Seahawks vs. Titans: 5 things to watch
Here are some things to watch when the Seahawks (1-1) take on the Titans (1-1) today in Nashville.
Seahawks D vs. Titans run game
When the Seahawks and Titans lock up today in Music City, the game will pit one of the league’s top defensive lines against one of its top offensive fronts.
Something has to give.
Seattle’s front seven has paced a defense that’s given up an average of just 13 points in its first two games. Conversely, the Titans rank seventh in yards per game (370) and rushing yards per game (137)
With run-through-you style running backs Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray along with a legs of dual-threat quarterback Marcus Mariota, the Titans have the means to give the Seahawks fits while chewing away the clock.
Last week, San Francisco’s Carlos Hyde found success against Seattle, churning out 159 yards.
Will Jimmy Graham show up?
Through the first two weeks, Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham — one of the most coveted targets in two years ago — has been a complete non-factor.
Graham has registered just four catches for nine yards and was targeted just twice in Seattle’s 12-9 win over the 49ers last week.
Graham went down with a knee injury in that game, but Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he expects Graham to play today.
But while Graham has struggled early, so has his offense, which ranks 25th.
Seattle has put just 21 points on the board this season, 15 coming from the foot of Blair Walsh.
Is Carson really the guy?
Rookie running back Chris Carson, a seventh-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State, has been the most impressive piece of a shaky Seahawks run game.
But has he established himself as the no-doubt-about-it feature ballcarrier? Too early too tell.
In two games, Carson has 132 yards on 26 carries (5.1 ypc), including 93 in the win over the 49ers last week.
Thomas Rawls started a week ago after missing Week 1 due to a high ankle sprain, but totaled just 4 carries. Carroll said he’s still easing Rawls back into the mix.
Eddie Lacy is also in the mix, but was a healthy scratch from the lineup last week and was ineffective against Green Bay in Week 1.
Carlson has the played the best of three so far. Another big game from would help cement his status as go-to back.
The Titans are money in the redzone
In seven of the Titans’ red zone drives this season, they’ve gone on to score a total of 37 points (four touchdowns, three field goals).
But Seattle’s defense has yielded just one touchdown in the redzone this season, and that was due to a Russell Wilson fumble near his own end zone.
No-huddle offense is working
Carroll told the media this week that some changes would be coming.
Whether that’s personnel adjustments on Seattle’s porous offensive line, changes in the playbook, or both, remains to seen.
The faster the Seahawks’ offense has been, though, the more productive it has been.
When Wilson is orchestrating out of a no-huddle, Seattle is averaging 14.1 per play this season and scored their lone touchdown.
When Seattle does huddle, though, it averages just 3.1 yards a play. All six sacks and 17 quarterback hits Seattle has surrendered came after the Seahawks huddled.