1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Seahawks Insiders. Can Jennifer comes up 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: and just getting you ready for Seahawks football. Every Sunday, 3 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: Russell has time fire down, got one he isn't touchdown 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: sh sh powered by Seahawks dot Com. Hello everyone, Welcome 5 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: to this week's edition of the Seahawks Insider Podcast. I'm 6 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: Jen Mueller alongside John Boyle from Seahawks dot Com. Hello, Jennifer, 7 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: how are you hello? John made me feel like I'm 8 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: in trouble. My parents call me Jennifer when I'm in trouble. 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: This is a formal podcast. It's very formal, so that 10 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 1: it would be John or Jonathan just John just huh. Well, 11 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 1: that's a little disappointing. I guess we could make that 12 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: sound formal or attempt to, But I tell you what, 13 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: We're gonna attempt to break down this week's game ahead 14 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: of the Seahawks Texans matchup at Century Link Field. But 15 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: before we get into this week's matchup, there's been a 16 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: little bit of news for the Seahawks this week in 17 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: the signing of Dwight Freeney. And of course it's not 18 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: having Cliff April that makes that move necessary. Let's dive 19 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: into that one, John, and what does that mean? What 20 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: was your initial reaction to that news. You know, it's 21 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: not shocking once you look at kind of landscape, but 22 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: who's out there and the fact that you said Cliff 23 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,040 Speaker 1: Avril's hurt. They've been a little light in numbers of 24 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,919 Speaker 1: pass rushers lately, so you know, look, they're not bringing 25 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: Dwight Freenee in to be two thousand and seven Dwight Freeneye. 26 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:30,759 Speaker 1: They don't. You know, he's thirty eight years old. You're 27 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: not asking him to be that guy. But he's still 28 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: been a very effective player into his mid to late thirties, 29 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: and you're not going to have him come in and 30 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: take over Cliff Avril's role. That's Frank Clark. You want 31 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: a guy who can rotate him with de Marcus Smith 32 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: and Brandon Jackson just kind of help add some depth 33 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: to that pass rush. So you feel like you can 34 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: just keep bringing numbers a teams late in games and 35 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: you know, maybe he gives you fifteen snaps a game 36 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: something like that, but he's he's still got some quality 37 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: in him. We have talked going back to training camp 38 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: about the need to keep those guys fresh because this 39 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: is a long haul in the season. They've already had 40 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: their bye week. You are now going to be playing 41 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: a number of consecutive weeks into the playoffs. And when 42 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 1: you look at snap counts and you look at how 43 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: much those pass rushers have been on the field. Look, 44 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: I know that Michael Bennett wants to be out there 45 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: every down, but considering the injury that he's dealing with, 46 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: I would think his snap counts are up a little 47 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: higher than what coaches would prefer. Yeah, I mean, Michael 48 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: Bennett got it out and Pete Carroll said he came 49 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: out of that game just fine, which is obviously very 50 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: good news. And he can be an effective player playing 51 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: senty five percent of the snaps. But over the course 52 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: of the season, if you can get that number down 53 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 1: just a little bit, and if that's what you kind 54 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: of by adding one more pass rusher in Freny, you 55 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: do help bett it out a little bit there, then 56 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:47,119 Speaker 1: that's I think just going to make you a stronger 57 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: team down the stretch and hopefully in the postseason. Well, 58 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: it's interesting because if you take a look and let's 59 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: just say we don't know this for effect, but let's 60 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: just say that Dwight plays ten to fifteen snaps a game. 61 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: Does that really make a difference and take something off 62 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: the legs of the other guys? Absolutely? I mean, I 63 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: you know, it may not seem like much, but when 64 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: you add that up over, you know, they got ten 65 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: more games to go. That's a hundred snaps. Maybe that 66 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: some like Michael Bennett can rest than sure. That's whether 67 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: it's one series that you just leave them out or 68 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: just one or two plays here and there. It'll you know, 69 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: the cumulative effect, especially on a veteran guy like Mike, 70 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: it can really make a difference. So and look from 71 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 1: what he's done the last couple of years, he could 72 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: be effective in ten or fifteen snaps a game. I mean, 73 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: just just two years ago, Dwight Freeney did something very 74 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: similar to what he's doing now, which has worked out 75 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: