aREDSKIN Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 A good take on what just might happen Saturday. By DAVID LOCKE SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER Don't be lured into a false sense of security from last week's Washington-Tampa Bay game. Don't be lured by the point spread thinking Saturday's playoff game against the Redskins will be easy. This is the playoffs. Nothing will be painless. Furthermore, the Redskins are a bad matchup for the NFC West champion Seahawks. The idea of a blowout is close to ludicrous. This is the final four of the NFC. The Seahawks have played four teams this season capable of being in the NFC final four: Dallas, the New York Giants, Washington and Jacksonville. (This excludes the Week 16 matchup with a team masquerading as the Indianapolis Colts.) The combined score in those four games: Opponents 77, Seahawks 68. Moreover, the Redskins lost just one game all year by more than six points. They are a big-time club on a six-game win streak. Worse, the Redskins can take away what makes the Seahawks unique. Seattle is a tempo team. Matt Hasselbeck and the offense set a speed to the game in their first drive. They gain a momentum that lingers for the entire 60 minutes. It isn't a no-huddle offense, but it is quick. Only once all season were the Seahawks unable to dictate the tempo. Joe Gibbs and his pounding, ball-control offense ripped tempo away from the Seahawks at FedEx Field and brought the game to a halt in a 20-17 overtime victory. In the Week 4 matchup, the Seahawks ran just six plays in the first quarter and only 21 in the first half. An average NFL game has 65 plays. By game's end, the Redskins had a time-of-possession advantage of seven minutes. They were 13 of 18 on third-down conversions. advertising Seattle had only seven offensive drives, compared to the usual 12 per game. Washington found a way to virtually cut the game in half. It is the equivalent of playing the old four corners of college basketball. When the Seahawks aren't getting their offensive possessions, the game changes. "I start to grind," coach Mike Holmgren said. "It is frustrating as a play-caller. You have to be careful not to try to make it all up at once. You have to fight the urge." Ball control is the essence of Gibbs. John Riggins and the Hogs carried home the Super Bowl trophy behind Gibbs' ball-control thumping of opponents. On Saturday, it will be Clinton Portis trying to take control of the game. The Seahawks' bend-but-don't-break defense is susceptible to a ball-control team. The request all year long from Holmgren has been, "I would like a few more three-and-outs from the defense." That is not what the Seahawks' defense does. The defense ranks 16th in the NFL in total yards, but a much more important seventh in points allowed per game. You may drive, but you will not see the end zone. On Saturday, the total yards allowed may be equally essential. Getting the Redskins off the field and allowing the Seahawks' offense to gets its shots will be as imperative as preventing points. The Seahawks' defense has allowed only one first-quarter touchdown all season. Only four times in the entire season did Seattle enter the second quarter trailing. Falling behind will play into the hands of Gibbs and his power running game. Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander and the Pro Bowl-laden offense is what will carry the Seahawks to the NFC Championship Game. On Saturday, the defense needs to make sure they get the opportunity. David Locke hosts "Locked on Sports" from 7-10 p.m. weeknights on Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM. His column appears Wednesdays in the P-I. You can e-mail him at Davidlocke@clearchannel.com. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/255171_locke11.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSO Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Nice find. Guy knows what he's talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtdetri Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 A good take on what just might happen Saturday. By DAVID LOCKE SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER Don't be lured into a false sense of security from last week's Washington-Tampa Bay game. Don't be lured by the point spread thinking Saturday's playoff game against the Redskins will be easy. This is the playoffs. Nothing will be painless. Furthermore, the Redskins are a bad matchup for the NFC West champion Seahawks. The idea of a blowout is close to ludicrous. This is the final four of the NFC. The Seahawks have played four teams this season capable of being in the NFC final four: Dallas, the New York Giants, Washington and Jacksonville. (This excludes the Week 16 matchup with a team masquerading as the Indianapolis Colts.) The combined score in those four games: Opponents 77, Seahawks 68. Moreover, the Redskins lost just one game all year by more than six points. They are a big-time club on a six-game win streak. Worse, the Redskins can take away what makes the Seahawks unique. Seattle is a tempo team. Matt Hasselbeck and the offense set a speed to the game in their first drive. They gain a momentum that lingers for the entire 60 minutes. It isn't a no-huddle offense, but it is quick. Only once all season were the Seahawks unable to dictate the tempo. Joe Gibbs and his pounding, ball-control offense ripped tempo away from the Seahawks at FedEx Field and brought the game to a halt in a 20-17 overtime victory. In the Week 4 matchup, the Seahawks ran just six plays in the first quarter and only 21 in the first half. An average NFL game has 65 plays. By game's end, the Redskins had a time-of-possession advantage of seven minutes. They were 13 of 18 on third-down conversions. advertising Seattle had only seven offensive drives, compared to the usual 12 per game. Washington found a way to virtually cut the game in half. It is the equivalent of playing the old four corners of college basketball. When the Seahawks aren't getting their offensive possessions, the game changes. "I start to grind," coach Mike Holmgren said. "It is frustrating as a play-caller. You have to be careful not to try to make it all up at once. You have to fight the urge." Ball control is the essence of Gibbs. John Riggins and the Hogs carried home the Super Bowl trophy behind Gibbs' ball-control thumping of opponents. On Saturday, it will be Clinton Portis trying to take control of the game. The Seahawks' bend-but-don't-break defense is susceptible to a ball-control team. The request all year long from Holmgren has been, "I would like a few more three-and-outs from the defense." That is not what the Seahawks' defense does. The defense ranks 16th in the NFL in total yards, but a much more important seventh in points allowed per game. You may drive, but you will not see the end zone. On Saturday, the total yards allowed may be equally essential. Getting the Redskins off the field and allowing the Seahawks' offense to gets its shots will be as imperative as preventing points. The Seahawks' defense has allowed only one first-quarter touchdown all season. Only four times in the entire season did Seattle enter the second quarter trailing. Falling behind will play into the hands of Gibbs and his power running game. Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander and the Pro Bowl-laden offense is what will carry the Seahawks to the NFC Championship Game. On Saturday, the defense needs to make sure they get the opportunity. David Locke hosts "Locked on Sports" from 7-10 p.m. weeknights on Sports Radio 950 KJR-AM. His column appears Wednesdays in the P-I. You can e-mail him at Davidlocke@clearchannel.com. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/255171_locke11.html Not trying to rain on your parade but this same thread was started yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief skin Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 I have not heard anyone in the media explain the match up like that. Thank you I enjoyed reading that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 12, 2006 Share Posted January 12, 2006 Very good read, with a realistic break down....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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