matter, Phil can jump in. He had a really good week again. He’s up for it. There’s no drop-off.”

CAN GENO SMITH BE STOPPED?

The Seahawk’s offense is on a scoring spree that has not been seen for quite a while.  The offense has scored 103 points in its last three games. They are the most explosive play percentage-wise in the NFL with a 14.8 percent of their offense being explosive ( plays ( 12 plus yard run or 16 plus yard pass ). The Hawks’s offense is averaging  6.6  yards per play which is the second most in the league. Quarterback Geno Smith’s 113.2 passer rating leads the NFL  and does his 75.2 completion percentage. Sunday’s game might be Geno’s to date.

The Cardinal’s defense is ranked 21 overall but has the 5th best rush defense. The Cardinals will naturally look to make the  Hawk’s offense one-dimensional. Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the year 9 2012,14-15) JJ Watt can still get find his way into the opponent’s backfield. Watt leads the Cardinals with 2.5 sacks and has recorded a sack in of the team’s last two games.

• Sounders FC Inducts Kasey Keller, Sigi Schmid, and Jimmy Gabriel into Legends Circle
• Mariners place J.P. Crawford on IL with right hand contusion
• WNBA Game Recap: Storm Struggles Against Lynx
• Mariners avoid another injury issue after J.P. Crawford hit by pitch
• Mariners Home Run Derby to feature Ichiro and Mike Cameron

CAN THE OFFENSE GET BACK TO CONVERTING THIRD DOWNS?

Before the Saints, the game the Seahawks had converted 26 of 47 third-down attempts. During the Saints game, the Seahawks converted 1 of 9 third down attempts. While the Seahawks had some explosive plays to counter the awful third-down conversions the disparity in converting third-down conversations showed a lack of inconsistency on offense. The inability to move the chains left the Seahawks with a 49 to  74  total plays run disparity. The key for the Seahawks to keep moving the chains will be to stay away from third and long. Good play calling and execution on first and second down will be a must.

WHAT WILL BE THE AL WOODS EFFECT

After recording his first sack of the season and a combined five tackles  Al Woods left last Sunday’s game against the Saints with a  leg injury. Before the injury  Wood’s ability to clog up the middle was having a dramatic effect on the Saint’s offense. With the middle clogged up, the Saints had to run off tackle plays. Woods’s status for Sunday will be a game-time decision. If he is unable to play against the Cardinals someone will need to step up and clog the middle. That chore will fall to Bryan Mone. The  Seahawks signed former first-round draft pick Bruce Irvin this week in another move to add depth to the edge position. The Seahawks are hoping his experience will make a difference even if it is on a part-time basis.

“It’s great having him back. He has a great personality, there is a lot of juice and energy, he has veteran experience, and is somebody that can continue to help out the younger guys. One of the added benefits is that he was in Chicago last year, so he had a little bit of an early introduction to the system, so not everything will be foreign to him. It’s awesome having him back, and again, the veteran experience for the other edge players.”

Seahawks DC Clint Hurtt on having Bruce Irvin back

What remains to be seen is whether Irvin will be ready to play o Sunday.

“It would probably be better for him if we didn’t (play him), but we will see what happens, we will see how the week goes,” Carroll said earlier this week.