Seahawks sacked and stuffed at Dallas
Defense gives up 447 yards, three passing TDs and fails to get to Romo
By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER
IRVING, Texas -- As Cortez Kennedy was trudging off the field at Texas Stadium, the former Seahawks defensive tackle could only shake his head and mutter, "I can't believe this. I just can't believe this."
Kennedy knows more than just a little about football frustration. He wasn't just the best player on a 1992 Seahawks team that went 2-14, he was voted NFL defensive player of the year in that forgettable season.
Thursday, Kennedy and a national television audience witnessed the Seahawks' latest embarrassing loss -- a 34-9 drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks are 2-10 and looking like a team that is capable of finishing 2-14.
But that's where the comparisons must end.
As bad as this year's injury-ravaged offense has been, it is not as anemic as the '92 unit that scored only 140 points, averaged 210.9 yards per game and started five players who were not in the league the following season.
As bad as the '92 team was, the defense allowed 20 or fewer points in eight games and an average of 286.4 yards per game.
What the Cowboys did to the 2008 version of the Seahawks on Thanksgiving Day paralleled the problems the Seattle defense has been having all season:
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, who was playing with a splint on his fractured right pinkie, passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns in completing 22 of 34 passes.
Tight end Jason Witten repeatedly exploited holes in the Seahawks' zone coverage to catch nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, held in check for much of the afternoon by Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant, still had a 33-yard reception and another for a 19-yard touchdown as part of his five-catch, 98-yard effort.
The Cowboys averaged 4.8 yards on 24 running plays.
The Seahawks failed to register a sack of Romo.
The sum total of all these staggering statistics: The defense allowed 26-plus points for the seventh time this season, and at least 33 for the fourth time. The Seahawks also yielded 447 yards, the fifth time they've surrendered more than 400.
All this from the unit that was supposed to be the strength of this team.
"This year, we knew what we had coming back and we didn't know how to play to our strength," strong safety Deon Grant said. "We're still figuring out: What is our strength on this defense?
"I think some of the players know what the strength is. Some of the coaches know what the strength is. We really haven't put it together."
The passing of that buck, of course, stops at the desk of defensive coordinator John Marshall and his staff -- which includes secondary coach Jim Mora, who will become the head coach after this season.
Dallas' offensive avalanche started early; the Cowboys scored on their first four possessions to take a 24-3 lead midway through the second quarter. The lopsidedness of it all took the Seahawks out of their offensive game plan, forcing them to pass too much (38 passes, compared with 23 running plays). That led to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck being sacked seven times -- the most the Seahawks have allowed this season, and the most the Cowboys have registered this season.
"It's tough, it's really tough," Hasselbeck said of being pushed into obvious passing situations. "Especially when they've got guys like DeMarcus Ware (who had three sacks).
"You're trying to take a seven-step drop, and they're at home, and they're jumping the (snap) count. I don't want to say it's impossible, but it's very, very tough."
The Cowboys jumping to such a large -- and, for this offense, insurmountable -- lead also forced the Seahawks to alter their defensive game plan, as they finally started to come after Romo with blitzes. While they didn't sack him, they were able to not only whack him but also throw the Cowboys' passing game out of whack.
The Cowboys' final two series of the first half went three-and-out, while their first two possessions of the second half ended in an interception (by Trufant as a harried Romo threw into double coverage) and another punt.
So why did the Seahawks wait so long to turn up the heat?
"I can't talk about that, but you know," Grant said. "Nothing needs to be said. You know what time it is on that."
It was half-past too late.
"Our strength is bringing pressure; bringing heat," linebacker Julian Peterson said. "I don't care what kind of quarterback you have back there, you bring heat and obviously they have an opportunity to make big plays. But when they don't pick it up, it can lead to big plays for us.
"It's hit or miss, really."
The defensive shortcomings that were on display again Thursday left even outgoing coach Mike Holmgren to ponder a future he will have no bearing on.
"It's a little puzzling, because I felt the same way a lot of people did," Holmgren said. "I think we have to take a hard look at that side of the ball and maybe changes are necessary next year."
