The Seattle Seahawks are a darn fine football team — one of the best. But, they are by no means without flaws.
Seattle’s most glaring weakness is a weakness that Miami Dolphins fans have known all too well in previous years: an offensive line that’s put together with Duct Tape and made out of Swiss cheese.
This article was by no means was written while wearing aqua colored glasses — “just the facts, Ma’am”.
And with an injury on Wednesday at the Seattle’s practice, the possibility of an upset just became a little bit better.
Okay, let’s lay it out machine-gun style:
In 2015, the Dolphins Offensive Line was terrible — who can forget…even if you try to.
But, do you realize that Seattle’s was one of THE worst as well!! PFF ranked them 30 out of 32. And the cherry on top is that their best linemen, Russell Okung, left in free agency.
You remember all the talk of Miami having Talented Tackles play guard and how that was going to be an issue?! Well Seattle’s Right Tackle Jusin Britt was moved to Right Guard last year and is playing center this year…and, hold your hats, he finished as the second-worst LG behind only Miami’s Dallas Thomas!!!
Left Guard Mark Glowinski, a 7th round pick, has had all of one NFL start.
Left Tackle Bradley Sowell has started 12 games, all in 2013, where he finished ranked 76th out of 76 tackles by PFF!!
Seattle is an excellent team built on a sand foundation of a weak O-Line.
Undrafted Right Tackle Gary Gilliam, the most experienced starting O-linemen with 17 starts, had a horrendous 37. 7 grade in 2015 and allowed the 3rd most pressures by a tackle last year.
2016 first round pick, Right Guard Germain Ifedi allowed the release of former Pro Bowl G Jahri Evans;well Ifedihas suffered a high-ankle sprain and is a scratch. In his place is 3rd rd pick rookie Rees Odhiambo, who played Tackle in college, but he won’t likely be the starter…
…Back-up Tackle J’Marcus Webb who started for the Raiders in 2015 as a guard is — and he was ranked dead last and was a disaster for the Bears when he played tackle in 2014.
That’s right, Seattle has only 6 linemen going into this week…
…Ohh, 7 if you include 6’0” tall 6th rd pick rookie Center Hunt — at least Russel Wilson will be able see over him to a clear passing lane.
So, after seeing this “Offensive Line”, you’re saying to me that Miami has no chance? Really!!! No chance?
Okay, let’s look at this further by comparing Miami’s D-Line v.s Seattle’s O-Line.
Webb and Britt will likely have to double Suh 99.9 of the time.
That will mean Phillips, Mitchell or Warmsley will be perpetually one-on-one with Glowinski, who can’t for all practical purposes take a breather.
This will also mean that Seattle will have “3rd most pressures”Gilliam and “Mr. 76 out-of 76” Sowell one-on-one with Williams, Wake, Jones, Branch and Fede — again without relief.
We aren’t also adding in the factor of the Wide-Nine which will stress the kicks, speed and athletic talents of “3rd most pressures”and “Mr. 76 out-of 76” to the Nth degree.
In response, they will have to keep backs and TE’s in to block and that will restrict options in scheme and play calls.
Now, I get it. Wilson will use mobility and miss-direction, and Seattle with have 290lb FB Tupou bearing down on Alonso in the run game.
So, I’m not saying this is a cake walk — not even close.
But, we have heard to no end how games won in the trenches and have had a bird’s eye view of the effects of having a terrible Offensive Line.
The Dolphins have huge edge in experience, depth and talent.
So, no chance? No way that’s correct!
Miami’ strength will be faced against Seattle’s weakness and that must offer hope to even the most skeptical. At least it should. Go Fins!!!
Another thing I noticed about Miami’s defense is that all preseason long they got their hands on a lot of footballs and had a few really nice int’s, yet everyone keeps discounting all the DB’s (I like our guys, personally) and cant wait to see what Howard is going to play like cuz he was a hell of a playmaker in college and carried it through all the off season workouts. I will admit it sucks he missed TC but he’s apparently made the same plus on the ball since his return, so yeah, kind of excited to see how he plays Sunday. I know we may not run for a lot of yards against their defensive front, but I hope they at least stick with the run (even if they’re struggling for yardage) to keep them from just bumrushing Tannehill all day. My bet is Parker will be a Game time ADD and be the difference maker for the game in a Big Miami WIN…
Yeah Henry…now with this Ajayi thing — wow, that is a jackass move. He’d better rebound a rebound big…very unprofessional. I think it possible that the OC/ HC and Dc might actually be very good and when it comes to gameplans and adjustments we might be in store for some surprises. This is a top notch staff. Can they fail, yup. But, odds are this staff might be at the very least competent. I liked Howard…he seems a bit nervous in interviews, but on the field he made some serious hits. His biggest weakness was man coverage deep — in a press zone that wont be as much a problem. I am pumped for Sunday…and it’s not because my family will be away — I promise 😉
Seattle’s Kryptonite might play right into Miamis favor. A O-Line that may very well be the weakness of the team (Lord knows we know what that is like). A new starting RB, the #2 RB that was traded last year, only to get cut and end up back w Seattle. No BEAST mode, a very unproven O-Line along w unproven RBs. If Miami gets Seattle to become one dimensional, advantage Miami.
So Seattle’s strength (defense, not necessarily their D-Line either) versus Mr.Gases’ crew, a much improved O-Line, a good stable of WRs (Parker is killing us), and a questionable RB group. We are about to see one if not two things Sunday. Is Gase the next Shula (success is not based on one game), tough invirornment, but if he can pull off a win, he will be the next Shula/Billacheat, etc in most eyes. Is Tanny ready to step up and take that all important next step, 2 questions that I am excited to see in action (I hope).
