I'll give it a go.REALLY? nobody has a take on why the Hawks are bad on 3rd down?
LTH
It's not just the red zone. Fact is that a lot of 3rd down failures are a function of distance as you stated. That's true anywhere on the field. So, improved play on first and second down will lead to shorter 3rd down situations and more success.Here is how I interpret it. Third down success is typically a function of distance. There is a huge difference between 3rd and 3 as opposed to 3rd and 8.
I can't necessarily blame running the ball on first down because what is not included in the theme of this thread is how often first downs are accumulated on first or second down. In other words, if you pick up 7 yards on the ground on first down, there is a good chance you pick up the first down on second down and never expose yourself to the third down scenario that is causing angst.
I would prefer to narrow this down to red zone third down efficiency because the team is reliably moving the ball up and down the field between the twenty-yard lines. Look no further than five field goal attempts to support this argument. Regardless, the team is not picking up enough yardage on first down in the red zone to create easily convertible third downs. The shortened field is causing the opposition to play tighter in coverage and closer to the line of scrimmage.
So, I personally believe it is a matter of the first down play selection and execution upon entering the red zone. That narrows the issue down to a very specific area. I don't have an answer for it, but the team really needs to focus on their first down play when entering the red zone. Execute that play and the third down conversions will become an inherent derivative of it. In other words, more easily convertible because the distance required for conversion is manageable.
Five field goal attempts. The team is moving the ball. Just not converting touchdowns.It's not just the red zone. Fact is that a lot of 3rd down failures are a function of distance as you stated. That's true anywhere on the field. So, improved play on first and second down will lead to shorter 3rd down situations and more success.
That is not the only problem of course. You can't just fall back on the run, run, pass, punt offense as some have derisively accused them of doing. You have to mix in pass plays on first down, realizing that an incomplete leads to second and long situation that compounds the problem. Same on second down. Truth is that many successful scoring drives actually have fewer 3d down plays if you get a few chunk plays along the way.
Look to overall yards per play as an indicator. If you're averaging over 4 yards per offensive play, you're doing fairly well. Get 3 or less and you're looking at lots of 3d and long calls.
Which brings us to the offensive line. In both run and pass blocking, one of the most important things to cultivate is continuity on the line. We look back fondly on the 2005 offensive line and sometimes neglect to point out that there were very few missed games in that group. Our current O-line has already suffered on that score, with key players missing time. They've done pretty well overall considering the injury situation, but if/when we get a group that stays on the field and plays together for extended periods I think our 3rd down problem will ease quite a bit.
I think part of it is Waldron isn't adjusting soon enough. Look at the second half of the panther game as soon as the Hawks started hitting the TE on those medium to short seem routes it opened up everything but specifically the run game... that's the c waybi saw it just my take...Five field goal attempts. The team is moving the ball. Just not converting touchdowns.
So to your point, how much are the Seahawks averaging on first and second down?Here is how I interpret it. Third down success is typically a function of distance. There is a huge difference between 3rd and 3 as opposed to 3rd and 8.
I can't necessarily blame running the ball on first down because what is not included in the theme of this thread is how often first downs are accumulated on first or second down. In other words, if you pick up 7 yards on the ground on first down, there is a good chance you pick up the first down on second down and never expose yourself to the third down scenario that is causing angst.
I would prefer to narrow this down to red zone third down efficiency because the team is reliably moving the ball up and down the field between the twenty-yard lines. Look no further than five field goal attempts to support this argument. Regardless, the team is not picking up enough yardage on first down in the red zone to create easily convertible third downs. The shortened field is causing the opposition to play tighter in coverage and closer to the line of scrimmage.
So, I personally believe it is a matter of the first down play selection and execution upon entering the red zone. That narrows the issue down to a very specific area. I don't have an answer for it, but the team really needs to focus on their first down play when entering the red zone. Execute that play and the third down conversions will become an inherent derivative of it. In other words, more easily convertible because the distance required for conversion is manageable.
I just think they haven't found their identity as a team yet. The young guys like JSN need to learn to work through adversity because in the 3rd and 4th quarter of the season when it gets hard against teams like the Niners and the Eagles it's going to be the success of the young guys that are going to make this team hard to beat. You know the Niners are watching everything with microscope. Hopefully this team will peak start to peak in that last part of the season.I also think some of the issue may be that Shane and Geno are less eager to go too deep in the playbook given the protection issues they're having to scheme to cover for.
The offense should just watch what the opposing offense does to our defense on third down and copy. Our third down defense is and has been atrocious for sometime.
Hello LTH,REALLY? nobody has a take on why the Hawks are bad on 3rd down?
LTH
Its very simple, lack of creativity in routes and matching people up. You don't have to scheme as much as have options.