on his own. Be Unsigned into the season, he jumped 76 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: in with Arizona, got eight sacks and eleven games, and 77 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: that was learning a totally new defense. The advantage he 78 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: has here is he just spent a year playing in 79 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: Atlanta for dan Quinn. So what the Seahawks are going 80 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: to ask him to do is going to be very 81 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: similar to what he did a year ago. Yeah, I 82 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: thought that was really interesting that he's got some confidence 83 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: in the process that he has to go through now 84 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: and he's not learning an entirely different playbook. And this 85 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: is a place that he's wanted to come and become 86 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: part of the team. As we heard in his introductory 87 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: press conference this week. Now, I've always wanted to play 88 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: here in a sense, once I left Indianapolis, I was like, man, 89 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: you know, it would be special to play in Seattle. 90 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: And one of the reasons being is because of, you know, 91 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: just the mentality on defense. You know, this kind of 92 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: gets lost sometimes in the league now these days of offensive, 93 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,679 Speaker 1: high powered offense. And I'm not saying by any means 94 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 1: that our offense isn't good, but I think it's a 95 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 1: little something different on defense in this city and how 96 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: they the twelfth man really rises up and gets behind 97 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: their d And I'm just happy to be a part 98 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,520 Speaker 1: of it. And whether he's on the field or off 99 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: the field, you cannot argue with a guy who has 100 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 1: done this for so long in the league. His impact 101 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: just in other players watching how we do things, John, 102 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: I think is going to be beneficial. Yeah, you could 103 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: argue that more than anything he contributes on the field, 104 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: and you obviously want him to do that. Dwight Freeney 105 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: is most lasting to impact on the Seahawks could be 106 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: in Frank Clark. I mean, that's the kind of guy. 107 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: He is, the experience, he has, a leader he is 108 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: for a young, very talented pass rusher like Frank Clark. 109 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: I mean we just talked to Frank Clark in the 110 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: locker room and he was already talking about how excited 111 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: he was to pick his brain and he joked it, 112 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 1: you know, he's been working on his spin move, so 113 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: now he's got the master to learn from. So yeah, 114 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: I mean, when you have a guy who's been through 115 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: so much, played in three Super Bowls, seven Pro Bowls, 116 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: I mean, this guy's he's most likely a Hall of Famer. 117 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: And to have that kind of guy who's not just 118 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: that talented, but a willing leader, a guy who's you 119 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: know he talked about that's I mean that he understands 120 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: that's part of why he's here, and that willingness to 121 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: help the young guys is going to be really big. 122 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: And Pete talked about what exactly those young guys can 123 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: glean if they just watch his weekly preparation, just talking 124 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: to the guys who've worked with him in the past, 125 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: just in our communications, and I know the response that 126 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 1: Clint Hurt has had, just in a visit with him 127 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,040 Speaker 1: last night today and watching him interact. He's got a 128 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: lot to offer. He has a lot to offer, and 129 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: we're thrilled by that. Well, we do expect to see 130 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: Dwight Freeney on the field this week, provided that all 131 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 1: goes well. We did not see a whole lot of 132 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 1: the defense on the field last week, John, As we 133 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: kind of take a step back and figure out in 134 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: what areas the Seahawks took a step forward last week 135 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: against the Giants. Of course, it was a win and 136 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: there were good things that happened in the second half. 137 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:26,919 Speaker 1: But I guess what are the couple of things that 138 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: stick out to you about that game. First off, just 139 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: because you kind of hinted at time of possession, it 140 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: was a strange game for the offense because you look 141 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 1: at those first half numbers, they doubled them up in 142 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: time of possession yardage, I mean first downs unit fifteen 143 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 1: first downs and a half. That's really really good with 144 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:48,239 Speaker 1: three points because they somehow managed to have a really 145 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: long series in the goal line and get nothing out 146 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: of it. So it was just it was a strange 147 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: half for the offense. But you know, at least in 148 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: my opinion, you feel better about that kind of three 149 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: point half than the ones we've seen maybe in the past, 150 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: