Seahawks-Broncos: The good, the bad and the ugly

[travisduncan]

--We'll start out with the good of the Seahawks 23-20 loss to the Broncos Saturday night in Denver.

The Seahawks would be silly to keep rookie wide receiver Doug Baldwin off the roster, after he has had a tremendous camp and returned a kickoff for a 105-yard kickoff return giving the team a much needed jolt Saturday night.

"That was an extraordinarily well blocked play, Doug did a great job," Pete Carroll said after the game of his touchdown return.

Caroll noted that Baldwin was making a strong case to make the team.


The kicking game in general was great, both by Jeff Reed and the players on the special teams.

Reed tied the score at 20 with a 53-yard field goal with 1:16 left in regulation.

Reed also hit a 52-yarder in the first quarter to open the game 3-0.

The Bad

The in inability for the first team offense to move in general, either by running the ball or going downfield with a pass. The Seahawks punted the ball six times in the first half with just a lone field goal to show for their efforts.

The team only ran the ball 19 times in the entire game for a total of 58 yards. In the first half they managed just 13 yards rushing on eight carries.

This offensive unit has never played together so the pressure is on NOW. Whereas most teams, for example the the Broncos, have already proven they can play together and score. For most teams the preseason is a warm up.

It's reasonable to think that at some point the offensive line will get get it together and receivers will be open and at some point the 'Hawks will move the chains but at this point they cannot. Russell Okung should be back from injury by the Sept. 11 opener, and Robert Gallery is a new addition at left guard and the O-line coach, Tom Cable, is in his first year with this group.

Right now though, the Seahawks don't have the benefit of the doubt.

Tarvaris Jackson finished with 93 yards on 13 of 22 passing and one touchdown. Once the Broncos first team defense left the game Jackson and the offense was really able to move the ball.

In the first quarter Jackson went 3 of 9 for 19 yards with two first downs and 32 net yards on 15 offensive plays.

In the second quarter the 'Hawks managed just seven net yards on 12 offensive plays, Jackson was 4 of 7 with 25 yards passing and 0-4 on third-down conversions.

In the third quarter against the Broncos second-team defense, Jackson showed great ability completing 5 of 5 passes for 48 yards leading to a fourth quarter touchdown to tight end Dominique Byrd on a playaction play. It was Jackson's first TD throw of the preseason.

In total the team finished 3-14-21% on third downs.

The Ugly

Protecting No. 7, who was sacked five times, and it could have been more if John Fox didn't eventually call off the dogs and put in the backups.

"It's all a learning process, but you know we have a lot of ground to make up quickly," Caroll said after the game, when specifically asked about the play of right tackle and first-round draft pick James Carpenter.

Carpenter was consistently beaten by Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil and the Broncos defensive line. It was a tough game for Carpenter.

Carroll summed it this way, "The quarterback didn't get the time to through the football. It's not just the offensive line, the whole passing game is not clicking the way we want it to."

Sidney Rice and Mike Williams were not able to create the kind of space needed for Jackson to take shots down field, but you wonder if at the risk of an interception would have been better than demoralizing sacks.

Marshawn Lynch did not play because of a sore ankle, and his presence along will change things for defenses and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

For the Seahawks, the hope is it's growing pains and eventually the offensive will have a plan and be able to execute it.

The team has one more chance to smooth things out, this Friday night against the Raiders, before the games count.