Seahawks Scrape Out a "W"

Yesterday was Sunday. Sunday marked the start of the NFL Season and more importantly the start of the Seahawks season against the Carolina Panthers. Although I didn't get to watch the game due to "Waffle Sunday" at a friends house but here are some of my thoughts on the game;

I loved the way that as a Seahawks team we could get a win on the east side of the country to start the season, especially without Browner, Avril, Irvin, Clemons, and Harvin. Two of our big offseason acquisitions weren't in the game but we still were able to hold the Panthers destructive Cam Newton to 38 rushing yards and 125 passing yards. The Panthers HB Deangelo Williams took the majority of the carries for the Panthers due to an injury to starting HB Jonathan Stewart in which he racked up 86 yards on 17 touches. I think Williams effectiveness in the running game not only came from lots of read option plays between himself and Newton but also an apparent weakness in the middle of the field. Without Clemons and Avril on the edge and Irvin to help the linebacking core of Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, Williams had a hay day. But regardless the Seahawks D held the Cats to only 7 points and managed to force two fumbles in the game which proved to be of great importance with the Seahawks offence only managing to put 12 points on the board. Steven Hauschka kicked half the points for the Hawks in the match while a fantastic 43 yard catch by Jermaine Kearse ended up sealing the deal for the Seahawks as they left the east coast Sunday with a 12-7 victory over the Panthers.

Deangelo Williams had 86 yards rushing on the day with 17 carries 

Russell Wilson scrambles to make a play

Some things I would like to see improve:

The running game! 17 touches from Marshawn Lynch and only 43 yards?!? Maybe it was the fact that the O-Line is still young or that the Hawks cut FB Michael Robinson. Whatever the case 2nd year Robert Turbin had 3 touches and 17 yards so maybe the BEASTMODE just needed a week to get settled back into the rhythm.

Some things I loved:

Russell Wilson avoided the sack all day, only getting sacked twice in a game where he was scrambling to make throws all day! The Seahawks receiving core even without Percy Harvin was outstanding. Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse made fabulous catches in the game to not only keep drives alive but also winning the game. Both of those receivers are also the ones that you wouldn't necessarily focus on. When people think of the Seahawks receivers they think of Sidney Rice and Golden Tate but with the performance that Kearse and Baldwin displayed on Sunday, I am very excited for the remainder of the season when Russell Wilson decides to drop back (with protection) and throw the ball.

Jermaine Kearse with the possible catch of the week on a 43 pass from Russell Wilson

Next week we play the San Francisco 49ers in primetime and I can't wait for kick-off!