Sunday, December 10, 2006
Will the Seahawks show a Let-Down against Matt Leinart and the Cardinals?

Its just a few hours away before kickoff and the Seattle Seahawks do not want to show any let-down against the Arizona Cardinals. The 3-9 Cardinals will treat this game as their playoff game and the Seahawks need to win this game for better playoff positioning. The Hawks know that they can't look past the Cardinals. If they do look past them, they will be looking at a loss. On offense the Hawks need to pound the football with Shaun Alexander, who had a quiet 90 yards rushing last week against the Broncos. Quarterback Matt Hasselback must throw the ball down the middle of the field and try to stretch the defense. Last week against the Broncos Seahawks, coach Mike Holmgren called a relatively conservative game.

Cardinal's rookie quarterback Matt Leinart

Holmgren gave Hasselback a short leash (nickel & dime). Three and four yard passes will not cut it for this type of offense. Holmgren also needs to relay the plays to Hasselback faster. Three big delay of game penalties called against the Seahawks offense last week were due to Holmgren late in relaying the plays to Hasselback. Last week the Hawks' offense looked to be in a (prevent offense).

The Hawks have too many weapons to be handing the football off on third and six or even third and eight. Weapons like Seahawks wide-out Darrell Jackson who leads wide-outs in the NFC with 9 touchdowns, along with [58-rec-896yds]. Another weapon is wide-out Deion Branch [38-518-4td]. The Seahawks' west coast offense must have, and stay in rhythm through most of the game. The Seahawks O-line must protect Matt Hasselback, and not be called for False Starts.

There are a few guys to watch for on defense when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals. One is the hard-hitting, six-year safety #24 Adrian Wilson. Wilson has four sacks and leads the Cardinals in interceptions with four. Others are Cardinals Linebacker #58 Karlos Dansby who leads the Cards in sacks with five, and Free Safety #34 Robert Griffith (2 int).

On defense the Hawks will have their hands full with Cardinal rookie quarterback Matt Leinart. Leinart has thrown for [1,939 yds-8tds-9 nits] with a [55.6% comp. rating]. Leinart will be throwing to a couple big, fast, star wide-outs. 6'1" (#81) Anquan Bolden [66-920-4tds] and (6'3") #11 Larry Fitzgerald [49-664-3tds] on slants, fades, hooks, goes, drags…all routes. Bolden and Fitzgerald can do it all. Seahawks' secondary [Truburnt, Herndon, Jennings] will have their hands full. The Hawks defensive front four must contain Cardinals running-back Edgerin James [252-810yds-3.2avg.-3tds]. James is having a down year and the Seahawks hope it continues. They must disrupt the timing of (6'5") Cardinals Quarterback Matt Leinart. Pressure, Pressure, the Hawks must bring it.

On special teams the Hawks need to keep an eye on kick-off return man J.J.Arrington [22.9 avg.]. Arrington already has a 99-yard touchdown run-back this year.

"Let-down" Seattle Seahawks should not happen. Seahawks will hopefully make things happen by beating the Cardinals.

-Dre206