Game #12 – Eating Purple People
by fellow 12 @ClintonBon
3 In, 3 Out is a concise, yet somewhat satisfying recap of 3 things that went well for the Seahawks and 3 things that ummmm… didn’t. The coverage will go deeper than the average bear – for instance this will be the only mention of our defense limiting Mr. AP to a lowly 18 yards on the ground – ouch.
For the first time this year, finding 3 things that went wrong was really… really quite hard. But let’s start with a big IN shall we!!!?
In – Frank the Tank, Times Two
We’ve been clamoring for ‘up the gut’ pressure… well basically all year. Jordan Hill and Mebane have struggled to get home, tallying a mere .5 sack between the two. Rubin’s done better, notching 2 sacks (plus that crucial INT on Big Ben!)… But overall, we’ve had a lack of consistent pressure from inside the A-gaps.
Not Sunday. Frank the Tank was a purple people man-eater. His duet of sacks brought the rookie’s total to 3 on the season, with all 3 sacks registered in the last 120 minutes of play.
Asked during the weekly presser if Clark would see more playing time inside, Coach Carroll coyishly laughed and said, “Yeah.” In other words… Woah-oh here he comes.
DE @TheRealFrankC_ got his 1st career #SACK last week. Does this mean 4 sacks next week? #SEAvsMIN #bunches pic.twitter.com/6tO2ng3TQS
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 6, 2015
Out – It’s the Little Things That Kill, Jon Ryan
Remember, in this game there wasn’t too much to pick on, however, one play that stuck with me was another poorly executed punt by American Ninja Punter, Jon Ryan. In a game where we were victorious by a margin of 31 points, you might be asking, “Who cares dude?”… I would suggest, you do.
The punt occurred with our ‘Hawks only up 7 and it could have given Minnesota a break. Punting from about the 50 yard line, this PEP (poorly executed punt) ended up netting only about 25 yards. Que lastima! This is only our 5th week doing #3In3Out and yet, Ryan has landed on the wrong side of the coin 2 times already.
In – Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got that Zing
His name is Russell… last name Wilson. Russell had a few passes that seemed to be delivered by a smooth swooping Stork, easing a baby gently into the hands of striding receivers. The long Lockett catch down the right hand side and the 53-yarder to Baldwin up the seam for 6, were two such examples. And those passes were gorgeous because after all, we know Russell throws a sexy deep ball.
But, when it’s time for Russell to go from smooth, to straight nasty, it’s passes like his 2nd quarter zing to Baldwin that illustrated just how dangerous @DangeRussWilson is.
Has Russell ever been this locked in?
Out – Wreck It Rawls, Early Fum-Ball
It was early. It proved to matter not. But like we discussed in the Jon Ryan segment above, it’s just something we can’t do come January. Rawls ended up having a very, very strong game. Bolstered by good run blocking and his attacking style of the foosball, he looked like his usual Bobby Boucher self after being told about an enlarged Medulla Oblongata.
So yeah, this out, is a partial in, but hey… we won 38 – 7 !!!
In – Tyler, Tyler, Tyler
No, this isn’t a tribute band focused on bringing back the early ‘90’s hip-pop brilliance that was Tony! Toni! Toné! But, this is about Tyler earning that loot. As Angry Doug has become a TD making machine, Tyler has, perhaps a bit more quietly, emerged as a darn good receiver.
We saw the potential throughout camp. We knew the special teams prowess was legit and frankly, we knew the rookie was light years ahead of most in terms of route running and just being a really polished professional receiver.
In his first 8 games, Lockett caught 15 balls. In the 3rd quarter of the season (4 games), Tyler caught 20 pigskins. On Sunday alone, Lockett hauled in 7.
Our offense is looking like a fully operational Death Star, and this Ty-Fighter is now locked in and primed for the jump to hyperspace.
Out – Lame. Lame. Lame penalty calls… on the Vikings
You know it was a sensational week if one of our “outs” is to point out that several early penalties against the Vikings were just pure rubbish. Of course the severity of the game was different, but I imagine it was somewhat akin to the Steelers v. Seahawks SB back in ‘05.
After that debacle, I remember meandering around the streets of Detroit with Steelers fans literally apologizing to me. The Vikes weren’t sniffing this game, but as NFL fans, I’m sure we’d all like the lame yellow flags to stop flying! This one’s for @AdamtheRant – NFL refs… Do better!!!
1, 2, 3… What’s Next!?
In the Carroll era, the Seahawks haven’t been a team to walk into ‘trap’ games unfocused and unprepared. So, I expect the domination to simply continue v. a Ravens team that completely lacks an identity. Uncle Buck Allen is pretty decent it seems and Matt Schaub… well… We’ll just leave that one there and maybe pick on that topic in our next installment.
I expect domination, but frankly, if we walk out of Baltimore a one-point victor, it will be all that matters.
Till next time ye faithful 12's… Go ‘Hawks!
Have an “In” or an “Out” you want discussed? Drop us a comment or send Brandan and Adam a tweet @SeaHawkersPod.
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