From a Seahawks Fan

by cashless on Sep 7, 2008 9:34 PM EDT Comment 21 comments

First, I want to say that considering how your team played, and the Brady injury that looks like a season ending one, good luck following Whitner into the playoffs.

I really REALLY like how your team is built. Your pass defense wasn't really tested, so I don't really know what to say about it. But your run defense, blitzing, and defensive playcalling in general was(were?) dominant. Stroud and Mitchell help make that front 7 strong and scary and should be able to dominate several offensive lines in this league. Even without Locklear the Seahawks OL is not filled with chumps, and Matt Hasselbeck is a pretty smart and seasoned veteran QB. The playcalling especially I'm jealous of, I'd like to see something like that in Seattle with the talent that we have.

Something I am even more jealous of, is your special teams play. Not just the K, P and KR/PR like some teams seem to think. The whole special teams squad. In my opinion, the special teams were the difference between the Bills scoring 7, 10 or 13-14 points, and the 34 points scored today. Neither of the TDs were scored on a long field, and I don't have to recount to you all of the great things that your special teams did, and field position was consistantly close to midfield for your team.

Offensively, the power runner meshes well with the strong defense and special teams. The run wasn't particularly effective today, besides the TD rush. Lynch is special, but the blocking wasn't great for him. Not sure if it was the Seattle D, the OTs being in unfamiliar locations, or something else. But Trent Edwards I think is a real winner of a QB for your team.

The Seahawks definately looked bad today, and contributed to your team's dominance in a way no team should, but you have a lot going for your team and not a lot working against you. With that kind of pass blocking it doesn't matter how good your passing game is, your QB shouldn't lose games for you. Good luck again in the AFC East, I'd rather you all win the division than any of those teams.

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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Thanks for the comments...

Good luck the rest of the way to your team as well…

by krytime on Sep 7, 2008 9:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

seattle

will be alright once they get things straightened out. Hopefully for your sake that is sooner than later but there is a lot of talent on that DEF and weaponse that will get healthy for that offense

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Sep 7, 2008 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very classy post Seahawks fan

Best of luck to you for the rest of the season.

by Joe P. on Sep 7, 2008 10:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good stuff cashless

definitely not classless. Great post.

First time someone’s been jealous of the Bills’ playcalling in probably 10+ years. I never thought I’d hear that one.

Hope u guys can get Branch and Engram healthy….the Hass sure needs those guys. I know you guys were all confident about your young WR’s, but they looked like crap, especially Taylor. Hope they can get better for you.

Our run blocking was pretty poor today, both because our Center is awful and because you have an active front 7. Luckily, we have a stud RB who is able to make quick cuts in the backfield and hit the corner. I’m sorry to say, but you guys have a terrible RB in Jones and a decent situational guy in Morris.

Hope you guys get it going soon and especiialy against the Pats, Jets and Dolphins. I’m not sure when you play them but I’ll be rooting for you then. Good luck the rest of the year and stay classy my friend.

by Kurupt on Sep 7, 2008 10:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hate to pick a fight...

on a day like today… but cheap-shots like that about Fowler are pretty… ignorant? Our run-blocking was poor because our C is horrible? And Mike Holmgren coached a bad game today because he forgot to tie his shoes.

"I don't agree with a damn thing you say, but I would die for your right to say it."

by ForeignArrow on Sep 7, 2008 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

You think Fowler had a good game and didn’t allow the center of our wall to collapse today? Look at Ron’s post, Fowler was pretty terrible run blocking today. His ineffectiveness can kill our run game at times. I’m sorry, but I don’t see how that’s ignorant at all, nor a cheap shot. We can’t criticize these guys for playing poorly???

by Kurupt on Sep 7, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah

it’s just really trendy to blame Fowler for ALL of our line’s problems, and you did place the blame squarely on Fowler… THAT is ignorant, and infuriating. I guarantee if our run D let us down today, it would all be Keith Ellison’s fault. If Fowler was so terrible, why the hell doesn’t DJ play Whittle or even Duke Preston there, surely if he’s to blame for everything that’s wrong with our line, these guys would be upgrades. The truth is our line has not executed well or consistently in the run game ever since Jauron and his staff arrived. I really believe it’s the timing of the running game. The Bills love to run in obvious running situations. There were probably half a dozen runs today that were absolutely stuffed on ALL accounts, and a play action pass might have worked better.

