Hawk Talk - The Rams - Week 3 = Must Win

I hate to use the words “Must” and “Win” so early in the season but this is a game the Seahawks cannot afford to drop. We play in a week division but to win the division you will need eleven or so wins three straight losses to sub five hundred teams would signal the beginning of the end for this season. Sure there are some legitimate excuses but winners win, they beat the odds which is ironic given the fact Koren Robinson has been brought back in the fray. Troubled by off the field issues many a NFL coach has given him a second chance and maybe no coach holds a softer spot for him than Coach Holmgren, let’s hope he gets rewarded.

OPPONENT OVERVIEW

The Rams are the league’s worst team, offensively they rank dead last in yards and points and second to last in rushing and third from last in passing. Unfortunately for Ram fans their defense has been just as bad this team has been blown out badly twice, criticized on air by former player Marshall Faulk on a local radio show early in the week only to be warned by their owner before the weekend “if your not better changes will be made”. Oddly the owners remarks seemed a direct answer to Marsall’s comments that this team should be “Blown up”

KEYS TO VICTORY

Offense

1. Julius Jones, the Rams do not have a good run defense and the Hawks don’t have a real good pass offense going into Sunday if we can run and run well it will be the difference.

2. Decision Making, Matt Hasselbeck has been average wait below average as a pro bowl calibre QB we should be able to count on his decison making, especially in crunch time it has not been good enough and personally the excuses I keep hearing about recievers or that with some timing he woudn’t have to look down routes as much just doesn’t cut it, too many bad throws take responsibilty for your decision making.

3. Put the OH in Offensive Line, suprised to see this not being talked about a little more but our the line is banged up both Sean Locklear and Walter Jones skipped practice and Rob Sims is done for the year, they will have to step it up both in the run and pass.

Defense

1. Pass coverage, our defense ranks just ahead of the Rams against the pass, yes honestly and they have given up 79 points in 2 games and we are just a little ahead of that, this is a defense that Coach Holmgren thought could challenge to be one of the best and without the injuries leaves them without the excuses.

2. Turnovers, 8 sacks no turn overs? at San Fran that’s the line, one turn over swings the balance of the game the other way just one, we need to display a sense of urgency and hunger to get our offense the ball back.

Coaching

1. I have to say after both games I was left with a sense we were out coached, Buffalo hit the trick play, San Franciso made adjustments but looking back at both games as a whole the other teams were different when they needed to be. This type of fine tuning has been a knock on Coach Holmrgren his whole career, I am also finding our coaches way to in love with the pass in playcalling, we are abanding the run to early in some crazy effort to stay a west coast offense despite like 7 recievers down.

KEY MATCHUPS

Matt Hasselbeck vs Melting Matt, if I had a Matt Hasselbeck Mcfarlane figure would it melt in the sun? a few people have long thought Matt tends to disappear in big games, for me this is unfairly harsh as he led us to the superbowl but he didn’t win it. So the questioning for some continues can he pull through when we need him most?

Replacement Dreams vs Replacement Schemes, yes the Replacements was on cable but I couldn’t help myself comparing that movie to our team, players come in many not ready physically or in terms of knowledge and it’s not fair but this is your chance to make something so hurry up and catch a big gainer over the middle where careers are ended before one of our real recievers get’s healthy and your career never begins.

Mike Holmgren vs Jim Mora, this is Mike’s team but drop this one and maybe not? can the Big Show be replaced early? I have always been against this two coach on the sideline move no matter how I try to stomach it as carefully planning it just adds unneccessary confusion.

THE LINE

The latest is Seattle -9.5 and myself I’d take the Hawks even minus the points it won’t be a statement kind of win just a win, well cover the points get healthy and work on our statement.

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

In a game of two teams fighting for some repectability both have their backs against the wall of expectation, win and recieve at least a stay of execution lose and well things change, questions asked, answers provided. On Offense we will be able to run the ball on the Rams but they won’t be able to run on us.

In short this will actually be a passing dual, both secondarys have been bad but The Hawks seondary will hold at home the key stat will be completion percentage which ever QB completes a greater perecentage of passes wins Sunday

Please Check in with www.sportstalkbuzz.com’s Rams Blogger Femi Fasoyinu for his take on Sunday’s Matchup as well

Also I have been invited to an NFL Canada Tour from Vancouver to Seattle for Sunday’s game which is to include special access to the stadium, tailgating, bus ride, hostess and so on because of this I will not be getting back from Sunday’s game until the last ferry so my Recap will be much later in day in Monday but will include an all access account of my trip, pictures and other details.

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Last post (s) by Terry Shilton

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