Sad-sack Seahawks need fix
Seattle’s blitz has too often gone bust this season
RENTON, Wash. – As soon as Julian Peterson left his feet, he knew he had broken one of the NFL’s pass-rushing commandments.
“The cardinal rule is to never jump,” the Seattle Seahawks’ linebacker said this week.
After Peterson fell for a pump-fake from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb last Sunday, the result was somewhat predictable. McNabb side-stepped the airborne Peterson and delivered a 16-yard pass to Kevin Curtis.
Another Seattle blitz, another big play for the offense.
It’s been all too common of a theme this season, adding another log to the campfire that is the Seahawks’ to-do list this season.
“If you rattle the quarterback, most of the time you’re going to win the game,” Peterson said. “Some people can do it with a four-man rush, and you consider that a blessing. If not, you bring a little extra pressure. But you have to get there, and when you do, you have to make plays.”
Peterson has been one of the NFL’s best blitzers in recent years, but even this season his efforts have too often gone unrewarded. While he ranks second on the team with four sacks, Peterson has also missed some tackles, been unable to shed blockers and – in the Philadelphia game – jumped too soon.
And he’s been the most successful of Seattle’s blitzers. Fellow linebacker Leroy Hill is still looking for his first sack of the season, while nickel back Jordan Babineaux has been unable to get to opposing quarterbacks despite numerous attempts.
Other than Peterson, the only non-lineman to register a sack is safety Brian Russell.
“We’ve just got to do a better job with our rush,” defensive coordinator John Marshall said. “Guys are coming hard. Schematically, we’ve got guys open. … Our pressure’s not been very nice to us right now, and it’s because we’re not making plays at the ball or initially up front.”
A blitz package that saw five non-linemen get sacks in 2007 has resulted in four from Peterson and one from Russell this year.
“If we could just hold it a little bit longer – at times, we’re just an inch away – it might change the momentum of the game,” Peterson said. “We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing, and eventually it will turn over.”
Notes
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck still has yet to practice this week, although coach Mike Holmgren said he will work with the scout team at some point. … Guard Floyd Womack continues to be sidelined by a sore foot.