Seattle Sports — Week in Review
Mariners season might be over, but Sounders and Seahawks are rolling
Teams Playing for Real
Seahawks
Results
· Won 31–23 @ Miami Dolphins
· 4–0 1st place in NFC West
The worst performance of the season through four weeks, but you take an east coast road win any way you can get it. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for over 300 yards and the Dolphins possessed the ball for six more minutes, but the Seahawks made more big plays. The Seahawks bend-but-don’t break defense can be painful to watch, but the defense did clamp down on its end of the field forcing the Dolphins to settle for 5 field goals while the Seahawks punched in 4 TDs. While Wilson did have a bad interception in the endzone, he still threw for 360 yards and came up with big plays when they were needed — in particular hitting DK Metcalf down the sideline for a big third down conversion that led to the final Chris Carson TD run. The receiving corps had a few drops, but Metcalf continues to play like a legitimate #1 WR with 4 catches for 106 yards; and despite being banged up Carson continued to be the key cog to the running game carrying the ball 16 times for 80 yards and 2 TDs.
Top 3 Takeaways
1. The offensive line is improved: Wilson was only sacked twice and once was because he held the ball too long. Not only are they pass protecting better, but Carson also averaged 5 yards per carry and several times wasn’t even touched until he was five yards down the field. The line is also being penalized less and was able to maintain its strong play despite suffering multiple injuries in game. Long considered the weakness of the offense, if the line can continue this run of strong play then the offense will continue to be one of the best in the NFL.
2. DK Metcalf is becoming an upper echelon WR: Had 4 catches for 106 yards, but that doesn’t fully convey the impact he had on the game. Not only was he drawing Xavien Howard in coverage, the Dolphins best corner, but he also was requiring help over the top as well which opens up the offense more for the Tyler Lockett and David Moore’s of the offense. Metcalf has the speed to beat defenses over the top, the power to run over CBs and runs really good routes. If the offense continues to throw the ball this much than it won’t be long before Metcalf is considered a top 10 WR.
3. DL must improve: The Seahawks only have 6 sacks through 4 games — and 2 of them belong to Jamal Adams, who leads the team in sacks. The secondary probably wasn’t as strong as people were originally lead on, but has struggled even more with all the injuries and needs the line to get more pressure on the QB to help them out. Yes, you can hold Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins to 5 FGs, but that won’t be the case when you play the Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers of the world. In order to win a Super Bowl, the DL will have to be better.
Coming Up
· Sunday October 11 vs. Minnesota Vikings (1–3)
Notes
· Former Seahawks WR Jevon Kearse retired from the NFL this week. Kearse never put Hall of Fame numbers, but he was a part of several memorable moments in team history particularly during the 2015 playoffs when he made the game-winning catch against the Packers in the NFC Championship and an acrobatic catch against the Patriots in the Super Bowl on the potential game-winning drive.
· Released LB D’Andre Walker and LB Emmanuel Ellerbee and signed DB Damarious Randall
· QB Russell Wilson was named NFC offensive player of the week for the second time this season after his five TD performance against the Dallas Cowboys
· The Seahawks were missing several key starters on Sunday including S Jamal Adams, DB Quinton Dunbar, LB Jordyn Brooks and key backups in RB Carols Hyde and S Lano Hill
Sounders
Results
· Won 3–1 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
· 1st Place in West by 3 points. 4 points behind Columbus Crew and Toronto FC for Supporters Shield
The Sounders controlled the ball for 70% of the match, won 7 more corners and had 19 more shots. A dominant performance to say the least — so while the final two scores for the Sounders weren’t pretty the result was well deserved. In fact, the Whitecaps were gifted a goal with one of the worst penalty kicks you will ever see in your life awarded against Andrade-Gomez; who had Lucas Cavallini run up his back and then fall down in the box to get awarded the kick — even after video replay. Egregious call and the official should be fined or suspended.
It has been fun watching Lodeiro and Joao Paulo learn to play in the center midfield together and they have become more dominant with each passing game. Throw in how great Morris has been screaming down the left wing and Ruidiaz finishing and you have probably the best offense in the MLS. With Frei in net, the defense improving and the deepest roster in the MLS the Sounders are poised to win the West.
Top Takeaway:
1) Sounders are improving: Every game the central defense and midfield pay together they are stronger. Lodeiro and Paulo are doing a better job of linking together and finding Morris and Ruidiaz in space while Andrade and Arreaga also seem more connected. With the number of options the Sounders have at the wide positions they will be extremely difficult to beat if these two duos continue to get stronger.
Top offensive players of the week:
· Joao Paulo (1 goal): Paulo had a couple of dangerous crosses while being a good funnel to get the ball out wide and into dangerous positions. He also had a fantastic goal — hitting a hard, low shot into the left side netting from just beyond the right-side of the goal box arc. Paolo is really starting to come into his own and grow; and it has shown as the Sounders performance has improved with Paolo.
Top defensive players of the week:
· Xavier Arreaga: Has done a good job being in better position and avoiding bad passes and fouls out of the back. Made a few key tackles and distributed well out of the back. Starting to show why management was so excited to pick him up — and has really settled in the back 4 the last few games.
Notes
· Brought back another familiar face and hero, trading a conditional 2021 first-round draft pick for D Roman Torres. Torres is best known for sealing the Sounders first MLS cup with the game-winning PK.
Coming Up
· Wednesday October 7 vs. Real Salt Lake (18 points)
· Sunday October 11 @ LAFC (21 points)
Teams Waiting to Play for Real
Husky Football
Notes
· The Pac-12 announced its conference schedule, which is super exciting and cool. I for one can’t wait for some PNW football. For a glance at the Husky schedule and analysis check out UW Dawg Pound’s analysis here: https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2020/10/3/21499631/breaking-final-pac-12-schedule-released
Cougar Football
Notes
· Still cool — so here is the Cougar football schedule and some analysis from Coug Center: https://www.cougcenter.com/2020/10/3/21499643/wsu-cougars-2020-football-schedule-pac-12
