Renton – In a year of uneven play attempting to learn a new running scheme, the Seattle Seahawks’ ground attack appears to be on the uptick near the completion of the season.
The Seahawks will try to continue that trend against Tennessee today, with the Titans ranked No. 10 overall in rushing defense.
After twice setting franchise-worst records for rushing yards in a game this season, Seattle has averaged 121.5 yards a contest and 4.58 yards a carry in the past, two games. However, most of those yards were accumulated in first halves, with Seattle having to abandon the run because of falling behind and needing to score quickly to get back into the games.
“Guys are starting to understand the scheme better, and how the backside cutoff blocks are important,” coach Jim Mora said. “And repetition. Guys are making some good runs. But we have, over the course of the last five games or six games — excluding the Houston game where we got way down — we’ve run the ball well. So that’s something we’re going to try to continue to build on.”
The switch of Max Unger to center and Chris Spencer to guard two games ago helped stabilize things inside, giving the Seahawks more consistency in terms of the quarterback-center exchange at the beginning of plays.
And according to fullback Justin Griffith, the offensive line and running backs are doing a better job of reading the defense at the point of attack on run plays.
“It’s all coming together,” said Griffith, who played the Seahawks’ offensive system in Atlanta and Oakland before coming to Seattle. “We knew when we first put the running game in it was going to take a couple weeks to get it done. Even when I was in Atlanta, and the same in Oakland, we just didn’t get it right away.
“You’ve got to practice it all the time, and once the linemen and the fullbacks are on the same page, and the running backs are hitting the holes where they’re supposed to, then you can kind of see it coming together.”
Mora agreed.
“The more you do something – and you learn where the hole’s going to open, where the cut’s going to be, when you need to be patient, when you need to explode through, when you need to ride the wave – you gain more confidence because you know it better,” he said. “And they’ve gotten more repetition in the scheme, and sometimes success breeds more success.”
If Seattle can run the ball effectively, it might go a long way toward keeping the ball away from Tennessee running back Chris Johnson and the Titans’ potent running attack. Johnson needs only 128 yards to become the sixth running back in NFL history to reach 2,000 yards in a season.
And led by Johnson and running quarterback Vince Young (283 yards), Tennessee is ranked No. 2 overall in the league in rushing.
Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said what makes the Titans’ running game so tough to stop is the team’s ability to run the option with Young.
“You feel like you’re playing Oklahoma in the days past,” Bradley joked. “I mean there’s 20-something option plays that they run. And all the different counter options, dive options and lead options with Vince Young, so it’s a lot to prepare for.”
Griffith said, similar to Young, the Falcons had Michael Vick in Atlanta when he was there, which gave defenses another person to account for in their running scheme.
That, and the fact that the Falcons jumped on teams early and created pressure for the other team to score, helped make the running game effective for Atlanta.
Seattle has struggled to create similar pressure on other teams in the first year using the zone blocking scheme, and has been outscored 93-37 in the opening quarter this season.
“We jumped on people,” Griffith said about his time in Atlanta. “And once you jump on people, then you can start running, start establishing the run and start taking time off the clock.
“It’s different (here than with Atlanta). But the name of the game is getting up on somebody and keeping that lead.”
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
SEAHAWKS GAMEDAY
TENNESSEE TITANS (7-8) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5-10)
1:15 p.m., Qwest Field.
TV: Ch. 7.
Radio: 1240-AM, 1030-AM, 710-AM, 97.3-FM.
The series: Seattle holds a 9-4 record against the Titans, dating back to the franchise’s years as the Houston Oilers before they moved to Nashville. The Seahawks have won the last five contests over Tennessee.
What to watch: The Seahawks are looking to finish 5-3 at home this season, which would be an improvement over last year’s 2-6 record. … Wide receiver Nate Burleson (ankle) and linebacker Aaron Curry are not expected to play today. Cornerback Josh Wilson (hip) will be a game-time decision. Running back Julius Jones (rib) and linebacker Leroy Hill (knee) are expected to play. … Tennessee’s Jeff Fisher is 0-5 against Seattle in his 15 years as coach of the Titans. Seattle and San Diego are the only teams Fisher has not beaten as a head coach. … The Titans are playing at Qwest Field for the first time. … With a win, Tennessee would become the first team in NFL history to finish .500 after starting 0-6.
The pick: Titans, 24-21.
Prime numbers
SEATTLE
No. Name (position)Ht.Wt.Year
8 Matt Hasselbeck (QB) 6-422511th
He’s thrown nine interceptions in the last three games.
20 Justin Forsett (RB) 5-81942nd
Hawks need him to help get the running game going.
57 David Hawthorne (LB) 6-02402nd
Will be counted on to help contain Tennessee’s Johnson.
92 Brandon Mebane (DT) 6-13013rd
Mebane has just 1.5 sacks for the season.
TENNESSEE
No. Name (position)Ht.Wt.Year
28 Chris Johnson (RB) 5-112002nd
Needs 128 yards to reach 2000, 234 to break Eric Dickerson’s record.
71 Michael Roos (OT) 6-73155th
Vancouver, Wash., native and Eastern Washington product.
31 Cortland Finnegan (CB) 5-101884th
Will have to play physical against T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
55 Stephen Tulloch (LB) 5-112354th
Titans’ leading tackler with 112.
Eric D. Williams, The News Tribune
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