Seattle corners have faced more passes
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Through the first six games of the 2004 season, the book on the Seattle Seahawks could have included a prologue warning the dangers of messing with the cornerbacks.
Starters Marcus Trufant and Ken Lucas knocked down just about everything in sight, except for the six times they intercepted passes in that span.
But something subtle happened in an Oct. 31 win over Carolina that changed how teams have attacked the Seahawks.
The Panthers tested both cornerbacks and had moderate success. Muhsin Muhammad found a seam between Trufant and linebacker Tracy White for a 15-yard touchdown in the first half. Rookie Keary Colbert split Trufant and Lucas for an 11-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Colbert later beat Lucas for a 63-yard reception to give the Panthers hope late in the game.
Carolina’s struggling pass offense threw for 248 yards, showing no signs of fear of Trufant or Lucas along the way.
San Francisco passed for 243 yards the following week. Then the Rams went for 262.
Little by little, Seattle’s cornerbacks were giving opponents room to throw.
“You’ve got to make the plays so they will stop throwing your way,” Lucas said. “If they see they have something, they’re going to keep throwing it until you can stop them. That’s how the NFL is.”
The Rams had success with what is known as a “dig” pattern, which includes 10- to 20-yard throws over the middle. Seattle’s secondary had trouble adjusting, and St. Louis continued to move the ball.
Typical of the NFL’s copycat style, Miami and Buffalo ran similar routes against the Seahawks over the next two weeks. The Dolphins’ A.J. Feeley and the Bills’ Drew Bledsoe had some success throwing the ball on Seattle’s cornerbacks using that blueprint.
Lucas, who has always held himself up to a high standard, gives his play a grade of C-minus this season.
Trufant, of Washington State, is just as critical of his play, although he has been a steady cover guy for almost two full seasons in the NFL.
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said earlier this week that Trufant has shown a recent habit of giving opposing receivers too much cushion. Trufant has always been a good tackler, and he has good closing speed, yet he’s given up 13 receptions over the past three weeks, in part because of his positioning.
Seattle’s cornerbacks are still playing at a high level, but their early results have made the past five games seem subpar by comparison. Opposing quarterbacks were held to a rating of 67.1 over the first seven weeks, while they have a more respectable mark of 79.7 in the past five.
“Early in the season, we were making a lot of plays and teams weren’t really coming at us,” Trufant said. “But as the season goes on, teams can look at more film and see where they can attack us.”
While they both admittedly want to play better, Trufant and Lucas don’t shy away from the extra work. Opposing quarterbacks have been testing Seattle’s cornerbacks lately, and the Seahawks’ secondary welcomes the challenge.