where it's just punt punt, punt, punt, punt and then 151 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: one field goal weight. So I think even though the 152 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: scoring wasn't there in the first half, overall, what the 153 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: offensive did was encouraging pass protection was better against a 154 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: pretty aggressive pass rush, and then they got it going 155 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: in the second half. So to me, you know, just 156 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: seeing offense take another step forward was big, and then 157 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: more and more as this defense does with what it does, 158 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: I really think that what we saw in Tennessee was 159 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,679 Speaker 1: one half of just kind of a weird, flukey bad 160 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: game for them. Maybe it was the heat. People don't 161 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: want to use excuse, but that probably played a factor. 162 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: But really, you take one half of football out in 163 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: this defense is playing as well as it really has 164 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: even in twenty thirteen, which is the benchmark for this franchise, 165 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: and lo and behold you look at where they rank 166 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: in scoring defense, which has kind of always been their 167 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: signature and there's a number one by it again. So 168 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: you know, I just I think this defense almost doesn't 169 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: get enough credit these days because we've become so accustomed 170 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: to it, you almost take it for granted. It just like, oh, hey, 171 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: they're going to go out there and hold team to ten, fifteen, 172 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: seventeen points, whatever, And they just do it year after 173 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: year and week after week, and we're seeing it again. Well, 174 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: it isn't that Basically what Richard Sherman said this week. 175 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: He says, you know, you can get bored by greatness 176 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: sometimes and you forget that doing what we're doing is 177 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: actually pretty impressive, and they've got staying power to be 178 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: able to do this year after year. I thought that 179 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: was kind of an interesting thing. Here's what else when 180 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: you talk about that time of possession. I remember looking 181 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: at the halftime stats when we were in New York 182 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: and thinking, Man, the Seahawks offense ran I think it 183 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 1: was forty one forty two plays in that first half, 184 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: and I am so I was so enamored by that, because, 185 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: as you've mentioned, there have been games where it's just 186 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: been three and out, three and out, three and out 187 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: and they can't get anything going. What I didn't look 188 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: at was the number of plays that the Giants ran. 189 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: And one of the coaches was walking off the field 190 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: towards the buses with me after the game, and he goes, man, 191 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: can you believe that they did not even run as 192 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 1: many defensive plays as we would have in a practice period. 193 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: You know, the defense wasn't on the field enable to 194 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: do anything. I just thought, Wow, that's that's another way 195 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: to look at that. And you could tell the entire 196 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 1: time that Eli Manning had happy feet and he did 197 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: not want to do anything, no anywhere close to those dbs. No. 198 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:15,719 Speaker 1: I mean that's we've seen that more and more kind 199 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: of really over the years, but especially this year, that 200 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: teams just aren't gonna test this defense and they're gonna, 201 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: you know, if they can get their their chunk plays 202 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: on the ground, or if they can just kind of 203 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: nickel and dime down the field, then maybe that's how 204 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: you have success against this defense. But with as good 205 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: as Richard Sherman, as good as Earl Thomas has been 206 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: just and with a good pass rush, where if you 207 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: sit back and try to let those plays develop, you 208 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: gotta deal with Mike Bennett, Frank Clark Sheldon Richardson. Now, 209 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: so it's you just see Pete Carroll talked about that 210 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: a little bit too too, that teams just aren't taking 211 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: the shots anymore. They're just kind of trying to get 212 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: the ball out quick, right, which makes some of those 213 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: numbers look a little bit skewed. So you've got to 214 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: look at other measures of success and not just look 215 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 1: at kas. Yeah, you look at twelve sacks and say, boy, 216 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: the pass rush isn't there, But it's not usually when 217 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:01,719 Speaker 1: you don't have a pass rush. The downside of that 218 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: as teams pick you apart. And they have one of 219 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: the best past defenses in the league this year, so 220 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: that's not the case. Well, if we've spent a lot 221 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: of time praising the defense, I think we've got a 222 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: couple of questions to answer on the offense and when 223 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: it mattered and when the Seahawks hit the second half 224 