dusktreader
New member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2009
- Messages
- 457
- Reaction score
- 0
Reading fan forums from both teams this week has gotten pretty exhausting by now. I'm intensely excited for the opener tonight, and I can't wait to see the banner unveiled. I think the Seahawks will win, and I think they will do it decisively. The 'Hawks will control this game and set the tempo for the season. However, folks are being delusional about some things.
Here's 12 points of reality that I think both fan-bases need to face.
For Seahawks Fans:
For Packer Fans:
Here's 12 points of reality that I think both fan-bases need to face.
For Seahawks Fans:
- The new illegal contact emphasis is going to hurt our team. The LOB has the talent to still be a dominating secondary, but there are going to be very painful ticky-tack calls that are going to give up damaging first downs and long yardage gains. Aaron Rodgers is going to take advantage of loosened up coverage and make plays. What will make or break the night is our team's ability to stay focused, and keep fighting for position until the opportunity for a marquee turnover presents itself
- Shallower depth will hurt the Seahawks. Our team doesn't have the D-line rotation that it did last year, and the NASCAR assault will slow down. That coupled with the Packers running a no-huddle will render the pass rush less effective. The 'Hawks aren't as deep at CB either, and Jeremy Lane, while showing some flashes of greatness in the preseason, is no Walter Thurmond III sitting in the nickel. We're going to see a lot of spread formations, and Rodgers is going to test our defense's depth.
- The RT situation could be big trouble unless Britt figures it out quick. He is going to have to alternate between facing a ferocious Clay Matthews and a wily Julius Peppers. This will be the night that shows how ready he is to start in this league. He's going to get help from TE and G, but there are going to be a lot of man-up situations that could turn into big losses.
- Our team's philosophy isn't suddenly going to switch to a pass first offense. The passing game will develop over the season, but it's not going to appear in game one as an unstoppable offensive juggernaut. If the running game starts slow, our offense will struggle to control the field because we will be facing a lot of down-and-distance situations.
- Marshawn is probably going to take a step back, but not because of durability or age. He won't have his 'eyes' in the form of MikeRob. During Robinson's absence last year, Marshawn was far less effective. The team's faith in Coleman is puzzling, and I think the lack of a synchronized I-formation gut attack is going to impact our running game.
- This game is going to be all about discipline. There's no doubt that the Seahawks have more talent on their side of the field. The post-season last year proved that this team is just as good as their hype. Still, they will have to come out and play with amnesia. It's a fundamental part of Pete's philosophy to play every game like it's a championship. This game will show if the team is really buying into that mindset or if there's some crippling sense of entitlement lurking in the players' minds.
For Packer Fans:
- Adding an old Julius Peppers is not going to suddenly transform your team's defense to an above average squad. There's a reason why the Bears let him go without even trying. He's not going to magically get younger and learn a brand new defense at the same time. Clay Matthews is going to be a factor with his edge rush, but he's not going to disrupt Russell Wilson's robot like discipline all by himself.
- Marshawn is going to punish the Packers' soft middle. Losing the starting NT on one of the worst D-lines in the NFL is gonna be big. Our team's O-line is healthy for the first time in forever, and the Guards specialize in plowing open lanes for a very hard to tackle Lynch. The Seahawks believe in setting the tone with the running game, and your front 7 are going to be in for a long night.
- Russell is going to be a nightmare for you because he will have better protection than last year. He can throw out of the pocket, and he will prove it tonight. He has a history of playing well under pressure and has demonstrated that he can take a game over when needed.
- The Seahawks receiving corps is a sleeper unit that is going to surprise you. People didn't notice them last year because they weren't needed that much. However, they were still the most efficient receiving unit in the league. Percy's going to make your secondary bleed in space and, just when you think the pass rush has Russell dead to rights, he will find Baldwin for a first.
- The crowd noise at C-Link is a real factor. Your Packers aren't going to magically be the first team that isn't affected. Oh, and the fans make the noise and not the stadium. This fan-base has been crazy since the advent of this team, and it has never gone away. We were loud during the bad years, and we are deafening when we are cheering for this once-in-a-lifetime team. Bandwagon fans are welcome, but they are by far not the core of this team's supporters.
- This game is not about revenge. The infamous reception that your team is still upset about happened 2 years ago in an inconsequential regular season game that was filled with flukes and poor officiating before the last seconds of the game. This game is about 2 high profile NFC teams wanting to set the tone for championship seasons. Forget the old controversy, there's going to be plenty of intensity on the field that belongs to this night alone.