Thursday practice report: Hasselbeck feeling good
Posted By Eric Williams on November 12, 2009 at 2:15 pm
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck looked good throwing the ball today, and said he feels the best he’s felt in awhile after today’s practice.
“Way better than last week,” Hasselbeck said. “Way better than the last, five weeks really. So it’s the best it’s been.”
Hasselbeck said the thing he believes will determine Sunday’s game against Arizona is who performs better on third down.
Seattle, of course, struggled offensively on third down in the first game against Arizona, going 0-of-11 on third downs. The Seahawks did face seven third downs of 3-and-10 or longer against the Cardinals.
The Seahawks are 23rd overall (38 percent) offensively in converting third downs, and the Cardinals are second overall in the league defensively in allowing third down conversions (33 percent).
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Hasselbeck said. “But the best thing offensively we can do for our team is win on third down.”
Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley talked today after practice about defending the Cardinals better than his defense did the first time around in Seattle, with getting consistent pressure on Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner being one of the keys.
On watching Warner on film, Bradley had this to say.
“It looks so easy to him on tape,” Bradley said. “You know, he comes back, he’s sees the coverage and he knows where to go. And that’s why he gets rid of it so quick. So we’ve got to do a good job of disguising, and when we are playing man coverage then we’ve got to lock onto the receivers and hold up.”
Bradley said Seattle facing a big receiver like Calvin Johnson last week should help in the preparation of dealing with Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Bradley went onto say that in order to contain Fitzgerald defensively, Seattle will have to do a good job of disrupting his route at the line of scrimmage to allow time for the safety to get over the top of the coverage. And then there may be times when the Seahawks double him, but the overriding strategy appears to be constantly changing the approach and showing different looks.
Bradley also said the team cannot be so focused on Fitzgerald that they forget about Arizona’s other talented receivers Anquan Bolden and Steve Breaston.
As far as blitzing Warner, Bradley said Warner’s completion percentage actually goes up when teams blitz because he’s so good of getting rid of the ball quickly, so it appears the key for Seattle will be mixing up the blitzes and getting pressure from just the front four.
Here's the injury report.
For Seattle, Hasselbeck, OT Sean Locklear and CB Ken Lucas all fully participated in practice today.
And WR Mike Hass also was on the practice field, so he cleared waivers and was added to the practice squad.
For Arizona, LB Gerald Hayes (back), T Mike Gandy (pelvis), LB Chike Okeafor (back), WR Sean Morey (head) and DE Kenny Iwebema (knee) did not practice.
WR Steve Breaston (knee) and TE Ben Patrick were limited participants in practice.
And WR Anquan Boldin (ankle), CB Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie (finger) and G Reggie Wellls (thumb) were full participants in practice.
" That's right, for no expense I'm here to tell you that we will lose in AZ!!! "
You're all class.
We should enroll you in Tool Academy.
I just heard the Hawks are #1 vs the run since week 2. (75yds a game)
Too bad it's the pass defense they'll need more of this week. (17th)
They've harassed Kurt in the past, Do it again!
This game should be different. Trufant covering fitz, mcintosh or locklear on the left side of the line rather than williams. I hope I'm right.
Don't forget that Vallos was pretty brutal at LG too.
Vallos had an awful game, yes. And Terrill saw more snaps at DT than either Mebane or Cole, also not a good thing.
I believe that the talent level from team to team in the NFL is relatively close, especially when healthy. This includes the Seahawks and Cardinals. That being said, the home field advantage does play a part but in the case of Sea vs. Az. these teams know each other so well that I believe this game comes down to game planning and coaching more than anything. And IMO this game ,win or lose falls squarely on the coaching staff. Unfortunately, I don't have a great deal of confidence in Mora and less in Knapp and Bradley. Thus, making the outcome of this weekends game somawhat predictible. I sincerely hope Mora and co. proves me wrong. Again, I don't have a great deal of faith in that.
princedan, very true. Yet we wouldn't all love this game if it was really that predictable.
Although most teams talent level is pretty close, obviously the Cardinals have a significant talent advantage over us at WR and D line (many years of high draft picks after losing seasons did that for them), and their O line is in synch after having played together for many games in a row.
But, your'e right. This Sunday's game falls on the players and the coaching staff. It is really all about "Who Wants It More?"
it is straight up torture what Lawrence Jackson did to us in the beginning of this season. He had some of us believing that he was coming around....WOW what a load of crap that was. Sucks....Kerney is getting old and he doesn't have the same motor any longer. Cory Redding is garbage, Cole is big but he isn't attracting the double teams like everyone thought he would (he is showing us why he was a backup), Mebane can't do it all by himself but he has still dissapointed thus far, and Red Bryant was supposed to be this huge ass beast but he sucks ass against the run. What a sweet line!!!!!!!!!
Fantasy Advice?
Burleson or Housh .. or Brandon Marshall.. I can play two of them..
Ryan Grant or Rashard Mendenhall or Knowshon Moreno.. I can play one of those three.
Advice? This is my pay league, and none of these matchups stands out..
If it were me I'd go with Marshall against the 'Skins and Houshmandzadeh. He's more physical against a physical secondary. But really it's a coin flip
I'd start Moreno (again vs the 'Skins) and Grant. I know Mendenhall is coming off a big game but Cinci gives up next to nothing on the ground and Pitts seems pretty committed to throwing it.
I'd probably choose Marshall over either of our WRs. And I'd choose Moreno over Mendenhall too. But I wouldn't start a Bronco RB AND WR in the same week. There's only so much upside. That means I'd probably go with Mendenhall because he'll most likely get his teams goal line carries. At some point the Bengals are going to realize they are the Bengals and playing at Pittsburgh is a good place to find that out.
mocarob says:
" That's right, for no expense I'm here to tell you that we will lose in AZ!!! "
You're all class.
We should enroll you in Tool Academy.
.................Hey Mocarob, such an academy may have worked for you and your kind but i'll pass, thanks though little buddy!
The Bengals are good, Bobby. I think the Steelers might find out they are the Bengals too.
Sorry Syndro, I miss read. Only one RB? That is tough, Probably still Moreno. Washington is so bad.