From: jorgand@sumax.seattleu.edu (Dave Jorgan)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Seattle Report 10-14 (Dallas 27-0 over Seattle)
Date: 15 Oct 92 05:07:47 GMT
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle WA




		Seattle was crushed by Dallas 27-0. Yet, I am not really
disturbed too much by it, because I feel now fate has decreed this season
to be a lost one for Seattle. Case in point: Dan McGwire, starter for the
first time this season and for only the second time in his career, was
knocked out for the season with a broken hip. People, that is what you
call bad luck. What more can happen to Seattle? I said that last week,
so this week we'll find out against the resurgent Raiders.

	McGwire wasn't great by any means, but he looked a lot better
than he has before- he reduced his tendency to lock in on a receiver and
looked off the primary man several times, more than he did against
San Diego. Otherwise, he wasn't great, but the worst thing was he was
injured. He needed the experience - he won't get better if he doesn't
play, and even if he had been horrible (a good possibility) over the next
few games, he'd still have gotten valuable training. But no more. He's gone,
the result of a crushing sack by Dallas ILB Robert Jones, who drove McGwire
into the turf, bruising his shoulder and cracking the hip.

	Seattle's pass protection was absymal. The line has regressed
horribly the last two games. Though they gave up some sacks in the previous
four games, generally the protection was solid, many of the sacks being 
coverage sacks where the QB help on to the ball too long. But against
SD and now Dallas (who does not have a particularly fearsome pass rush)
Seattle's line has totally crumbled, and thanks to their ineptitude Seattle
has lost two QBs in as many weeks. Ray Roberts has gone from raw to adequate
to pathetic, all in six games. The Dallas defenders said they all just
took turns blowing by Roberts on their way to the QB. More, Roberts 
continues to draw those galling motion penalties. Holding I can excuse,
though I can't be happy with it, but the motion penalties are inexcusable.
They are mental lapses pure and simple, because they aren't occurring in
violently loud stadia, but at home and on the road, in relatively quiet
venues. Andy Heck simply doesn't look good at guard - he lacks power and
push. But, it must be stated that he suffered a leg injury in practice and
Seattle said he couldn't even run in the Dallas game- but Seattle is so thin
he had no choice but to play. Perhaps Heck should have been moved to right
tackle, or Leon Searcy drafted to play guard- no question about intensity
with Searcy. Ronnie Lee is showing his age, and Bill Hitchcock has gone
from promising last year to horrid this year. But, it must be said that
Bill has bone spurs in his ankle that are quite painful, and his sudden
dropoff may well be due to that.

	The offense was totally stifled by the Dallas defense. Seattle
couldn't do anything at all, and Dallas allowed the fewest yards in its
history - only 62 *total* yards of Seattle offense, the second lowest
in Seattle history. Chris Warren was totally stifled, and you could
see his frustration as he pounded the ball against the turf after being 
stuffed yet again by the Dallas defense- he got zero rushing room, and
Dallas was penetrating and disrupting the backfield all day. That offensive
line has totally collapsed- it is hard to imagine a worse performing line in
the NFL. I can't see how they can look themselves in the mirror, knowing
they have allowed 2 QB's to be knocked out in less than 4 quarters of play,
and have done nothing to get the running game going.


	The defense wasn't great, but it was adequate. Again, not only did the
offense not generate any points, but it contributed directly or strongly to
17 of Dallas' points- one INT returned for a TD, and a fumble in the opening
drive deep in Seattle territory (an unforced one- a bad QB-center exchange.),
and another fumble on their own 21 yard line. Emmitt Smith ran wild in the
1st quarter, but Seattle clamped down on the run and neutralized him in the
second half. He finished with 78 yards on 22 carries. But, Michael Irvin had
a great game against the undersized Seattle CB's, getting 113 yards on 6
catches. Seattle's CB's have been mediocre this year- Seattle didn't
allow a single 100 yard receiver last year, and now they've already given up
three 100 yard receiving games. Both CB's Patrick Hunter and Dwayne Harper
have been very erratic and Seattle can not play the stacked 8 man anti-run
defenses anymore with confidence in the cornerbacks. It may be the loss of
DB coach Rod Perry, who followed Chuck Knox to the Rams, is the reason for
their falloff. So, while the defense didn't really stop the Cowboys, 
an average offense would have at least made the game respectable, and even
given Seattle a chance to win (say like a 30% chance.) In all the other games,
Seattle's defense has played well enough to give an average offense at least
an even if not better chance at winning. The defense intercepted Aikman
twice, with Eugene Robinson returning one int 51 yards, yet Seattle still
couldn't score. That's how lame the offense is.


	Personnel wise, Seattle is really up the creek. Stan Gelbaugh will
take over the Seahawks. He racked up a QB rating of 1.3 (yes, one-point-three)
in relief of McGwire. Rusty Hilger, cut in pre-season, was re-signed and
Seattle is looking for a third QB. With the protection the line is (not)
giving, Seattle might need four or five QB's. Jacob Green is ready to return
from IR, but Flores doesn't want to spend the IR move to activated him,
and I can't blame him given the numerous victims on the IR list. Green is
very depressed about this and wished he had signed with Houston two years
ago in Plan B, and I can't blame him. What a way to go out, but at least he's
not a part of this miserable wreck of a year, where Seattle has lost respect
around the league. At no time under the Knox years was Seattle considered
a easy mark, a patsy. Maybe big underdogs, but you didn't laugh at them.
You do now. Ken Behring, though, should be thanked for letting Dave Krieg
go. After all the years of service Krieg provided, he deserves a lot better
than what he'd have gotten had he stayed, and he's receiving his reward in
a chance at a Super Bowl in KC. Krieg might have been worth a extra win
or two by now, but he'd also probably be on IR, too.

	Seattle next will face the Raiders, who just smashed the Bills
and may be coming back. Seattle has been so awful, there isn't much of a 
game plan to try. The deep pass hasn't worked- Seattle has tried 25 deep
passes this year and completed only 2. They can't run. I'd say they'd
be achieving a big goal if they kept everyone healthy and didn't turn the
ball over, but that seems like a Sisyphean task right now. With McGwire out,
we are even denied the small comfort and interest of watching a young QB
develop for the future. Still, as I said this is a season that simply wasn't
meant to be for Seattle. The massive blows they've taken are proof of that,
so just sit back and see what happens, and don't get too depressed or
excited about what we will see this season. It's just fate.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro