Seahawks against the Blitz (1 Viewer)

[BlueOnion]

I was wondering how Holmgren will prepare his team for the sophisticated blitz packages of Pittsburgh and then wondered which defenses have they played this year in which the defense liked to blitz.

I see the Redskins, but the Seahawks lost that game. Philadelphia likes to blitz but the Seahawks blew them out, in large part because of some quick turnovers and points; allowing Seattle to sit on the ball.

So my question is, How much exposure have the Seahawks' offense had to blitzing defenses?

 

[Kleck]

Dallas is the only team that plays a similar 3-4 scheme, but pretty much every team in the NFL has some form of blitz package.This is a major concern for me.

 

[BlueOnion]

This is a major concern for me.

It is for me as well. I would like to give Holmgren the benefit of the doubt because it seems screen plays and quick dump-offs have always been present in his playbook.But preparing for the Steelers defense is not the same thing as actually playing against it.

 

[Kleck]

This is a major concern for me.

It is for me as well. I would like to give Holmgren the benefit of the doubt because it seems screen plays and quick dump-offs have always been present in his playbook.But preparing for the Steelers defense is not the same thing as actually playing against it.

Two thoughts.1. I was very happy to see that they were willing to think out of the box heading into the Carolina game. They schemed Steve Smith out of the game. Seeing them line a LB up in front of Smith and putting the CB ten yards behind him was different and unexpected. To me this means Holmgren is not so inflexible to think he can just keep doing the same thing and winning. If a change is necessary he'll go that route.

2. Seattle hasn't utilized the screen much during the past two seasons. Alexander's reception totals have taken a huge nose dive. Doesn't necessarily mean they won't use it. Perhaps they just been successful ramming down opponents gullets and haven't needed to use it.

+--------------------------+-------------------------+                 |          Rushing         |        Receiving        |+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+| Year  TM |   G |   Att  Yards    Y/A   TD |   Rec  Yards   Y/R   TD |+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+| 2000 sea |  16 |    64    313    4.9    2 |     5     41   8.2    0 || 2001 sea |  16 |   309   1318    4.3   14 |    44    343   7.8    2 || 2002 sea |  16 |   295   1175    4.0   16 |    59    460   7.8    2 || 2003 sea |  16 |   326   1435    4.4   14 |    42    295   7.0    2 || 2004 sea |  16 |   353   1696    4.8   16 |    23    170   7.4    4 || 2005 sea |  16 |   370   1880    5.1   27 |    15     78   5.2    1 |+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+|  TOTAL   |  96 |  1717   7817    4.6   89 |   188   1387   7.4   11 |+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+

 

[BlueOnion]

2. Seattle hasn't utilized the screen much during the past two seasons. Alexander's reception totals have taken a huge nose dive. Doesn't necessarily mean they won't use it. Perhaps they just been successful ramming down opponents gullets and haven't needed to use it.

I like your first point.On the second point, Homglren is pretty good about scripting plays and I expect a lot of those scripted pass plays will be quick-hit plays; screens, waggles and slip-screens.

Holmgren is usually pretty good about pre-snap formations, something else I will be watching closely in the Seahawks first drive. For instance, if Polamalu usually lines up on a slot receiver in 3-receiver sets, I suspect Holmgren will run a weakside waggle or two away from the slot position in a three receiver set.

I am very excited to see how Holmgren tries to open the game for the Seahawks.

 

[dgreen]

They faced Washington twice, but I think the Redskins blitzed less against Seattle than other teams. Hasslebeck likes to take his steps, plant, and throw with no hesitation. So, what Greg Williams did a lot was only rush three and drop eight into coverage. Hass would take his steps, plant, look, look, look, then dump it off or throw it away. It worked well in the first half of each of their games. They didn't force him into any mistakes, but they frustrated the passing game some. Here are his 1st half stats in those games.Week 4: 8-15-77-0-0Playoffs: 8-16-105-1-0My guess is Holmgren adjusted better than Williams in the passing game and Hasslebeck was solid in the 2nd half of each game.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

They faced Washington twice, but I think the Redskins blitzed less against Seattle than other teams. Hasslebeck likes to take his steps, plant, and throw with no hesitation. So, what Greg Williams did a lot was only rush three and drop eight into coverage. Hass would take his steps, plant, look, look, look, then dump it off or throw it away. It worked well in the first half of each of their games. They didn't force him into any mistakes, but they frustrated the passing game some. Here are his 1st half stats in those games.

