The Hawks Nest: Monday Night Massacre
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by SSreporters
For the 3rd year in a row, the Seattle Seahawks have shutout the opposing team on Monday Night Football, this one was a 24-0 stomp over the San Francisco 49ers yards per game.
Mike Holmgren said he would pass the ball a lot in the absence of Shaun Alexander, and he did. Sixteen out of nineteen plays to begin the game were passes. The defense was solid, and did not allow a touchdown at home for the 2nd straight game, and the 4th game this year (all wins, 2 against San Fran). Hasselbeck was solid (although he threw a dumb pick, his 8th on the year), and Mo Morris was 13 yards shy of a 100 yard game. Morris, filling in for Shaun, had 28 carries for 87 yards, and the first rushing TD for Seattle since week 2. Let's review all the keys we mentioned in the game shall we?
Seahawks Offense
1. Give me some Mo. Maurice Morris will play Monday night due to Shaun Alexander's 85544554545th injury so far. That gave Holmgren this crazy idea that there is such a thing as a backup. Morris is averaging 4.6 yards per carry, and scored on a 49 yard TD pass on in the opener against Tampa. He is a good receiving threat, but 4th and short situations are his main weakness due to his stature.
Not only did Morris convert on a 3rd and 1, he ran for 87 yards, scored on a 6 yard run, and had only a few carries go for a loss.
2. Shred that 49ers defense. I don't know what happened overnight, but the 49ers defense is alarmingly bad. Bobby Engram and DJ Hackett will be big contributors in the passing game, while Deion Branch will likely miss this game (sprained foot).
Hasselbeck threw for 27-40, 278 yds, 2 TD's and 1 INT. Bobby Engram caught 4 balls for 53 yards, while DJ Hackett caught 8 balls for 101 yards and a TD, his 2nd TD in 2 weeks.
3. Pass the ball on 4th and 1, sneak it if you have to. Please Holmgren, use Weaver, use Hasselbeck to sneak, he's 6'3! Pass, bootleg, anything! Don't run left tackle with Morris!
No need to, they were in control of that game from the start.
Offensive MVP: Matt Hasselbeck
Seahawks Defense
1. Don't get cocky. We know that the 49ers offense is like a snail, it'll take them hours to travel 3 yards. However, we've seen the Saints game, and the Seahawks defense better show up in this game.
Never mind. Butt whipping from the beginning, and Seattle held them to 6 first downs.
2. 3rd and long. No more cover 3 and allowing receivers to get 20 yards while your DB's are 30 yards down field on a 3rd and 15. That's what's killing Seattle, because it's that exact thing that has killed them in every loss.
The 49ers couldn't convert 3rd and anything passing wise. It was utter domination, well done by the CB's to hold Alex Smith to 11-28 passing.
3. No more blitzing. The Seahawks blitz package is terrible, and you can get to Alex Smith on a 2 man rush. No need to blitz, just defend the pass, and you're set.
What passing game? Smith fumbled twice on blitz packages, including a wicked hit by Babs (Jordan Babineaux).
4. Frank Gore. Don't let him run wild on you now. I know he's done nothing this year, but it's Seattle.
Gore: 13 carries for 72 yards (mostly garbage yards at the end), and couldn't convert on a key 4th and inches play.
5. Let former Seahawk Darrell Jackson run by himself. He'll drop the ball anyway.
He got open on the very first play and still dropped the ball. Wuss. He caught 1 pass for 4 yards.
Defensive MVP: Patrick Kerney and Jordan Babineaux.
No need to even look at the 49ers keys to the game, because they flunked across the board.
By the numbers
7 is the number of weeks in a row Matt Hasselbeck has thrown at least 1 interception.
3 is the number of years in a row that Seattle has pulled off a MNF shut out.
1 is the number of first downs the 49ers could muster in the 1st half (it was on a Hail Mary, the pass was dropped but they gave it to Arnaz Battle anyway)
6 is the number of points Seattle could've added to their total if not for false start and holding penalties on 2 Josh Brown field goals (leading to a punt and a FG wide left from 54 yds out by Brownie)
Other observations
- It took Seattle 18 minutes to murder all of their time outs. Their final drive of the half was once again screwed up because of poor clock management by Mike Holmgren.
- The 49ers have been blanked twice in 4 years by Seattle, after a 34 year streak of scoring in a game.
- Marcus Pollard came back from injury.
Up next for Seattle:
Chicago "Sexy Rexy" Bears (4-5)
Editor's Note: Hey guys, I'm pleased to welcome the newest Seahawks beat writer Afraidofedhochuli. He'll be writing sometime this week (Wednesday or Thursday) opinions about the team, while I do the usual game previews and game reviews.
