Hawks’ ‘O’ improves; no-huddle shows it
ERIC D. WILLIAMS; Staff writer
Max Unger says no more excuses.
“We’re kind of at the point of our group where progress is good, but we just have to start winning games,” Seattle’s center said about his team’s young offensive line. “I mean we’re an NFL offensive line, and no one cares if we’re all younger guys that didn’t really have an offseason. It’s time to start winning games.”
For the first time this season Seattle started the same starting five up front for successive weeks. And the consistency appeared to help. Seattle came into Sunday’s contest against Atlanta tied for the lead with Chicago in sacks allowed with 14. But the Seahawks did not allow a sack for the first time this season against the Falcons.
“They blocked their tails off,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “It’s just the growth of these guys playing together. And they came after us, not a ton, but when they did they picked it up.
“(Quarterback) Tarvaris (Jackson) moved well, and it’s getting together really well. And it’s getting up into the protection and when T-Jack had to run, he did.”
Jackson, who finished with a career-high 319 passing yards, credited the offensive line with giving him enough time and protection to allow him to push the ball down the field.
“Those guys did a great job and allowed me to get through my progressions and not have to rush through them,” Jackson said. “When you have time like that, a defense can’t cover that long.
“Someone is going to get open, especially with the guys we have at receiver – they’re going to find a way to get open.”
Specifically, the Seahawks were much better on third down in the second half, with Seattle going no-huddle and the offensive line providing ample time for Jackson to find the open man.
The Seahawks converted five of six third-down situations in the second half.
Seattle tight end Zach Miller said the offensive line’s pass protection was just another sign that the Seahawks’ offensively are finally coming together.
“We’ve seen what we can do,” Miller said. “And now we have a level we have to play at every week.”
Receiver Ben Obomanu agreed.
“We’re just believing in what we’ve been talking about the whole year, about continuing to be able to come together,” he said. “You can tell that we have great guys on the team and the coaches have a great plan. I think that’s what we saw today – opportunities to actually see competition on the field.
“We always have good practice competition and sometimes it doesn’t carry over to the game. But we found out today that we can, and it can carry over to the game.”
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437 eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
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