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: of games. I mean, look, it has been shown not 225 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: just this year, but in past years. They score the 226 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,679 Speaker 1: most points in the fourth quarter. The third quarter is 227 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: a close second when it comes to the Seahawks putting 228 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: points on the board. The run game looked better in spurts, 229 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: but there were also times where Thomas Frawls was maybe 230 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: not quite as in sync with his blockers as he 231 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: could have been and as Eddie Lacy might have been. 232 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: What did we learn about the ground game, especially given CJ. 233 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: Procisse's status. Yeah, I mean, I think the best way 234 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: to put it is they're just still finding themselves. They're 235 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: not you know, it hasn't been what they want it 236 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: to be, but there's some signs of progress. They're kind 237 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: of starting to find that mix. A guy pro sises 238 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: injury makes it hard to kind of sort that out. 239 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: But between Rawles and Lacey we've seen pretty even work 240 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: between those two the last few weeks. You know, it's 241 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: been a weird road for Thomas Rawles with the injuries. 242 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: You know, he had such a phenomenal second half to 243 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: his rookie year and then it's just been kind of 244 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: start and stop for him with injuries and he's just 245 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: not he hasn't quite been right, but he's he's getting there, 246 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: and I think these past couple of games, even though 247 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: his yardages in there, are really going to help him 248 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: down the road just kind of get the feel back 249 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: for it. Do you remember, and I know that I'm 250 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: putting you on the spot and I'm really sorry. Do 251 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: you remember the mix of run versus pass in the 252 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: first half or anything close to it, because it seems 253 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 1: to me and I'm I'm getting to a point here, 254 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 1: I believe you. Could you tell my husband that because 255 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: he just doesn't think that I ever have a point 256 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: to any of my stories. But what I'm thinking is 257 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: in the first half, you know, whether it was Thomas 258 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: or whether it was Jadie McKissick or Eddie Lacy, they 259 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: weren't always getting the yards. But they went back to 260 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:00,720 Speaker 1: the run, which of course we know as a Seahawks 261 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: style of football. But all of that helped to set 262 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: up Paul Richardson's touchdown grab. It really turned the tide 263 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: for the Seahawks there. At least they had enough on 264 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: the ground to keep the Giants off the receivers exactly. 265 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: And no, I don't remember the mix. I do know 266 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: by the end of the game they had thirty one carries, 267 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: which is a pretty good number. You want the yards 268 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: where they want, Yeah, but those are about the touches 269 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: they were looking for. But you're right if you're still 270 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: attempting it and having some I mean, they weren't just 271 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: pounding the ball but they were having enough success that 272 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: teams have to respect it. And that's a big part 273 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: of I mean, you want to get the yards on 274 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: the ground, but a big part of that too is 275 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,720 Speaker 1: it helps your passing game be explosive because if teams 276 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: just want to load the box and play the run really, 277 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: you know, really aggressively, then all of a sudden, you 278 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: can get more one on ones, you get those matchups 279 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: you like, you know, you get no you know, no 280 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: safety help, that kind of thing, and those big plays 281 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: suddenly get there, or as you referenced, the fake play 282 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: works because they bite on the run there. So you know, 283 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: look I do they'renna rush for one hundred and fifty 284 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: two yards a game and just really dominate in that area. 285 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: But until then, you at least want to kind of 286 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: balance those numbers out to help the passing game well. 287 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: And when you mentioned explosive plays, look, that was something 288 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: that I was looking for against the Giants, because if 289 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: you go back a couple of weeks the game against 290 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: the Rams and the Seahawks came away with a win, 291 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,839 Speaker 1: but they had want just one explosive play. That was 292 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: a pass play from Russell to JD. Mkissock for twenty 293 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: one yards. They had nothing on the ground that was 294 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 1: over ten yards. Now, last week again you mentioned you 295 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 1: would like to see more of those big runs, but 296 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: you had two of them at least, so that's an improvement. 