Three takes: Seahawks thrive in no-huddle and it produces wins

The Seahawks’ last-minute, come-from-behind 41-38 victory over the Houston Texans was a breeding ground for a number of questions, not “hot takes.”

Like, why doesn’t Seattle run the no-huddle offense more?

“I think that, obviously, up-tempo is very good for us,” quarterback Russell Wilson told the Tacoma News Tribune’s Gregg Bell earlier this month.

And, like in most things, Wilson is correct.

It showed again Sunday as the Hawks, trailing by four points with 1 minute, 39 seconds remaining, hurried their way down the CenturyLink Field 80 yards in three plays to crush Houston’s hopes.

Earlier this month Bell ran the numbers. In the no-huddle this season, the Hawks had scored 75 percent of the time – nine times in the 12 possessions he tallied.

That’s pretty good.

Maybe it’s because Wilson gets to make his own calls. Maybe it’s because the Hawks’ receivers feel more free when the game gets frantic. Or maybe it’s because the offensive line functions better when the defense is a bit confused.

All three seemed to be in play the final drive against the Texans.

Wilson’s first pass was something of a Hail Mary that Paul Richardson caught it in front of Houston safety Marcus Gilchrist. That 47-yard completion got the offense going and even an easy-to-predict false start didn’t derail the momentum.

Wilson called Tyler Lockett’s number on a “deep in” and Lockett held on for a 19-yard reception. Everyone, including Houston’s defense, rushed to the line of scrimmage.

Jimmy Graham, the forgotten man in the offense and targeted just five times in this one, ran right down the middle of the field.

No one, not Gilchrist, who seemed to have the assignment, covered the biggest guy on the turf.

Wilson’s toss found its wide-open target, the Hawks had a 18-yard touchdown and Seattle once again showed how much it excels in the no-huddle.

Speaking of questions, wouldn’t it be fun to see Wilson playing in an offense as imaginative as Houston’s?

Watching Deshaun Watson and the Texans’ sleight of hand, feet and eyes in Bill O’Brien’s offense makes one wonder why the Hawks couldn’t be as similarly inventive.

There are reasons, sure, and maybe not the one most Seahawks fans would cite: offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

Maybe Bevell doesn’t have the think-outside-of-the-box mentality as O’Brien, but few do. And that’s not the main reason Seattle’s offense seems so mundane, despite the presence of the slipperiest quarterback in the league.

The problems begin up front. The offensive line is so unathletic as to often look as if they don’t belong on the same field with the players they are trying to block.

That limits options not just for Bevell in play-calling, but for Wilson at the line of scrimmage as well. He may see mismatches in the secondary he would like to exploit, but Wilson must question whether he will receive the time he needs.

Finally, what’s up with the Seattle rushing attack? Or, to put it better, lack-of-rushing attack?

The weakness in the offensive line can be cited as the first problem. But it is compounded by the lack of a decent running back. The Hawks just don’t have anyone that scares a defense.

The leading rusher among the running backs Sunday? J.D. McKissic, who had 6 yards on four carries against a J.J. Watt-less Houston defense that isn’t what it once was. Take out Wilson’s 30 yards on four scrambles and Seattle rushed for negative yardage. More importantly, neither Thomas Rawls nor Eddie Lacy gained needed yards in the red zone late in the game.

That puts pressure on the receivers. It also puts pressure on Wilson, who is used to it, just a different type.

In Wilson’s case, he has to make plays while under pressure more than half the time. It was also more than any other NFL quarterback last season and third-most this season.

But the pressure he and the receivers feel is to be perfect. To make every play. To carry the offense. Sunday, they were up to it. Barely.

Richardson and Lockett combined for 12 catches for 226 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans obviously tried to limit Doug Baldwin to short catches.

The duo came up big in this one.

In the course of the season, however, it seems a tough task to continue. And the playoffs? Will a one-dimensional team without decent pass protection, be able to survive?