The Seattle Seahawks are going to Ford Subject to face the Detroit Lions on Monday Night time Soccer . It is a matchup that has been repeated so much in recent times; it’s the fourth straight season the groups are enjoying one another, and the third in a row in Detroit.
I consider that Seattle’s season is simply simply starting now. It is going to be the primary offense with good items and a well-planned method that we are going to face, in addition to one other sturdy protection. The offense and protection will be unable to get away with foolish errors made, not like the primary few weeks.
An awesome duel on the sideline
This match additionally brings an important duel on the sidelines. Within the final head teaching hiring cycle, two names had been probably the most coveted among the many groups: Mike Macdonald and his creativity on protection, and Ben Johnson and all his prominence within the Lions’ offense.
Unexpectedly, after being interviewed by the Seahawks, Washington Commanders and different events, Ben Johnson withdrew from the method and stated that he would return for one more season in Detroit, taking many individuals abruptly. Along with this match between the 2 greatest skills, this sport additionally marks the rematch between Johnson’s offense and Macdonald’s protection.
Final 12 months, the Lions had been defeated 38-6 by the Baltimore Ravens. Jared Goff was intercepted as soon as and suffered 5 sacks, ending the sport with a QBR of 14.8. The Lions’ offense, which was 5-1 (with their solely loss coming to Seattle in Week 2), solely managed to attain factors within the final quarter of the sport and solely reached the pink zone as soon as.
Let’s hope Macdonald stays undefeated, however what is definite is that it is going to be an important sport between two inventive minds.
Seahawks Offensive Line Challenges
Defending the run sport just isn’t the Lions’ sturdy level, however needless to say our OL lacks numerous bodily imposition. The operating sport solely works when the blocking angles match completely.
When it comes to uncooked energy, Seattle had difficulties towards the Miami Dolphins, a workforce that the Payments ran over.
The Lions have a way more bodily entrance seven than the Dolphins, so…
It’s price remembering that offensive line points aren’t one thing that can be resolved shortly. George Fant, in one of the best case situation, will solely return after he’s spent the required time on IR, and Abe Lucas was given a prognosis to return mid-season (however we all know that in the case of Lucas, the timeline is at all times longer, because the workforce has been ready for him to be wholesome for mainly two years).
Anthony Bradford will proceed because the starter as a result of it’s been reported that Christian Haynes has so many technical points that the workforce would somewhat preserve Bradford, his penalties and his pressures allowed than provides Haynes a shot. The one risk of enchancment within the brief time period is for Connor Williams to get again to his greatest kind and create a rhythm with Geno Smith.
This week, Stone Forsythe, the third-string RT, will face one of the best DL Seattle has confronted to date. Aidan Hutchinson already has 6.5 sacks and can be a nightmare for our OL. He may also produce inside, so he’ll inevitably line up towards Bradford on some snaps. Bear in mind what occurred when this OL confronted Keion White and he got here away with 2.5 sacks. Hutch has the potential to do one thing comparable, on the very least.
Ryan Grubb Recreation Plan
Though the primary downside within the operating sport is the OL’s efficiency, Grubb wants to enhance his play-calling and design for the runs. Nevertheless, within the passing sport, the Seahawks’ new OC has proven nice creativity and effectiveness.
Up to now, Grubb has not tried to “stress” a particular participant in any of his video games. This week, towards the Lions, could be a chance to check rookie CB Terrion Arnold. He had good snaps towards Marvin Harrison Jr. final week, however his PFF grades have been disastrous.
Arnold ranks 102 out of 106 qualifying corners and has already been flagged 5 occasions. With the Seahawks having a wonderful trio of receivers at their disposal, JSN, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett may make the rookie’s life a nightmare. Particularly with Lockett’s potential to drive flags on opponents.
“Rungamephobia”: One other bloodbath within the operating sport?
A fast search on the web revealed a number of several types of phobias, however none of them had been about worry of the opponent’s operating sport. Perhaps this phobia solely impacts Seattle followers.
Jokes apart, we don’t have to return too far to recollect the New England Patriots’ dominance on the bottom towards our protection. They’d 185 yards, 1 TD and a mean of greater than 5 yards per carry. And, for my part, this occurred within the worst potential means.
One of many nice keys to American soccer is to maintain the protection guessing.
Will it’s a run?
A go?
A display?
Play Motion?
The Patriots’ offense was not inventive. In concept, the Seahawks didn’t have to “worry” the passing sport (regardless that on this sport they gave up one of the best sport of Hunter Henry’s profession). Even realizing that the Pats would run the ball so much, they had been unable to cease it.
Towards the Lions, it is going to be very completely different. Though the workforce depends on the operating sport, there are different methods to harm the protection. Amon-Ra St Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta are only a few examples.
The Lions have a various operating sport, each when it comes to play design and elegance. They’ll harm you by utilizing physicality in the course of the road (making the accidents to Leo Williams and Byron Murphy much more noticeable) with David Montgomery, or with velocity with Jahmyr Gibbs on the perimeters of the road.
The Lions is not going to have Frank Ragnow and maybe the best way ahead is to assault the inside of the road. Discover the synchronization of the execution of the Pirate Stunt, when the gamers assault the innermost hole, and handle to make the fast deal with.
Seattle’s go rush towards an elite offensive line
In an interview with Uchenna Nwosu, I heard a phrase that actually caught my consideration: “Defend the operating sport so you may have the best to go after the QB.”
This ought to be Seattle’s motto on this sport, as a result of the workforce will face one of the best offensive line to date, so it poses an actual problem for the workforce that’s among the many greatest at pressuring the QB.
Macdonald could be very inventive in his blitzes and simulated pressures. This can be key on this sport. For those who can’t win 1v1 bodily, how about complicated the safety scheme and the opposing QB’s head?! These unique modifications in who drops the ball and who goes after the QB had been answerable for Jared Goff’s “worst moments” towards the Cardinals. In actual fact, it resulted in considered one of his interceptions.
The Cardinals ship the ILB on the blitz and drop out Dennis Gardeck (#46). Goff sees the blitz and thinks the TE’s fast route can be clear. Nevertheless, he hits Gardeck within the chest for the Cardinals’ first interception of the 12 months.
The Cardinals have seven gamers threatening to blitz, however solely 5 get after Goff. Zaven Collins (#25) is distributed into protection and Arizona primarily has two free gamers to stress the QB.
The Cardinals’ defensive positioning pre-snap causes the OL to name for a stron proper aspect safety. This leaves Zaven Collins (#25) 1-on-1 towards the RB and Mack Wilson (#2) towards the LT. The confusion causes Goff to carry onto the ball and he finally ends up getting sacked.
Closing Ideas
That is the primary sport through which we aren’t the favorites this season. There’s a purpose for this, and it’s nicely based; the Lions’ best strengths are the most important issues we now have confronted to date. A win right here is unlikely, however who is aware of, the workforce may present itself able to placing in a great efficiency that can give us extra confidence for the longer term. If the Seahawks lose to the Lions, it is going to be the primary time since 2012, after they had been defeated 28-24 in Detroit, in Russell Wilson’s rookie 12 months.