Those decisions will fall to Mora and club president Tim Ruskell, the architect of the current defense.
Because they played their second game in five days, the Seahawks now have 10 days to ponder what comes next: The New England Patriots on Dec. 7 at Qwest Field.
"It's a tough year, but we'll keep it going," Holmgren said. "We're going to battle until the end."
GAME AT A GLANCE
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Tony Romo. There were other worthy candidates. Like Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who caught nine passes for 115 yards. Like Cowboys linebacker Bradie James, who sparked a spirited defensive effort with 13 tackles and two of the Cowboys' seven sacks of Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck. But it was Romo's precision performance that led the Cowboys to scores on their first four possessions, taking the Seahawks out of their game plan -- on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys' QB finished with a 113.7 passer rating by completing 22 of 34 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns -- to three different receivers. Romo was 7 of 8 for 118 yards in the first quarter alone.
PLAYS OF THE GAME
Offense: Julius Jones' homecoming didn't exactly go according to a storybook script. On the Seahawks' sixth play of the game, the ex-Cowboys running back fumbled and his former teammates recovered -- setting the stage for another long Dallas drive and a 14-0 lead. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff stacked up the play, forcing Jones to slide to his left, where Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears forced the fumble and cornerback Anthony Newman recovered the loose ball.
Defense: Make it back-to-back plays. The Seahawks had reached the Cowboys' 11-yard line late in the first half and had a chance to chisel into their 24-3 lead. But on second down, linebacker DeMarcus Ware beat Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones to drop Hasselbeck for a 4-yard sack, and on third down James came off a block by tight end John Carlson to get Hasselbeck for a 5-yard sack. The Seahawks settled for the second of three field goals by Olindo Mare.
Special teams: In a game in which special teams play had little impact, former University of Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback broke a 58-yard kickoff return late in the first half. It gave the Cowboys a first down at the Seahawks' 39-yard line. But all the Cowboys had to show for it was a three-play-and-punt series.
By CLARE FARNSWORTH
P-I REPORTER
IRVING, Texas -- As Cortez Kennedy was trudging off the field at Texas Stadium, the former Seahawks defensive tackle could only shake his head and mutter, "I can't believe this. I just can't believe this."
Kennedy knows more than just a little about football frustration. He wasn't just the best player on a 1992 Seahawks team that went 2-14, he was voted NFL defensive player of the year in that forgettable season.
Thursday, Kennedy and a national television audience witnessed the Seahawks' latest embarrassing loss -- a 34-9 drubbing at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. The Seahawks are 2-10 and looking like a team that is capable of finishing 2-14.
But that's where the comparisons must end.
As bad as this year's injury-ravaged offense has been, it is not as anemic as the '92 unit that scored only 140 points, averaged 210.9 yards per game and started five players who were not in the league the following season.
As bad as the '92 team was, the defense allowed 20 or fewer points in eight games and an average of 286.4 yards per game.
What the Cowboys did to the 2008 version of the Seahawks on Thanksgiving Day paralleled the problems the Seattle defense has been having all season:
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, who was playing with a splint on his fractured right pinkie, passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns in completing 22 of 34 passes.
Tight end Jason Witten repeatedly exploited holes in the Seahawks' zone coverage to catch nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Wide receiver Terrell Owens, held in check for much of the afternoon by Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant, still had a 33-yard reception and another for a 19-yard touchdown as part of his five-catch, 98-yard effort.
The Cowboys averaged 4.8 yards on 24 running plays.
The Seahawks failed to register a sack of Romo.
The sum total of all these staggering statistics: The defense allowed 26-plus points for the seventh time this season, and at least 33 for the fourth time. The Seahawks also yielded 447 yards, the fifth time they've surrendered more than 400.
All this from the unit that was supposed to be the strength of this team.
"This year, we knew what we had coming back and we didn't know how to play to our strength," strong safety Deon Grant said. "We're still figuring out: What is our strength on this defense?