297 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: And then you had six passing plays that were twenty 298 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 1: or more yards, So the chunk plays were there, which 299 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: does help open up things, and they scored on them. Yeah, 300 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: and you know, it's funny you mentioned it because that 301 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: Rams game, it's really rare. You know, there's a reason 302 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: they focus a lot on explosive plays. They define it 303 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: as sixteen or more yards in the air, twelve or 304 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: more on the ground, and the reason they use those 305 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,839 Speaker 1: numbers is their studies have shown them if you have 306 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: one or more play of that yardage in a drive, 307 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: it increases your chances of scoring on that drive. Expert, 308 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: I mean, it's a drastic difference. So that's a big 309 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: deal to this team. In that Rams game, they've lost 310 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: the explosive play battle by a lot, yet came out 311 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: ahead and the only way you can do that is 312 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: by turnovers, and they got five takeaways in that game, 313 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: so that that game was weird. But yeah, they got 314 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: back to playing more of their style where it was 315 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: ten to two. The explosive difference in this game, and 316 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: that's I mean, that's really dominating both ways, those numbers, 317 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: so that you know that's that's a good formula to 318 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: win when you're getting big plays and your opponents just 319 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: can't get it done. And I think that that's going 320 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 1: to be a big key against the Texans this week 321 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: because we spend just a few minutes taking a look 322 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: at what this matchup means. It's interesting because we don't 323 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: see Houston very often, and I don't pay attention to 324 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: those highlights very much. I mean, when J. J. Watt 325 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: was in there and healthy, of course you see him 326 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: on the highlights. You know that Deshaun Watson is lighting 327 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: it up as a rookie. Let's take a look at 328 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: the Seahawks offense against that defense. This is a Texans 329 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: defense that leads the NFL enforced fumbles with nine. They 330 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: are among the best at not allowing teams to convert 331 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: on third down, which I would argue goes back to 332 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: those explosive plays, so that we've got some better down 333 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: and distances on that one. But this is a really 334 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: interesting matchup, it really is, and you know you think 335 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: of You mentioned J. J. Watt, You think of the Texans, 336 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: and that's kind of the face of that franchise. But 337 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: when he's missed time both this year and last year 338 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: and in the past, and obviously he's out right now, 339 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: they've still been a really good defensive team. There's a 340 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: lot of talent there. And you mentioned that the takeaways. 341 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: You know, we all know what a big deal taking 342 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: care of the football is to Pete Carroll and that 343 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,640 Speaker 1: that's going to be put to the test for sure. Well, 344 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: and when you look even further, so you know, depending 345 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: on what the game plan holds for the Seahawks, they've 346 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: got a pair of cornerbacks that have the most combined 347 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: career tackles in the NFL in Gareem Jackson and Jonathan Joseph. 348 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: So I'm curious. I guess the game plan just stays 349 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: this for the Seahawks this week. We know that Pete 350 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: wants to do what they do. Does this put more 351 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: impetus and onus on the running game? I don't know 352 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: about more, because you know, I think this is that's 353 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: what they always want to be and when it's not there, 354 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: either because they can't run it well or the situations 355 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: are kind of dictating it because they're getting behind down 356 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: distance wise, then things shift. But I don't think they 357 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: necessarily go into the game with more focus on it 358 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: because I think it's it's kind of always there. But yeah, 359 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: it's again, this is a pretty legit test really on 360 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: both sides of the ball. And we'll get into their offense, 361 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: but it's I mean, for their records only three and three, 362 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: which seems pretty modest, but they're playing really good football 363 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: right now. Well, they've been playing really good football since 364 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: Deshaun Watson took over, and his numbers john are off 365 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: the chart. Yeah, I mean, you don't see rookies do 366 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: what he does. I mean, even Russell Wilson, as good 367 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: as he was as a rookie, he you know, he 368 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: wasn't throwing fifteen touchdown passes this early in the season 369 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: to not just be getting the touchdowns but taking care 370 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: of the ball. He's got a three to one touchdown 371 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,880 Speaker 1: interception ratio, which is good for any quarterback, but especially 372 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: a rookie. And you know, passer rating north of one 373 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: hundred those are that's pretty rare air for a rookie quarterback. 