Earl Thomas

[JGfromtheNW]

What about the seven guys in front of ET that let Gore get to that level of our defense? What about the missed tackles on Kaep that let them convert a first down and prove that taking those time outs were useless? I didn't realize that the game was won or loss on one play, by one player.

 

[TJH]

What about the seven guys in front of ET that let Gore get to that level of our defense? What about the missed tackles on Kaep that let them convert a first down and prove that taking those time outs were useless? I didn't realize that the game was won or loss on one play, by one player.

All the parts contribute but there's no point in ignoring the most glaring other than not wanting to face the truth.

 

[Tokadub]

Looking at that replay Gore really had open lanes to both sides of the field. It was actually wide open to his left but since Earl was going that way he cut right and burned him. If he had gone left and Earl missed the tackle would of probably been a touchdown.

I think Earl overplayed it a little if he stayed back more he might of be been able to make a sick tackle which is becoming his trademark this season. But really was just a bad play all around, you don't want to rely on one guy to make a play on Gore when he's at full speed in the open field.

 

[JGfromtheNW]

From what I could see, Earl Thomas didn't even try making a tackle when Gore cut because Gore had so much room and read that Earl was going the opposite way. The fact you are ignoring there was huge running lanes is not wanting to face the truth and you want to do the casual fan thing and blame one player.

It wasn't a good angle by ET, but it wasn't all his fault and his "poor tackling" that caused that big run.

 

[RiverDog]

I don't have any stats to back up my suspicion, but there's the possibility that Earl could be getting more opportunities than other safeties, meaning the total numbers of missed or broken tackles would not necessarily be reflective of his performance.

But I do agree that tackling is not a strong point of Earl's game.

That's why I included the percentages stat from FOO. Missing 19% of your attempted tackles is not good regardless of how you're playing or what scheme. I'm sure he recognises it and is working on it. My main point here is everyone shouldn't act like this is an isolated incident like has been portrayed ad naseum.

Believe me, I've taken a lot of flak for taking shots at Earl's tackling. Last year, he whiffed against both Gore and Adrian Peterson, and when I pointed it out, the overwhelming response was 'you're comparing him to the best RB's in the league.' Then in the Bears game, he whiffed against Jay Cutler. How in the hell can an All Pro safety get faked out by a guy like Jay Cutler? It's a weakness in his game, and I think most people in here agree.

But the OP indicated that Earl could not be an All Pro with the type of tackling he's doing. That's where the rub is.

 

[Rose City Hawk]

So I was on my walk today at work and caught a segment on 710 am via iheart radio (love that I can listen to sports talk from Seattle in Salem!) where they broke down that 51 yard run by Gore. In it Hugh Millen indicated that the responsibility lie primarily with Malcolm Smith and he even owned up to it a bit in a post game presser or something. Anyhow here's a link, it isn't the full transcript but maybe they have a podcast or something.

http://seattletimes.com/html/seahawks/2022427373_millenanalysis09xml.html

 

[Subzero717]

When there's a run like that more r han one person screwed up. Pete also mentioned that we had played well against thst play a couple times but the defense we were in maybe wasn't ideal. I can't remember exact words but it was to that affect how PC does.

 

[ceej22]

So in order to be elite you can never over pursue, miss a tackle, or get burnt? Yes, ET screwed up on that play, but that's also his style. He reads it and bursts towards the gap to lay a hit before the guy gets in the open. Gore saw it coming and cut back to a lane on the right side that was wide open thanks to Malcom Smith. You don't have to like his style, but saying he is not elite is just not true.

 

[RiverDog]

When there's a run like that more r han one person screwed up. Pete also mentioned that we had played well against thst play a couple times but the defense we were in maybe wasn't ideal. I can't remember exact words but it was to that affect how PC does.

Exactly. The play should have never gotten to the safety.

 

[HawKnPeppa]

So I was on my walk today at work and caught a segment on 710 am via iheart radio (love that I can listen to sports talk from Seattle in Salem!) where they broke down that 51 yard run by Gore. In it Hugh Millen indicated that the responsibility lie primarily with Malcolm Smith and he even owned up to it a bit in a post game presser or something. Anyhow here's a link, it isn't the full transcript but maybe they have a podcast or something.

http://seattletimes.com/html/seahawks/2022427373_millenanalysis09xml.html

Naw, couldn't be! Don't you see the large pile of posters jumping on Earl? OMG, he misses 19% of his tackles! How could he be an All Pro?! I follow stat sheets, so don't tell me he's good!! Forget the fact that his scope of responsibility is larger than most FS in the league and a lot of his Tackles are open field or 1 on 1 and many of them are lower percentage, highlight reel material.

