You have Seahawks questions, I have answers
Yep, it was exciting.
Here we are, days later, yet both questions and comments about the Seahawks’ nerve-jangling 30-29 win over the Rams last Thursday night are still blowing up my laptop.
Look, I love hearing from everyone, but I think I’ll have to upgrade this dinky little thing — especially if the Hawks keep playing games like this.
Three of Seattle’s four wins have been by two points or less.
But hey, before I go shopping for a giant, powerhouse computer that will short-circuit half the county, let’s address the most common themes I’m hearing about that thriller against the Rams.
OK, kicking it off…
QUESTION: Why did the Seahawks play that awful “prevent defense” on the Rams’ drives at the end of the first half, and then at the end of the game?
ANSWER: I know, I know, that strategy drives me nuts, too.
But here’s the thing: The Seahawks were NOT actually playing any kind of soft, three-man rush — the sort of thing that just invites a good team to zoom down the field with quick short passes.
(It also causes fans to throw nachos at the TV set.)
Seattle actually sent an extra rusher on 45 percent of the snaps when the Rams were in passing situations, far more than the 28 percent of blitzes the Seahawks averaged through their first four games.
And yes, they were sending extra rushers on those two drives when the Rams seemed to move the ball at will.
The problem was — even with a fifth rusher trying to reach Jared Goff — nobody got home.
Goff was not sacked in the game and usually had lots of time to throw — particularly on those drives in question, when he was unloading passes quickly.
By the way, Pete Carroll was just as upset as you were. The lack of a decent pass rush was one of the first things he mentioned when he met the media on Friday.
Carroll is anxious to get Ziggy Ansah into true game shape, and to have tackle Jarran Reed (10 1/2 sacks last year) back from suspension after one more game.
QUESTION: Was Russell Wilson actually trying to throw the ball away on that pass that Tyler Lockett caught in the corner of the end zone?
ANSWER: Nope.
Wilson and Lockett have an almost eerie telepathy on broken plays.
Russ picked out the one spot on the field where there was a tiny chance of success without risking an interception.
He basically fired it up with the notion that Lockett would know where he was going and have a chance to catch the pass.
Still, it was an unbelievable pass — Wilson was running to his left — and a catch from another planet.
When Lockett caught the ball, going full speed but managing to tap both toes inbounds, he was 2 feet from the sideline and 4 feet from the back of the end zone.
That’s about the size of your coat closet.
If I were a betting man (and I am), I’d wager big that there won’t be a better pass-and-catch in the NFL this year.
QUESTION: Why did Carroll chicken out and try a field goal on that fourth-and-one in Rams territory?
ANSWER: Probably because the Seahawks offensive line hasn’t shown it can get the push necessary to gain a yard.
A better question might be something about the disappearance of that line that led the league in rushing a year ago.
As for that situation against the Rams, with the fearsome Aaron Donald waiting in the middle…
Don’t forget that Chris Carson had just been stuffed on third-and-one, and Carroll no doubt got shivers recalling a similar fourth down against New Orleans — when he did try to get a yard and failed, leading to the Saints scoring to take a game-changing 20-7 lead.
QUESTION: Are the Seahawks going to wear those hideous uniforms again? They made my eyes hurt.
ANSWER: This one is a cinch.
Those uniforms, which Seahawks execs insist on calling “Action Green,” in truth look more like “Lime Jell-O.”
They are almost an insult to the sport.
But…
The players love ’em, and even more important, Seattle is 4-0 wearing the things.
In other words, as Carroll said in answer to a different question…
“Suck it up!”
Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Steve also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball once monthly during the offseason.
Email: scameron@cdapress.com