374 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: And he's got a couple of very reliable targets to 375 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: throw two I would say, yeah, I mean you got 376 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 1: DeAndre Hopkins three eighty two yards and six touchdowns, and 377 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: then Fuller comes in with five more touchdowns and really 378 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: legit speed and Fuller, I mean, he's a guy that 379 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: can take the top off a defense. So yeah, there's 380 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 1: there's a lot to like about the Texans there. There. 381 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: It's a and they're coming off a buy, which is 382 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: always makes a team a little tougher as well. So 383 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,120 Speaker 1: it's it's a very very stiff test for the seats. 384 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: You're not the only one who likes just kind of 385 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,200 Speaker 1: the makeup of the Texans. When you dive a little 386 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: bit further into the matchup, you see that under coach O'Brian, 387 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: the Texas are twenty one and oh when leading at 388 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: halftime in the regular season. Houston is the only team 389 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: in the NFL that has not given up a halftime 390 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: lead since twenty fourteen. And that's one of the things 391 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: that stands out to peak one of my favorite characteristics. 392 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: You know that teams finished well and they're doing that 393 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: and putting people away. This is they're off to a 394 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 1: tremendous start to the season and they could be easily 395 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: better than the record right now. So it's a young, 396 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: spunky group of guys. Coach is doing a good job, 397 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 1: and the guys are fighting hard. You can see it 398 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: all the way across the board. All three phases are 399 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 1: really tough in physical, getting after it, and they give 400 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: his problems everywhere. So it's no wonder that they're finishing 401 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: well and putting people away like you're saying. So, I guess, John, 402 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: all of this being said, we know that the Texans 403 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,400 Speaker 1: are a good team. I'm really glad that we've got 404 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: this game at Century Link because I do think that 405 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: home field advantage plays a role in this one. And 406 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: I guess overall, how do you kind of feel and 407 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 1: quantify what this matchup looks like going into Sunday? Yeah, 408 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: I mean, first off, as you mentioned home field a lot. Obviously, 409 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: any team wants played at home. But as good as 410 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: the Shawn Watson's been O'Brien talked about this this week, 411 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 1: he hasn't played in this I mean, it's the environment 412 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: center in the field. It's it is a real game changer. 413 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 1: That's not just you know, Seahawks fans thinking there's something 414 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: special that they're not they do make a difference in 415 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: these games. It is louder there than just about anywhere 416 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,879 Speaker 1: in the league, and until a quarterback has really experienced that, 417 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: it can kind of mess with you. So that could 418 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: be a big factor for the Seahawks, and you know, 419 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: we've seen them one as we saw in the Colts game. 420 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,360 Speaker 1: Pete Carroll talked about that being kind of the formula 421 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: they want where if you can get ahead, obviously you 422 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: want to do that in a game, but if you 423 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: can get ahead when you're at home, kind of get 424 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 1: a team forced to pass and get that crowd noised 425 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: out up, help them the pass rush, it can really 426 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 1: change a game. Yeah, I would think that as good 427 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 1: as de Shaun Watson is and Scherm said that this week, 428 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: he's a rookie. He's going to make mistakes. He's still 429 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,920 Speaker 1: growing into the role. You play against some of those 430 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: savvy veterans on that Seahawks defense, they could bait into 431 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: a few things. They could frustrate you a little bit. 432 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: You could perhaps see that snowball in the Seahawks favor, 433 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: which is certainly what I've got my fingers crossed for 434 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 1: on Sunday. Wouldn't be a best also no rain. Gottain 435 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:00,959 Speaker 1: fingers crossed for no ring, but I don't know what 436 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: the forecast is at this point. Yeah it might be. Yeah, 437 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: the role of the sideline reporter, you'd prefer limited rain snow, 438 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: And we got a decent weekend coming up here. Well, 439 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: I am super excited about it, as if I needed 440 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: any more reason for that. So that'll do it for 441 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: this week's edition of the Seahawks Insider Podcast. Make sure 442 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: you check out everything that John Boyle has at seahawks 443 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 1: dot com. Tune into the broadcast so that you can 444 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: hear myself, Warren Moon, and Steve Ravel on the call, 445 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: and we will be back with you next week