Troy Polamalu has a similar role and also misses A LOT of tackles, but like Earl, makes a lot of impact plays as well. I suggest that all you stat gazers and number crunchers look at the missed-tackle metric a bit differently with players used in this way. They are not interchangeable with the majority of Safeties in the league. In fact, they are quite unique.

 

[billbird2111]

Personally? This is my favorite shot of Thomas. That look of utter desperation on his face is just priceless. Sherman has that same "Oh Shoot" type of look.

 

[non-prophet.org]

:sarcasm_on: trade him for eric reid :sarcasm_off:

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Well, there was a blatant hold, or this play never happens. Not that anyone would actually talk about it.

 

[billbird2111]

Well, there was a blatant hold, or this play never happens. Not that anyone would actually talk about it.

You're talking about Vernon Davis? I can't tell if that was a hold or if Sherman was pushing off. It's tough to tell.

 

[NFSeahawks]

It's directly due to a linebacker, the CB's and safeties are the last line of defense. Losing KJ Wright is most likely the reason this happened. I'm very disappointed that we lost him at such a crucial time, I still think we might be ok, but come playoff time were going to need him against the playoff teams.

 

[CANHawk]

Earl Thomas is a GOD and anyone who disagrees is a poopy head.

 

[Sac]

Earl Thomas is a GOD and anyone who disagrees is a poopy head.

Correct

 

[tom sawyer]

The problem is he is a FREE safety... my gooodness ... PAY THE MAN!!!

badda-boom-keesh!

 

[The Radish]

I didn't say Thomas wasn't an all pro, I said he had been out of position several times that game and they burned him almost every time. So obviously they knew of his over playing tendencys.

Our defense does well because they over pursue. But there are times it hurts the team a lot.

Someone said that was a triangle of backs coverage on that play which I believe makes Thomas the centerfielder. If that is the case he should not have been out of position to make that play 10 yards or so down field. (or whomever had centerfielder responsiblitys).

That kind of coverage is like punt/kickoff coverage. If everyone covers their area of responsiblity there is no way a play like that happens.

So for all you Thomas supporters,,,if whomever has centerfield responsibility on that type of play is grossly out of position who are you going to blame? That is what made Chad Brown such a great centerfield, he knew better than to bite on any play until he knew where it was going. That's what so irritating, Thomas broke to where he THOUGHT the ball was going to be, not where it was. Was he the only one? hell no. But if he truly was the centerfielder then he ought to have his ass chewed out. If it was someone else had that responsiblity then they deserve to have their ass chewed out.

Players are put in those positions and told they are the last line of defense. If they don't cover their responsibility before trying to make a "possible" play,,,,they are wrong as hell!

:les:

 

[Skansi82]

"Someone said that was a triangle of backs coverage on that play which I believe makes Thomas the centerfielder. If that is the case he should not have been out of position to make that play 10 yards or so down field. (or whomever had centerfielder responsiblitys).

That kind of coverage is like punt/kickoff coverage. If everyone covers their area of responsiblity there is no way a play like that happens.

So for all you Thomas supporters,,,if whomever has centerfield responsibility on that type of play is grossly out of position who are you going to blame? That is what made Chad Brown such a great centerfield, he knew better than to bite on any play until he knew where it was going. That's what so irritating, Thomas broke to where he THOUGHT the ball was going to be, not where it was. Was he the only one? hell no. But if he truly was the centerfielder then he ought to have his ass chewed out. If it was someone else had that responsiblity then they deserve to have their ass chewed out."




The Chad Brown as a centerfielder comparison is a bit of a head scratcher in that he was a 245 lb. linebacker who never played safety.

That being said, Earl did totally whiff on this play, no excuses. His elite speed and fly to the ball mentality produces some "live by the sword, die by the sword" results. He makes plays that no other safety can but is going to give up big plays from time to time. Is tacking an all-pro running back with a full head of steam with no angle easy? No, but he needs to make that play.