"I don't agree with a damn thing you say, but I would die for your right to say it."

by ForeignArrow on Sep 7, 2008 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

First, I don’t see an upgrade on the team, plus Fowler is a very good pass protector.

Second, Fowler allowed the interior to cave in a number of times today, some we were able to get positive yards because of Lynch’s ability to avoid defenders. Yeah, every other OL had some bad run blocks, but Fowler had the most and was by far the most inconsistent.

Frankly, I think Fowler is horrible in run blocking, and I don’t see how anyone can disagree on that. I don’t understand what the big deal is. He was pretty poor today, and probably our worse run blocker by a significant margin. I don’t get what is wrong with saying that??

The obvious run plays are definitely an issue. I was glad to see us come out throwing today to keep Seattle off guard. Of course trent couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn early on in the rain, but he got it going later and the O got much better due to it. Mixing in the runs and passes today was much better than we’ve seen in years. More consistent run blocking all along the line will definitely make us much better as we go along.

by Kurupt on Sep 7, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fowler does get blown up in the run game. He is smart and knows very well how to position himself in pass blocking, but as far as running, DTs crash down on him and he is helpless. It sucks, but its the truth. I would like to see a more physically dominant player drafted, and then weened into the starting role with the very smart Fowler as his guide.

The Bills CAN win every game

by killascript on Sep 7, 2008 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

idk i have to agree with kurupt for once. fowler may not b completely to blame but he isnt good. i dont like him at c hes our weakest olineman. i would love for us to draft a new next year. and say why does duke preston or whittle start well duh clearly theyre worse than fowler and would not start over him. its not like the qb situation in cleveland. theres no starter hopefuls behind him. duke and whittle r roster fillers and back ups. nothing more. maybe in a few years duke will develop more but well that comment was just plain dumb

by billsstein on Sep 8, 2008 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our offensive showing was poor...

I think because Hasselbeck missed so much time. As great of a QB as he is, he has struggled to connect with new receivers historically in my opinion. When he was practicing he had Engram and Burleson, and worked the young guys in one by one. He hasn’t really had much time to acclimate to/with the younger guys.

He is a QB who plays a great WCO style, throwing the ball before the WR comes out of his break. That means the WRs have to know exactly where he will be throwing, as much as he has to know the WRs. He didn’t really hit the rookies that often. Taylor did drop those passes early, but so did Vet TE Putzier…who was also overthrown. The timing was off on several passes with the rookies, with Taylor turning late(or Hass throwing early) on a curl, and the goal line series late in the 4th when the Bills played 9 in the box. Hasselbeck will learn(teach) the WRs where they should be and Holmgren will run some very tense practices and beat the drops out of them.

Taylor didn’t drop the ball in the preseason or training camp, I think he let the moment get to him. Hasselbeck didn’t get the ball where Jordan Kent could even get his hands on it except for about one play…and part of that was the great pressure the defense was getting on them. Logan Payne didn’t get a ton of play, but caught the one ball I saw thrown his way. The young guys are playing because they showed they can. If they couldn’t, the Seahawks would have looked for a vet to sign. The passing game will get it together.

Bottom line, Hasselbeck has put up some(rare in recent years) stinkers in his career, but he throws those memories away and comes back strong. He didn’t kill the Seahawks with INTs today even without having his best accuracy.

by cashless on Sep 7, 2008 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bottom line, Hasselbeck has put up some(rare in recent years) stinkers in his career, but he throws those memories away and comes back strong.

And that’s why he’s so great, he’s able to completely forget about a bad performance and come back strong. I have a ton of respect for that.

by Kurupt on Sep 7, 2008 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Amazed at What Carlson did today

Wish we had him working in tandem with Royal on the field, would have been amazing to watch. If Burleson is gone for any amount of time, I expect Holmgren to go double TEs with Jeb and Carlson, and that could be very effective combo soon.

Thank you for the post Seahawks fan, and I may see you on Oct. 10th when I go to the Green Bay- Seattle game at Qwest field. Hass will be ok if the run game can get going, I think the Seahawks need to look into using Duckett and Fossett together in the backfield to force teams to keep 8 in the box to prevent the punishing run and also to worry about defending Fossett on perimeter runs.

