From: jorgand@sumax.seattleu.edu (Dave Jorgan)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Seattle Report 10-1-92 (Miami over Sea. 19-17)
Date: 2 Oct 92 03:54:12 GMT
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle WA



	Seattle was defeated at home 19-17 by the Miami Dolphins. It was
another painful loss, where the defense played a excellent game but the
offense was horrid. Actually, it was merely mediocre, but against the
Dolphin offense mediocre simply will not do. Seattle's defense did a
excellent job in stopping Miami's offense in the first half- Marino seemed
to be off target and looked confused, throwing an interception and missing 
many of his throws. Seattle stopped the running game cold, as Miami only
managed 59 yards rushing total for a 2.3 average. Mark Higgs got 54 of
those yards on 21 carries. But, Seattle's offense was in prime form again,
fumbling on their 1st possession to set up a Dolphin FG, then only managing
a 4 play, 0 yard drive when Marino was intercepted by Dwayne Harper. They
managed only one drive all day, which ended in a 26 yard TD pass to Louis
Clark from Stouffer. But the Dolphin coverage was excellent, and Seattle's
receiving corps, already depleted by injuries to Kane, Daniels, and Blades,
was ineffective against Miami.

	The defense got good pressure on Dan Marino. Joe Nash looked
rejuvenated, getting a rare sack on Marino off a 4 man rush. Dedrick Dodge
also sacked Marino on a safety blitz that usually Marino will eat up alive,
but the call and timing was right and the ploy succeeded. Cortez Kennedy was
able to handle Keith Sims quite well, but Richmond Webb was effective in 
shutting down Rufus Porter's outside rush. Later in the game, Porter delivered
a heavy shot to Marino just after he released the ball, which gave Marino
a concussion. This was with Seattle still holding the lead, and with only
4 minutes left in the game. But, replacement Scott Mitchell made a fine pass
on 3rd down to keep the drive alive, then Marino returned, and threw the only
TD Miami got all day. Here, Miami WR Fred Banks was being covered by rookie
DB Rafael Robinson, just activated off the practice roster, and beat him 
with a stutter step move, and got into the endzone uncovered. In the 2nd
half, the defense did a good job limiting Miami's scoring, but Marino found
the measure of Seattle's defense and was able to move the ball quite well,
throwing underneath passes to the TE's and to the RB's. The coverage 
limitations of Rufus Porter were exposed, as whoever he was covering caught
a lot of passes. Since Miami was throwing almost exclusively, Seattle might
have just used him as the pass rush end in the base 4-3, but Seattle had
no one else to take his place at the OLB position, who could do a better job
covering. Thus, Marino moved the ball almost at will in the 2nd half, save
for the last 20 yards or so.

	Seattle's offensive line gave excellent protection. Even though the
scorecard lists 5 sacks of Stouffer, the fact is on all but a couple of those
sacks, Stouffer had plenty of time to throw the ball. In fact, at times he
had an eternity to pass. Protection was not a problem at all. The line still 
too many drive killing penalties, but it is blocking well for run and pass.
Ray Roberts is doing a very good job, though he has a problem with movement
penalties. It isn't because he can't hear- remember this is at home in the
Kingdome. It's just a problem experience will cure. Ronnie Lee at right
tackle has  problems with durability, though- he was injured yet again.
 
	The receiving unit is a disaster. Part of the reason Stouffer was
sacked so much was because he had no one to throw to. Miami shut down the
Seattle WR's. Clark's 26 yard catch was the only long pass caught by a WR
all year, here in the 4th game of the season. They need Blades and Kane
desperately. Watching the TV replay, it was clear the WR's weren't getting
open. Miami covered extremely well, but anyone in pro football will tell you
if a QB gets 6-10 seconds to throw, even the finest DB units will have a hard
time maintaining coverage on a NFL caliber WR unit. Seattle's WR unit does 
not rate as NFL calibre right now.


	Injuries are another plague on Seattle. The latest injuries are:


	Bobby Spitulski- backup LB shoulder separation, out 4-6 weeks, IR:

	Paul Green, starting TE- cracked shoulder, out 4-6 weeks:

	Robert Blackmon, starting SS, leg, missed game, probable for San Diego.
	
	Tommy Kane, starting WR, out 2 weeks:

	Ronnie Lee, starting ORT, status unknown.


Remember, this is just this week. They join starting ORG Bryan Millard, 
starting DLE Jacob Green, DE Michael Sinclair, and the top two nickel
backs James Jefferson and Brian Davis on the injured list. The last two
are particularly devastating. In at least two games, huge TD's have been
given up by rookie mistakes by their replacements, in KC by Malcolm Frank,
and last week by Rafael Robinson. Remember,in the age of 4 WR offenses
the top two reserve defensive backs are almost as important as the starting
duo. Seattle is using two rookies regularly in its nickel defense, and both
guys are free-agents called in for emergency, not high-round draft picks.
If the vets were healthy, they wouldn't be there. Seattle might have a 
extra win or two if their injury roster were even half the size it is now-
Seattle has 11 men on IR, yet they only have 5 free moves. After the 5th
man has been activated, any subsequent activations from the IR will mean
that player is exposed to waivers. Therefore, Seattle already is in big 
trouble with the season only 4 weeks old.

	The only one of the true free agent Seattle was interested in was
Webster Slaughter, who could have really helped the Seattle offense. But
he didn't appear interested in coming, and given Seatle's offensive woes,
who could blame him? Also, back inthe days of the Nordstrom's owning the
Seahawks, players were eager to come to Seattle to play. They knew they
would be treated well- ex-Seahawk Mike Tice said the players were treated
like kings by the Nordstroms. Under Behring, who frets about excessive
tape usage by the trainers, this is no longer the case, and with 31 of 
Seattle's players in their last year of their contracts, Seattle may be
getting a taste of what its stinginess will reap. (Some of those player
may have right-of-first refusal clauses in their contracts, though.) 
Keith Jackson would have been a good addition, but the price was high,
Seattle's offense too wretched, and Seattle's dislike for Jackson's agent
(Gary Wichard, who was the agent for the middle linebacker #55 whose name
is unspeakable and must never be uttered again) too great. To be honest I
can't blame them for that one.

	So, onto San Diego, and given the Charger problems, this is one
Seattle ought to pull out. But the way Seattle's luck is running, perhaps
not. Seattle needs an offensive sparkplug, and Stouffer is the only guy
that really fits the bill. Chris Warren sparked Seattle at New England,
but he is still too inexperienced to carry Seattle on his shoulders- he's
not Curt Warner yet, if ever. Stouffer will have to raise his game a notch,
and to be honest, his NFL future is at stake here. They probably won't pull
Stouffer for a while, they'll give him at least 4-5 more games unless he is
horrible, but when McGwire is ready, Stouffer will be out for sure unless
Stouffer shows some inspiration.



Dave Jorgan
jorgand@sumax.seattleu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro