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Seattle's pass rush is more opportunistic than robust

Sporting News, The, Dec 30, 2005 by Dan Pompei

I have uncovered the biggest lie in the NFL, and it is the mighty pass rush of the Seahawks.

The Seahawks have a league-leading 45 sacks, but there is no need to hide the women and quarterbacks when the defensive linemen get in their three-point stances. The Bears, Giants, Panthers and Colts are significantly better pass-rushing teams that could stand between the Seahawks and the Lombardi Trophy.

The Seahawks don't have an elite edge rusher or a pocket collapser. "They have decent players, hut it's not like they have Bruce Smith or anything," says one offensive line coach whose team opposed the Seahawks recently.

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The Seahawks aren't an overwhelming blitz team, either. They have sent extra men a little more than 20 percent of the time, and most of their blitzes are more vanilla than super caramel nut fudge chunk.

It should be simple to prevent the Seahawks from getting to the quarterback, as the Colts are likely to demonstrate Sunday in what could be a Super Bowl preview. But it hasn't been simple for most teams because the Seahawks' defense knows how to take advantage of a break.

Of Seattle's 45 sacks, 25 have come against their weak sisters in the NFC West--the 49ers, Cardinals and Rams. What's more, in six of the Seahawks' last eight games, they've gone against injury-depleted lines.

The Seahawks' offense might be as responsible for as many of the team's sacks as the defense. The offense has built leads and made opposing offenses one-dimensional, overly reliant on the pass. Thirty-five of the sacks have come when the Seahawks have been leading, and 29 have come when they've had a lead of eight points or more.

After studying the Seahawks' pass rush for four games, I have seen a Seattle defensive lineman flat-out beat an offensive lineman precisely one time in 12 sacks.

It's not about the first step with the Seahawks. "They are a team that you stop with your first move," says Titans left tackle Brad Hopkins, who was part of the effort that held Seattle without a sack last Sunday. "It's with the second and third move where they are beating guys."

I have seen the Seahawks get a sack because Arizona's Kurt Warner held the ball for about as long as it takes to hard-boil an egg. I have seen them get a sack because Philadelphia's fill-in center, Jamaal Jackson, did not realize he needed to come off a double-team to pick up a blitzing linebacker in the "A" gap. I have seen them get a sack because Eagles quarterback Mike McMahon, who is subbing for injured Donovan McNabb, stepped up in the pocket--and straight into a defensive lineman--instead of moving laterally.

These are the kinds of sacks the Seahawks get. Then again, they deserve credit for being relentless enough and industrious enough to seize opportunity.

New team president Tim Ruskell has done an outstanding job of putting together a front seven that never stops. But an offensive line that executes by the book will defeat this defensive front every time. But almost every time one offensive lineman deviates from his technique or assignment, the Seahawks will capitalize.

Every one of these linemen is an all-out effort guy--or has become one in the environment Ruskell has created. Tackle Chartric Darby, a free-agent pickup in the offseason, has set the pace. The Seahawks' best pass rusher is second-team tackle Rocky Bernard, who has a nice combination of size, power and quickness. Rookie linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill time their blitzes well. Ends Bryce Fisher and Grant Wistrom are as relentless as a Seattle downpour.

What this group does as well as any front is run games up front. "I think they are playing well to their talent with the twist game being a big factor," Eagles coach Andy Reid says. "They do a great job with the timing of their twists."

The Seahawks' pass rush may not be flashy. It may not be traditional. But it is effective within the context of its challenges.

speed reads

AFC playoff teams should be a little nervous about New England. The Patriots are coming together at the right time, and they still have the championship trinity of great coaching, superb quarterbacking and clutch kicking.

People who accuse teams of tanking it in order to get a higher draft pick don't understand the mentality that is prevalent in the NFL. No coach or front office man I have known would think that way. The mind-set in the NFL: Losing reflects poorly on everyone.

If I were a player or a coach, you would have to pay me double or triple to consider signing with the Saints. This is a big problem for the NFL--and a bigger problem for the Saints. Something has to be done quickly about the future of this franchise, and the best thing for the NFL and the franchise is for the Saints to relocate.

The Packers need to get Aaron Rodgers some playing time, even if it's just a couple series here and there. This is the perfect opportunity to allow the first-round quarterback to get a feel for the game.

Seattle's pass rush is more opportunistic than robust

Sporting News, The, Dec 30, 2005 by Dan Pompei

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