If the game were at Miami, I probably would give Miami a slight advantage, on the road, at one of the most difficult places to play, let alone opening day, Miami will have its work cut out. A close game is almost a big emotional let down, which I believe could carry over to the Pats game. In other words; I would like Miami to win (obviously) or get blown out!!!
Miami stuns the world 🙂 🙂 🙂
I know, I’m a homer, but the match-ups may just be in Miami’s favor.
With the RG going down I became a big believer…Suh with junk infronnt of him…I like that alot. I remember what he did to Pouncey that yer he played G…hope it’s a repeat!!!!
…yes, yes, yes …their OL is as bad as it was last year …and where did that get them, eh?
…oh!
…and their coaching staff has been together for years and Carol knows better than to try and be both HC and OC on game day
…while “on any given Sunday” is a truism, it’s also a harbinger of false hopes …love for the fins to win but I’m putting my money on Seattle to cover ?
I agree, but I think you’re missing that Gase is delegating alot of HC stuff to other former coaches: Rizzi does Flags as example. I think Gase has put a system in place where he doesn’t wear all the hats at once — as most HC/ OC coaches have tried to do. We’ll see how that works out. But, as far as Seattle, they started 4-4 and beat 3 terrible teams in their wins…till they righted the ship. So, ultimately, I’d say they have spent alot of money elsewhere and hope this spit an bail wire OL holds up…but, their best piece is down and next man up is terrible. We shall see…
I believe there is a head coach in green bay that has called plays every year except one. And he is taking back play calling this year. Seems to be working pretty good there
yeah, he took a year off when he thought it was affecting the team…but honestly, if you delegate and set up a system it can work. Thanks for the info…didn’t know he returned to the OC duties.
Another thing I noticed about Miami’s defense is that all preseason long they got their hands on a lot of footballs and had a few really nice int’s, yet everyone keeps discounting all the DB’s (I like our guys, personally) and cant wait to see what Howard is going to play like cuz he was a hell of a playmaker in college and carried it through all the off season workouts. I will admit it sucks he missed TC but he’s apparently made the same plus on the ball since his return, so yeah, kind of excited to see how he plays Sunday. I know we may not run for a lot of yards against their defensive front, but I hope they at least stick with the run (even if they’re struggling for yardage) to keep them from just bumrushing Tannehill all day. My bet is Parker will be a Game time ADD and be the difference maker for the game in a Big Miami WIN…
Yeah Henry…now with this Ajayi thing — wow, that is a jackass move. He’d better rebound a rebound big…very unprofessional. I think it possible that the OC/ HC and Dc might actually be very good and when it comes to gameplans and adjustments we might be in store for some surprises. This is a top notch staff. Can they fail, yup. But, odds are this staff might be at the very least competent. I liked Howard…he seems a bit nervous in interviews, but on the field he made some serious hits. His biggest weakness was man coverage deep — in a press zone that wont be as much a problem. I am pumped for Sunday…and it’s not because my family will be away — I promise 😉
Seattle’s Kryptonite might play right into Miamis favor. A O-Line that may very well be the weakness of the team (Lord knows we know what that is like). A new starting RB, the #2 RB that was traded last year, only to get cut and end up back w Seattle. No BEAST mode, a very unproven O-Line along w unproven RBs. If Miami gets Seattle to become one dimensional, advantage Miami.
So Seattle’s strength (defense, not necessarily their D-Line either) versus Mr.Gases’ crew, a much improved O-Line, a good stable of WRs (Parker is killing us), and a questionable RB group. We are about to see one if not two things Sunday. Is Gase the next Shula (success is not based on one game), tough invirornment, but if he can pull off a win, he will be the next Shula/Billacheat, etc in most eyes. Is Tanny ready to step up and take that all important next step, 2 questions that I am excited to see in action (I hope).
If the game were at Miami, I probably would give Miami a slight advantage, on the road, at one of the most difficult places to play, let alone opening day, Miami will have its work cut out. A close game is almost a big emotional let down, which I believe could carry over to the Pats game. In other words; I would like Miami to win (obviously) or get blown out!!!
Miami stuns the world 🙂 🙂 🙂
I know, I’m a homer, but the match-ups may just be in Miami’s favor.
With the RG going down I became a big believer…Suh with junk infronnt of him…I like that alot. I remember what he did to Pouncey that yer he played G…hope it’s a repeat!!!!
…yes, yes, yes …their OL is as bad as it was last year …and where did that get them, eh?
…oh!
…and their coaching staff has been together for years and Carol knows better than to try and be both HC and OC on game day
…while “on any given Sunday” is a truism, it’s also a harbinger of false hopes …love for the fins to win but I’m putting my money on Seattle to cover ?
I agree, but I think you’re missing that Gase is delegating alot of HC stuff to other former coaches: Rizzi does Flags as example. I think Gase has put a system in place where he doesn’t wear all the hats at once — as most HC/ OC coaches have tried to do. We’ll see how that works out. But, as far as Seattle, they started 4-4 and beat 3 terrible teams in their wins…till they righted the ship. So, ultimately, I’d say they have spent alot of money elsewhere and hope this spit an bail wire OL holds up…but, their best piece is down and next man up is terrible. We shall see…
I believe there is a head coach in green bay that has called plays every year except one. And he is taking back play calling this year. Seems to be working pretty good there
yeah, he took a year off when he thought it was affecting the team…but honestly, if you delegate and set up a system it can work. Thanks for the info…didn’t know he returned to the OC duties.
…let me know when he gets to the SB doing it, eh …the guy has, imnsho, the best QB in the game, and still…
Andy Reid calls his own plays also and wins alot. He has an avg qb