"I think some of the players know what the strength is. Some of the coaches know what the strength is. We really haven't put it together."
The passing of that buck, of course, stops at the desk of defensive coordinator John Marshall and his staff -- which includes secondary coach Jim Mora, who will become the head coach after this season.
Dallas' offensive avalanche started early; the Cowboys scored on their first four possessions to take a 24-3 lead midway through the second quarter. The lopsidedness of it all took the Seahawks out of their offensive game plan, forcing them to pass too much (38 passes, compared with 23 running plays). That led to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck being sacked seven times -- the most the Seahawks have allowed this season, and the most the Cowboys have registered this season.
"It's tough, it's really tough," Hasselbeck said of being pushed into obvious passing situations. "Especially when they've got guys like DeMarcus Ware (who had three sacks).
"You're trying to take a seven-step drop, and they're at home, and they're jumping the (snap) count. I don't want to say it's impossible, but it's very, very tough."
The Cowboys jumping to such a large -- and, for this offense, insurmountable -- lead also forced the Seahawks to alter their defensive game plan, as they finally started to come after Romo with blitzes. While they didn't sack him, they were able to not only whack him but also throw the Cowboys' passing game out of whack.
The Cowboys' final two series of the first half went three-and-out, while their first two possessions of the second half ended in an interception (by Trufant as a harried Romo threw into double coverage) and another punt.
So why did the Seahawks wait so long to turn up the heat?
"I can't talk about that, but you know," Grant said. "Nothing needs to be said. You know what time it is on that."
It was half-past too late.
"Our strength is bringing pressure; bringing heat," linebacker Julian Peterson said. "I don't care what kind of quarterback you have back there, you bring heat and obviously they have an opportunity to make big plays. But when they don't pick it up, it can lead to big plays for us.
"It's hit or miss, really."
The defensive shortcomings that were on display again Thursday left even outgoing coach Mike Holmgren to ponder a future he will have no bearing on.
"It's a little puzzling, because I felt the same way a lot of people did," Holmgren said. "I think we have to take a hard look at that side of the ball and maybe changes are necessary next year."
Those decisions will fall to Mora and club president Tim Ruskell, the architect of the current defense.
Because they played their second game in five days, the Seahawks now have 10 days to ponder what comes next: The New England Patriots on Dec. 7 at Qwest Field.
"It's a tough year, but we'll keep it going," Holmgren said. "We're going to battle until the end."
GAME AT A GLANCE
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Tony Romo. There were other worthy candidates. Like Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who caught nine passes for 115 yards. Like Cowboys linebacker Bradie James, who sparked a spirited defensive effort with 13 tackles and two of the Cowboys' seven sacks of Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck. But it was Romo's precision performance that led the Cowboys to scores on their first four possessions, taking the Seahawks out of their game plan -- on both sides of the ball. The Cowboys' QB finished with a 113.7 passer rating by completing 22 of 34 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns -- to three different receivers. Romo was 7 of 8 for 118 yards in the first quarter alone.
PLAYS OF THE GAME
Offense: Julius Jones' homecoming didn't exactly go according to a storybook script. On the Seahawks' sixth play of the game, the ex-Cowboys running back fumbled and his former teammates recovered -- setting the stage for another long Dallas drive and a 14-0 lead. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff stacked up the play, forcing Jones to slide to his left, where Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears forced the fumble and cornerback Anthony Newman recovered the loose ball.
Defense: Make it back-to-back plays. The Seahawks had reached the Cowboys' 11-yard line late in the first half and had a chance to chisel into their 24-3 lead. But on second down, linebacker DeMarcus Ware beat Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones to drop Hasselbeck for a 4-yard sack, and on third down James came off a block by tight end John Carlson to get Hasselbeck for a 5-yard sack. The Seahawks settled for the second of three field goals by Olindo Mare.
Special teams: In a game in which special teams play had little impact, former University of Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback broke a 58-yard kickoff return late in the first half. It gave the Cowboys a first down at the Seahawks' 39-yard line. But all the Cowboys had to show for it was a three-play-and-punt series.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:05 AM
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