About five minutes after the game
at Qwest Field last Sunday, I’m sure another catchy billboard slogan could
come to mind to a number of fans streaming out of the stadium. If there was
ever a bandwagon overload leading up to this game, I’m sure that there
will be plenty of seats for the next home game.
That’s too bad, really.
The stadium set attendance records last Sunday. More fans were in that stadium
than ever – just to watch such a colossal collapse.
It’s been an interesting
couple of days, listening to the fans, coaches, and players’ reactions
to the game. There has been much gnashing of teeth, topped off by such gems
as “If you play to keep a lead, you’ll play to lose” or “No
killer instinct” or “Fire Holmgren!” (a favorite of some very
fair weather fans).
So, let’s take a look
at the 3rd quarter, shall we, and dispel some of these myths.
In the Seahawks’ first
series in the 3rd quarter, there was one initial run by Alexander that was just
gangbusters. Alexander gained 41 yards to get us out of the shade of our goalposts
to the Ram’s side of the field in one run. Then another run for -1. Then
a dropped pass by Morris. Then a short gain pass to Jackson of six yards when
we needed eleven. Punt.
Second series (still third
quarter). Dropped pass by Stevens. Dropped pass by Robinson. Tried to fake the
Ram’s defenders by handing off to Mack Strong – for four yards.
Punt.
Third series (now the forth
quarter). Alexander dropped for a loss of three yards. Dump off pass to Strong
(after spending an eternity in the pocket looking for someone to get open) for
another loss of three yards. On third and sixteen, Hasselbeck scrambles for
14 yards.
Now it’s forth and
two yards to go. They go for it, and convert, on a pass play to Jackson for
nine yards. They try and stab Alexander twice more, and failed on a pass to
gain sufficient yardage for a first down. Field Goal.
These three series displays
one glaring fact – we were NOT playing conservatively. Going for it on
forth and two? If it wasn’t for the dropped passes by practically everyone
except for Jackson, this game would’ve been so far out of reach Mike Martz
would’ve needed a fire truck ladder to get back in the game.
Now, the real fun begins.
Our offense gets the ball
back after a blooming miracle catch/touchdown by the Rams’ Brandon Manumaleuna
with a little over five and a half minutes left in the game. This is the ONLY
time Mike Holmgren tried to burn some clock on purpose. Any coach in the NFL
– up by ten points at this stage of the game – would do the same
thing.
Unfortunately, Alexander
was held just inches away from a first down. Still, we burned off two full minutes
from the clock in a three-and-out. Who knew our defensive secondary would be
caught flat-footed the very next play, when Bulger completes one pass for 41
yards and a touchdown, bringing the Rams to within three points? Our defense
had been shutting down the Ram’s offense all game, why would anyone suspect
anything different?
But that one play, that
one touchdown catch, that one lightning strike, changed everything.
Our team panicked.
Our offense tried its’
best. It converted on one first down with a pass to Robinson, but Hasselbeck
missed a wide open Engram for another. A run by Alexander for five yards got
us to a third and medium – certainly not a bad position to be in.
Then came the blitz.
Leonard Little was a non-factor
pretty much the entire game. He had recorded no sacks, but because stunting
by other defensive backs in the middle of the line caused our line to tighten
up, Little on the right side simply blew by everyone and sacked Hasselbeck for
a loss of nine.
Then it was time for our
defense to completely forget how to cover receivers. Completions of 27 and 16
yards got the Rams in position to tie.
Overtime. Coin Toss. Collapse
so bad it was embarrassing.
Our offensive scheme didn’t
lose this game. Mike Holmgren, the offensive guru, didn’t lose this game.
The blame lays squarely on the shoulders of our wide receivers for dropping
so many balls on critical third downs. It’s also draped across our offensive
line that had been a textbook of protection the entire game, only to fall apart
at the worst possible moment. It’s also smothering our entire defense
which seemed to be celebrating a bit too much the second half of the game. And
lastly, it has buried defensive coach Ray Rhodes, who gambled (and lost) by
blitzing everyone and his brother and leaving Terreal Bierria all alone to cover
man to man a speedy wide receiver.
And give some credit to
the Rams – they didn’t give up.
Glenn Geiss writes the Fan Noise column for Seahawks.NET every week. Feel free
to send him feedback at awpilot@wavecable.com.