Btw, agree with K, I think this may be the first time in a long time when another fan mentions some sort of jealousy for the teams play calling on anything other than STs, made my day!

Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....

by WABillsfan on Sep 8, 2008 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree about the RB situation

I think that Mike Holmgren completely missed the opportunity to throw screens and swing passes and soften the pass rush. Sure, JJ is supposed to be a decent pass blocker, but he is also a better pass catcher than Alexander was…giving us more creative options. Since the problem was more than just keeping a back in…screen pass. There was a pass or two to Leonard Weaver but Julius was used as a check-down once or twice and that’s it.

Forsett isn’t ready, and plus he won’t be activated unless the Morris injury sticks with him. But I absolutely agree that Duckett needs to get his chance…and with a poor run showing by Julius Jones(he didn’t have much of a chance getting hit right away) I hope that snaps for Duckett are coming. He really will make a defense start playing the run. Not that the Bills were cheating to cover the pass…

by cashless on Sep 8, 2008 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the nice comments

First time someone’s been jealous of the Bills’ playcalling in probably 10+ years. I never thought I’d hear that one.

Kurupt said it well, I never thought I would ever hear that.

I wouldn’t worry about your Seahawks one bit. That division looks as terrible as ever with St. Louis getting blown out and San Fran and Arizona playing a pretty ugly game. A couple weeks of Hasselbeck shaking off some rust in practice and getting to know his receivers coupled with a return to health for a few players should see your squad right back into the playoffs again.

by kaisertown on Sep 7, 2008 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well

If nothing else the defensive playcalling was correct, and too much for a good experienced QB and head coach. And having to watch the vanilla defensive calls in Seattle, the ballsy yet creative blitzes and fake blitzes were musical in their execution. Or maybe Seattle’s passblocking was so bad that anything the Bills tried worked(like being the best basketball player in a pickup game…you can make anything work) like they were the Bears of 85.

But I liked the playcalling. Didn’t you all?

by cashless on Sep 7, 2008 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The playcalling was fantastic yesterday, but god awful last year. We were the most predictable offense in the league last year and most Bills fans on this blog thought the biggest reason for optimism heading into the year was either the addition of Stroud or OC Steve Fairchild leaving the Bills for Colorado St. Bills fans were more excited about Fairchild being gone than about Turk Schonert taking over the job. If Fairchild doesn’t send the Colorado St. program into shambles (even moreso than they already are) I will be very surprised. He was a terrible coordinator.

DC Perry Fewell used a very conservative scheme last season. It included a lot of deep cover 2 and cover 3 zones and our cornerbacks typically line up 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. The Bills rarely blitzed last season. While we were all expecting more blitzing this year, the increase from last year to yesterday was very surprising to us Bills fans. I don’t believe Perry Fewell and Dick Juaron are all that conservative by nature. I just think that the Bills personel on defense last year was so bad that the team had no choice but to play conservative and hope for the best.

by kaisertown on Sep 8, 2008 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Already happened

If Fairchild doesn’t send the Colorado St. program into shambles (even moreso than they already are) I will be very surprised.

The CU-CSU rivalry has been relatively close for the last several years, with the margin of victory often being quite small. That all changed in the opener this year as the Rams were pounded 38-17. Last week CSU squeaked by Sacramento State (that’s the I-AA Big Sky Conference doormat) 23-20.

Fairchild is already having the effect on CSU that we Bills fans expected.

"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England

by Calvert on Sep 8, 2008 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

I saw that CU pounded CSU, but I just figured Colorado was a program on the rise and that the blowout was to be expected. A 23-20 win over Sacramento St.? They went 3-8 last year and 3-5 in their crappy D-II division. That is hilarious and a pretty pathetic beginning to what should be an amusing slide into obscurity for Fairchild. Thanks for that update! I loved it.

by kaisertown on Sep 9, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Way I see it

the Seahawks have back to back home games against the Rams and the Niners. Then a bye. We’ll have Engram and Branch and Burleson together for week 5, plus a two game win streak. Hopefully we keep momentum.

I was the poor bastard that had Tom Brady on my Field Gulls fantasy football team.

by Chickadee on Sep 8, 2008 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs