The Seattle Seahawks’ loss against the Los Angeles Rams needs to generate lessons learned, but it can’t reverberate forever. The focus needs to be on the Tennessee Titans. The Tennessee team has only one
win this season, against the Arizona Cardinals, in a bizarre game.
The last 8 Seahawks-Tennessee games have been decided by one possession. The idea is that this game will be different, but in sports anything is possible, especially in a highly competitive league like the NFL.
It’s a game to regain confidence and get back in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Let’s Go!
Titans Roster Analysis
There are no 100% bad rosters in the NFL. The Titans have Jeffery Simmons, one of the best DTs in the league. Furthermore, there are other useful/interesting players on the roster. Cody Barton is a good LB, Arden Key a good EDGE, rookie safety Kevin Winston has stood out. On offense, Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike are good receivers, as is rookie Gunnar Helm.
On the offensive line, there’s still Kevin Zeitler and Peter Skoronski. Both were in the conversation about being traded, including to Seattle, but both remained with the Titans, especially Peter, who is a young player to protect Cam Ward in the future.
Causing discomfort for the rookie QB
The Seahawks are among the teams that apply the most pressure in the league. The pressure, even if it doesn’t result in a sack, disrupts the processing of QBs, especially rookies. The center allowed the most sacks at his position, Dan Moore is the offensive tackle with the most sacks allowed, and JC Latham, with half the snaps of Moore, is in the top six in sacks allowed. Good opportunity for the edge rushers.
Here we have the example of Jayden Daniels. Deebo Samuel’s route, #1, is open behind Tyrice Knight. Easy read and simple pass, but Daniels was under pressure so many times during the game that it makes him hesitate, and this allows the sack to happen.
This affects even more experienced QBs. Matt Stafford, seeing no options due to the good work of the secondary, tries to trigger the checkdown, but without success, due to the pressure.
Here we see Cam Ward’s processing. He basically has two open routes. He hesitates, and this allows the pressure to arrive and turn what would be a gain into a sack.
Again, with the free dig, Ward tries to improvise nonsensically, and still manages to connect, but in a much more complicated play, throwing from his own end zone.
Another opportunity for the offense
The Seahawks have 20 turnovers. If that number doesn’t change, their playoff run will be threatened. Even in easier games, the offense has found ways to give the ball away to the opponent. The Seahawks are the favorites, but one way to try to complicate this game is with turnovers.
Furthermore, it’s another opportunity to attack with outside zones and finally create CONSISTENCY in the running game.
The interior of the Seahawks offensive line should have problems
Jeffery Simmons may not play, but if he does, he will be the biggest obstacle for the interior of the offensive line. Olu Oluwatimi is a backup, Anthony Bradford is one of the worst starters in the league, and Christian Haynes couldn’t even beat Bradford in the competition for the starting RG.
Despite the imminent nightmare, I wouldn’t rush Grey Zabel’s return in this game.
Final Thoughts
The Seahawks need to focus on this game. The only way they can lose is with turnovers or by going in with the idea that everything is already won. The team has demonstrated this focus before, let’s see if they can do it again.
I believe the defense has already shown that it deserves the trust. They played good games even with absences. Now it’s time for the offense to show if it’s capable of keeping this team in the game when necessary.
