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Originally Posted by Howie_16
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Yeah, Wilson has been very good since they took the shackles off him as far as the playbook after the 4th or 5th week, and the defense has been near the top since early in the season. Stalled last minute red zone drives in ARI and St. L, could have this team with more wins early in the year. The GB game of course is one that could've swung the other way, but may be key in tie breakers. Losses to Detroit and certainly Miami were the defense gassed at the end and unable to make the big stop (and a bad call against in the MIA game) at the end of the game. A couple drops by recievers in the endzone in SF game could've had that a different result.
They aren't doing it with smoke and mirrors though, Wilson has been solid as his confidence is grown, and is making timely and proper decisions with the ball, which is key. Lynch has been a pounding back and only behind Peterson for yards. Rice has been big, Tate has been better than last year, and the 2 TE set is working well. In the wins, going toe to toe with NE, taking it to Chicago. A better team than MIN and DAL and certainly the Jets and ARI.
Scraped one out, ugly, against Carolina. I do think they're due for one of those games in the last 3, and hopefully they can be on the right side.
Hard not to look ahead past this week...a SF loss and Seattle win, and SEA wins out, they get the division, and maybe the #2 seed and a bye...which means a home playoff game too which is massive. A loss this week for SF means a let down for SF who are amping themselves up for the Pats. If they lose, next week's game is bigger for them, and panic mode and again will have to get up for a big game on the road against a Seattle team on a roll.
But, there are more then a few sobering thoughts. Seattle has a poor game and loses this week, and SF wins, its only a wildcard shot, and a road playoff game, where Seattle is 0-8 on the road in the playoffs. That's assuming they get there...this weeks loss followed up by loss against a good SF team (no matter is SF loses or wins this week), and Seattle will probably have a pressure must win against the Rams to have a WC shot...a Rams team which is better and if the stars align, may also get the WC if they win out and beat SEA.
And then yes, having to win two road games to get to a SB. A tall task.
Again, this is a very good team that maybe deserves more national credit as individuals and a team than they are getting, and even if/when they do get it, the GB game will dismiss them again as being lucky to get to whatever point. The team has shown consistently through the wins and losses this year that it has the pieces this year and in the future to go somewhere. It well could be this year, with a dome game this week, then two at home, if the defense plays as well as it has so far, and Wilson continues to make smart plays that Seattle fans haven't really seen since Trent Dilfer was the backup....they're certainly proven to keep up with other top teams in the NFC. Wilson should be considered above RG3 IMO, but Luck has done more with less in IND.
SB team is a stretch, but I don't think you can pencil any team from either conference at this point. Pats are on a roll but look human this year. BAL same. The Denver Manning's look pretty good though. In the NFC, ATL is unconvincing. Giants are always overrated. Seattle's kept up with CHI and GB. Seattle, if they can get that #2 seed somehow and a bye/home playoff game(s), someway in the next 3 weeks, well...my thoughts may change and they would be right up there for sure...but a lot can change in a week and the team may be scrambling just to keep hopes alive to get a shot to break the 0-8 away streak, having to play GB or CHI in the arctic conditions of early January, too.
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Originally Posted by Sylvanfan
Before his suspension he was considered one of their better corners in the NFC. Works well in the Seahawks scheme because he is big and physical. So if the pass rush can get to the QB, Browner, and Sherman can come up and jam receivers aggressively. With teams looking for size mismatches on the outside, Browner doesn't get overmatched. In a man to man press coverage scheme he's been very good.
I don't think he'd be as effective in a different scheme though. Speed wise most receivers will be able to beat him. So if he was in a soft zone scheme where he had to make reads and break on the ball, he wouldn't be very effective.
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Yeah, last year he got flagged a lot, but with Sherman on the other side, by the end of the year as Browner was adding to INT totals QB's were thinking twice about throwing to the corner, certainly on the timing routes or the corner out patterns in the end zone...and eventually even the speed routes.
That opposition hesitation to throw at them has continued this year, and the penalties from Browner are way down (as are the INTs as a result). And with Chancellor in the middle, and athletic LB's, the throws over the top are better covered by safety help, and of course the middle is clogged up too.
Seattle's D-line is much improved with Irvin as a 2 down rusher and the big guys holding up the run, and the confidence that the QB's are going to be holding onto the ball a bit more, has resulted in sacks. which have been a rarity in Seattle the last 5 years. Unheralded guys like Wagner and Wright as LB are doing a big part too.
As with most NFL defences that are near the top of most categories at once like Seattle, its all those parts and factors complimenting each other and working together to be as effective as they are.