Week 4: 8-15-77-0-0

Playoffs: 8-16-105-1-0

My guess is Holmgren adjusted better than Williams in the passing game and Hasslebeck was solid in the 2nd half of each game.

Good points. I hope Pittsburgh blitzes all day. Yes I said it. Even when Seattle has faced teams who blitz like the Colts, Redskins, Cowboys, and Panthers they don't see a lot of them because the defense knows what is going to happen. This is a precise offensive based on timing. Blitz and have one guy in the wrong spot and it's a 30 yard gain.

Seahawks are the Colts or Bengals on offense with a much better offensive line. Teams are better backing off and playing the run then blitzing on 2nd and 3rd downs where it's 7 plus yards. I'd be surprised to see the Steelers blitz on 1st down ever. I think the only time they will is on obvious passing downs where they are more likely to have success or if they get a nice lead. Then I'll be very worried.

 

[BlueOnion]

who blitz like the Colts, Redskins, Cowboys, and Panthers they don't see a lot of them because the defense knows what is going to happen.

I don't think the Colts and Cowboys are blitzing teams. The Colts run a base cover-2 and get amble pressure on the quarterback with their front four. The Cowboys run a 3-4 and technically blitz one linebacker every play, but they don't strike me as a team that consistently sends 5+ pass rushers every play.

 

[dgreen]

Blitz and have one guy in the wrong spot and it's a 30 yard gain.

In the week 4 Skins-Hawks game, Alexander was pretty much contained, except for a 34-yard run in the third quarter. Greg Williams said he called a pass blitz on that play and they were burned. It was a huge play in the game.

 

[Not Really Mel Kiper]

I was wondering how Holmgren will prepare his team for the sophisticated blitz packages of Pittsburgh and then wondered which defenses have they played this year in which the defense liked to blitz.

I see the Redskins, but the Seahawks lost that game. Philadelphia likes to blitz but the Seahawks blew them out, in large part because of some quick turnovers and points; allowing Seattle to sit on the ball.

So my question is, How much exposure have the Seahawks' offense had to blitzing defenses?

Holmgren will tell the best O-line in the league to knock them flat on their ### and thats what they will do! I see Strong having no trouble with helping in protection. The steelers are in for a long night!

 

[BlueOnion]

I was wondering how Holmgren will prepare his team for the sophisticated blitz packages of Pittsburgh and then wondered which defenses have they played this year in which the defense liked to blitz.

I see the Redskins, but the Seahawks lost that game.  Philadelphia likes to blitz but the Seahawks blew them out, in large part because of some quick turnovers and points; allowing Seattle to sit on the ball.

So my question is, How much exposure have the Seahawks' offense had to blitzing defenses?

Holmgren will tell the best O-line in the league to knock them flat on their ### and thats what they will do! I see Strong having no trouble with helping in protection. The steelers are in for a long night!

I don't think picking up the Steelers blitz is a question of toughness or ability but more a question of mental preparation and knowing who is to block who.I believe the Colts linemen were up to the task of blocking the Steelers, their trouble was trying to figure out which Steeler was whose responsibility - and then getting there.

 

[IndyHavoc]

I was wondering how Holmgren will prepare his team for the sophisticated blitz packages of Pittsburgh and then wondered which defenses have they played this year in which the defense liked to blitz.

I see the Redskins, but the Seahawks lost that game.  Philadelphia likes to blitz but the Seahawks blew them out, in large part because of some quick turnovers and points; allowing Seattle to sit on the ball.

So my question is, How much exposure have the Seahawks' offense had to blitzing defenses?

