Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
* The Seahawks looked unbeatable in the 1st half versus the Falcons---they were putting a pounding on Matt Ryan and blanketing Julio Jones with Sherman---ATL seemed intimidated.
* Credit the Falcons coaches for firing the Falcons up at half-time and, even more importantly, for adjusting with moving Matt Ryan off the pocket spot on sprint outs and bootlegs and play action. Ryan started picking their secondary apart when he flushed away from pressure and the WRs were beating the zones on drags and crossing patterns.
* Suddenly Sherman and the secondary botch assignments (a la Cardinals versus the Pats) and Julio Jones is wide open repeatedly. By moving Ryan around the Falcons coaches really got into the Seahawks' heads. See Richard Sherman's sideline meltdowns.
* Bradley Sowell---been focusing on him every time I watch the Seahawks and it is amazing what Tom Cbale has done with him. He is playing like a legitimate LT and had a near perfect performance yesterday, dominating Brooks Reed in the Falcons' base defense and then stonewalling Dwight Freeney. The most valuable coach on the Seahawks is Tom Cable. What a teacher and motivator who instills confidence and toughness in his players.
* The Falcons' CB Robert Alford is a PI waiting to happen on almost every pass that is thrown in his direction---he really cost the Falcons badly in the second half---yet the calls on him were not nearly as obvious as the hold that Richard Sherman got away with at the end of the game. One would think the refs would want instant replay on plays like that because everyone across the USA saw what Sherman got away with. On key game deciding plays, replay should be a rule no matter what the call. Just get the calls right.
* The Seahawks were able to overcome 3 horrible blown coverages, a missed FG and blocked XPT and the loss of DE Michael Bennett and still win the game---largely because their defense capitalized on a rare Julio Jones drop which Sherman topped and Thomas intercepted---and The Closer in the NFC, Russell Wilson, despite playing hobbled once again led the offense to a GW score.
* How quickly the Rams have dropped back to the pack---despite a huge day from Kenny Britt, Todd Gurley is being held in check and the Rams' defense is giving up way to may big plays for a group with their talent.
* How can Chuck Pagano's defense in Indy be so bad year after year? It does not bode well for a HC when his area of expertise is not making itself manifest in games. Their coverage was so soft in the 4th Q. Why?
* There were many exciting games yesterday. Man, how about those Cowboys? How many GMs in the league are kicking themselves in the are for passing on Dak Prescott? Steve Keim admitted he blew it on Russell Wilson---and now with Prescott making total sense at the end of round three Keim does not make the move....and quite frankly it is very possible that CB Brandon Williams, because of only playing CB for one year, would have been available in the 4th round---and C Evan Boehm could have been traded up for a could have been available in Round 5. But---just the same---it feels weird to say this but had Keim drafted Prescott wouldn't he be languishing as the #3 QB amidst reports that he is having difficulty picking up the offense? I hate to be cynical but when it comes to the Cardinals and rookies under BA there does not seem to be a smooth assimilation into the program. Does it really have to be so hard? Look at Prescott---he looks like he's been playing in the NFL for years. Plus, his athleticism is allowing him to extend plays with his feet and to buy time to create clear passing lanes.
* Credit the Falcons coaches for firing the Falcons up at half-time and, even more importantly, for adjusting with moving Matt Ryan off the pocket spot on sprint outs and bootlegs and play action. Ryan started picking their secondary apart when he flushed away from pressure and the WRs were beating the zones on drags and crossing patterns.
* Suddenly Sherman and the secondary botch assignments (a la Cardinals versus the Pats) and Julio Jones is wide open repeatedly. By moving Ryan around the Falcons coaches really got into the Seahawks' heads. See Richard Sherman's sideline meltdowns.
* Bradley Sowell---been focusing on him every time I watch the Seahawks and it is amazing what Tom Cbale has done with him. He is playing like a legitimate LT and had a near perfect performance yesterday, dominating Brooks Reed in the Falcons' base defense and then stonewalling Dwight Freeney. The most valuable coach on the Seahawks is Tom Cable. What a teacher and motivator who instills confidence and toughness in his players.
* The Falcons' CB Robert Alford is a PI waiting to happen on almost every pass that is thrown in his direction---he really cost the Falcons badly in the second half---yet the calls on him were not nearly as obvious as the hold that Richard Sherman got away with at the end of the game. One would think the refs would want instant replay on plays like that because everyone across the USA saw what Sherman got away with. On key game deciding plays, replay should be a rule no matter what the call. Just get the calls right.
* The Seahawks were able to overcome 3 horrible blown coverages, a missed FG and blocked XPT and the loss of DE Michael Bennett and still win the game---largely because their defense capitalized on a rare Julio Jones drop which Sherman topped and Thomas intercepted---and The Closer in the NFC, Russell Wilson, despite playing hobbled once again led the offense to a GW score.
* How quickly the Rams have dropped back to the pack---despite a huge day from Kenny Britt, Todd Gurley is being held in check and the Rams' defense is giving up way to may big plays for a group with their talent.
* How can Chuck Pagano's defense in Indy be so bad year after year? It does not bode well for a HC when his area of expertise is not making itself manifest in games. Their coverage was so soft in the 4th Q. Why?
* There were many exciting games yesterday. Man, how about those Cowboys? How many GMs in the league are kicking themselves in the are for passing on Dak Prescott? Steve Keim admitted he blew it on Russell Wilson---and now with Prescott making total sense at the end of round three Keim does not make the move....and quite frankly it is very possible that CB Brandon Williams, because of only playing CB for one year, would have been available in the 4th round---and C Evan Boehm could have been traded up for a could have been available in Round 5. But---just the same---it feels weird to say this but had Keim drafted Prescott wouldn't he be languishing as the #3 QB amidst reports that he is having difficulty picking up the offense? I hate to be cynical but when it comes to the Cardinals and rookies under BA there does not seem to be a smooth assimilation into the program. Does it really have to be so hard? Look at Prescott---he looks like he's been playing in the NFL for years. Plus, his athleticism is allowing him to extend plays with his feet and to buy time to create clear passing lanes.
