Coming into their week one match up against the San Francisco 49ers the Seahawks had several questions still needing to be answered. After today’s performance it’s clear that Seattle is still vulnerable on the offensive line and Tarviars Jackson isn’t a starting quarterback.
Seattle came into the game without wide receiver Sydney Rice and left guard Robert Gallery and the veteran absents were clear as day. First-round pick James Carpenter filled in for Gallery at left guard while Breno Giacomini started at right tackle replacing Carpenter. As a cohesive unit the offensive line rarely gave Jackson time to throw and didn’t open up any running lanes for Marshawn Lynch and Co.
While Seattle does have the youngest offensive line in the league there is still no excuse for not executing. However the blame doesn’t fall just on the offensive line. Tarvaris Jackson on several occasions made poor decisions and held onto the ball way to long.
He didn’t show the down-field arm that Seattle needs nor did he show anything that would bod confidence in Pete Carroll and Darrell Bevell. Jackson finished the game 21 of 37 for 197 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Both touchdowns came in the second half when Seattle’s offense showed signs of life.
San Francisco held the Seahawks to just 37 yards on offense the entire first half. On the flip-side Seattle held San Francisco to three field goals in the first half until a late Alex Smith touchdown run put the game out of reach early. Seattle went into the half down 16-0 but bounced back early in the second half to get back into the game.
Seattle came out on a 10-0 run to start the second half through a Golden Tate eight-yard touchdown catch and a 39-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka to make it 16-10. San Francisco responded with an 18-yard field goal by David Akers to push it to 19-10.
Before Akers converted the field goal he pulled a good-old-fashion “dive” when cornerback Brandon Browner barely missed running into Akers. Browner was flagged for roughing the kicker which gave the Niners another set of downs. However Seattle’s defense stepped up once again and held San Francisco to a field goal to make it a two score game at 19-10.
Seattle responded with a bang when Jackson connected with rookie Doug Baldwin on a 55-yard touchdown to pull it within two at 19-17. That would be as close as Seattle got.
With the new kickoff rule it was expected that there would be more touchbacks and less returns. Exactly the opposite happened for San Francisco who returned two in a span of :59 seconds. Ted Ginn Jr. returned a kickoff 102-yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 26-17 and then put the game out of reach with a 55-yard touchdown punt return to make it 33-17.
Carroll said after the game that Seattle didn’t execute in the first half but didn’t change any part of the game plan in the second half. He did have high praise for the defense who continually held the 49ers offense to field goals instead of touchdowns in the first half and contained Frank Gore the entire game.
In the end the stats come out equal but Seattle’s inability to execute their offense in the first half and Ted Ginn’s two touchdowns late in the fourth doomed Seattle.
Next week Seattle travels to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers who suffered a massive loss to Baltimore today 35-7.
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