Holmgren will tell the best O-line in the league to knock them flat on their ### and thats what they will do! I see Strong having no trouble with helping in protection. The steelers are in for a long night!

I don't think picking up the Steelers blitz is a question of toughness or ability but more a question of mental preparation and knowing who is to block who.I believe the Colts linemen were up to the task of blocking the Steelers, their trouble was trying to figure out which Steeler was whose responsibility - and then getting there.

Ayup, and the coaches inability to recognize that the blocking scheme/plan was not effective and making any adjustments (at least not that I noticed...then again, I was too busy wretching in the bathroom to watch quite a bit of it).I think any Seahags homers NOT worried about the Pitt blitz and how Holmgren and Hasslebeck will handle it is dillusional (sp?). I'd be worried...not impossible to beat, but if it works early and rattles Hasslebeck, oh my, this will get ugly.

 

[Marvelous]

I have watched all of the Redskin games. I was very impressed with Seattle in their playoff win against the Redskins for the following reasons:1. They lost Shaun Alexander early and had to adjust big time. They successfully adjusted, especially in the 2nd half. 2. Matt Hasselback played really well. When plays broke down or the play called was not working out, he improved a lot and made plays. He also shook off blitzers and got away from them.3. Darrell Jackson is a big time receiver. I know his stat are great year in and year out, but he was fantastic against the Redskins.I wrote in another thread, I am shocked that Seattle is the underdog. I thought they would be big favorites.

 

[BlueOnion]

I was thinking about this again this weekend and started to wonder of Holmgren will put in some new (simple) wrinkles that will confuss the Steelers defense. For instance, putting in some obsecure formations which they can still run the same plays from.

The Steelers defense is confussing to offenses, but it may also be complex for the defensive side of the ball to know who has what responsibilities.

Maybe the Seahawks come out with some bunch formation plays (3 wide receivers on one side) and run the ball. Maybe putting two tight ends in the backfield to show max-pro and then hit a slip-screen to a tight end on the line of scrimmage.

I am really getting excited to see what wrinkles Holmgren puts in to the playbook.

Edited to Add - I definitely think the Seahawks might have an advantage here because they have two weeks to review three weeks worth of game film from the Steelers; three games which the Steelers probably used most of their playbook. On the other hand, the Steelers have only two weeks of game film on the Seahawks and most of which should be pretty vanilla.

 

[mad sweeney]

I was wondering how Holmgren will prepare his team for the sophisticated blitz packages of Pittsburgh and then wondered which defenses have they played this year in which the defense liked to blitz.

I see the Redskins, but the Seahawks lost that game. Philadelphia likes to blitz but the Seahawks blew them out, in large part because of some quick turnovers and points; allowing Seattle to sit on the ball.

So my question is, How much exposure have the Seahawks' offense had to blitzing defenses?

Holmgren will tell the best O-line in the league to knock them flat on their ### and thats what they will do! I see Strong having no trouble with helping in protection. The steelers are in for a long night!

I don't think picking up the Steelers blitz is a question of toughness or ability but more a question of mental preparation and knowing who is to block who.I believe the Colts linemen were up to the task of blocking the Steelers, their trouble was trying to figure out which Steeler was whose responsibility - and then getting there.

And there I think a huge advantage goes to the Hawks because the line has been together for 4+ years, except RT Locklear who's been there for 1.5. Their communication and knowledge of each other's game will be a huge advantage while fighting a team that blitzes like PB. Tobeck the center is 35 and a repeat probowler, he'll be QBing the line and Jones and Hutch ARE the best tandem in the league hands -down. FB Strong is a 13 year veteran with a crushing block, so he's solid too. The only things that worry me are; Alexander's blitz pickup even though he's been doing an excellent job of it this year (2 big ones last game) and the WRs hearing and recognizing calls made at the line. I still have nightmares of Bob Marley sprinting down the sidelines with Hass' pass to end the GB game. But the offense on the whole has been together for almost 5 years so my conerns are there, but not strong.