Key to winning the NFCC

[Ruminator]

Two words: BALL PROTECTION

• 49ers lost the turnover battle 3 to 0
• Bills lost the turnover battle 5 to 1
• Texans lost the turnover battle 5 to 3
• Bears lost the turnover battle 3 to 0

Consequently, Seahawks, Broncos, Patriots, and Rams all won.

Seahawks know what they need to do in the NFCC!

 

[pmedic920]

Limiting Turnovers is always a key factor.

Hopefully it’s a non issue.

Let’s get ready to rumble

 

[Sprfunk]

Turnovers are key for sure.

I would also say getting pressure on Stafford with 4 players. He murdered Chicago when they blitzed him.

 

[hawker84]

This game will be won in the trenches. Both trenches.

OLine has to protect and run block. DLine has to get pressure, hurry up stafford and move him off his spot.

 

[Nosferatu]

I'll look at this a bit differently just to not reiterate what has been mentioned. Contain the Rams' Tight Ends. McVay loves his three TE sets, who are all healthy now, and I think a huge key is how we cover/manage that. I have no doubt we can, I just feel this is a very important part of the Rams' game that every now and then can bite our defense.

 

[nwHawk]

Hawks defense is in a place mentally and physically to match the Rams 13 personnel. Stafford is going to try to keep Seattle off balance and frustrated. Eye on the prize.

 

[DTiempo81]

Smack Puka in the mouth every play.

 

[SeaWolv]

As we saw with the Niners game(s), if you can run the ball it takes the pressure off Darnold to have the majority of the offense flow through him.

 

[oldhawkfan]

Score more points

 

[chrispy]

Macdonald built this D specifically to beat the Rams. He's been limited with injuries, but Spoon and Emmanwori and Coby Bryant all being healthy allows them to change responsibilities play-to-play. This should slow Stafford ftom being able to automatically read and react. Any of them could be covering a TE route, a WR route or blitzing on any down. Stafford can't simply throw toward the blitz.

The game will be a true chess match and, even though I kind of hate Brady, it will be pretty interesting to hear him call the game. I'd expect protection to be the difference on Seahawks O v Rams D, but the more Bradford run-blocks the less he pass-protects so hopefully Charbs and K9 have 200 yds.

 

[RedAlice]

Brady is calling the game? lol. He’s gonna be schizo between his slobber knocking man crush on Stafford and his clear adoration of the Hawks.

 

[Hawkpower]

Turnovers are key for sure.

I would also say getting pressure on Stafford with 4 players. He murdered Chicago when they blitzed him.

At times he did

Chicago got home on quite a few corner blitzes however

It's a delicate balance because if you give him all day he will pick you apart

 

[ZagHawk]

Simple but not easy.

Trenches and Ball Protection.

Win in trenches offensively, more POT, tires the defense, opens up the playbook for runs and passes, oh and being able to run effectively generally has less risk for turnovers.

Win in trenches defensively, opposing offense generally has less POT, your defense is more fresh, opposing team will generally become one dimensional once they can't run and will be forced to have less pass options if the line needs help, oh and higher risk of turnovers.

Ball protection, well..that's a given. Better field, momentum swing, more/less chances to score, whichever team takes a lead forces takes away the run from the other team, etc.

 

[warden]

This game will be won in the trenches. Both trenches.

OLine has to protect and run block. DLine has to get pressure, hurry up stafford and move him off his spot.

Yep and the Rams are good both sides of the ball in the trenches

Going to be an epic battle

 

[warden]

the one player that will really help us is Jerron Reed. The Rams OL has some really big players. Having Jerron come in on rotation to keep our guys fresh is going to be huge.

 

[Seattle Person]

Two words: BALL PROTECTION

• 49ers lost the turnover battle 3 to 0
• Bills lost the turnover battle 5 to 1
• Texans lost the turnover battle 5 to 3
• Bears lost the turnover battle 3 to 0

Consequently, Seahawks, Broncos, Patriots, and Rams all won.

Seahawks know what they need to do in the NFCC!

I think these are the 2 keys to the game in my opinion:

1) Shut down their run game. This is by far the biggest priority. You have to make it 1-dimensional. I know it sounds weird to put the ball in Stafford's hands but I think this is for the better. They ran a bunch of 3 TE sets, but in the 4th quarter during week 16 -- the Seahawks made an adjustment to their run fronts that allowed D-Law to blow up the TEs. I'll take our Edges over their TEs all day. Take away this formation. Take away the run game, you take away the play-action. You force Stafford to be in the gun. This makes it a field day for our pass rushers and for Mac to dial it up.

2) Bracket Puka inside. This is going to be impossible to do all of the time but the Seahawks are going to need to force Puka to do out-breaking routes. McVay creates so much cushion for him by putting him in motion pre-snap. The safeties and the linebackers struggled early in week 16 to contain in-breaking routes. They did a much better job in the 4th quarter (besides the TD in OT...). The LBs dropped with better depth and the DBs played with outside leverage -- funneling Puka into inside help. Again...weird to say this but force Devante Adams to hurt you. Adams has been a monster in the RedZone but he's wildly inefficient outside of that. He doesn't have the same juice at 33 years old. I'll take my chances here.

 

[warden]

The winner of this game will go on and win the Super Bowl

 

[hawkfan68]

This game will be won in the trenches. Both trenches.

OLine has to protect and run block. DLine has to get pressure, hurry up stafford and move him off his spot.

Stafford isn't as mobile as Purdy was. If the DL can get to him quickly, they will feast. Also watch for the Puka quick slants. Bears were getting burned for 10-12 yards on those play after play.

 

[chris98251]

Pressure up the gut disrupts Stafford's rhythm, what worked so well in second half, timing gets off and he is back peddling throwing up ducks. They will try to get run game going to use play action as well, knock Puca into the dirt when he blocks, legal hits and get in his head. Not as good then.

 

[hox]

This game will be won in the trenches. Both trenches.

OLine has to protect and run block. DLine has to get pressure, hurry up stafford and move him off his spot.

With Cross being "day to day" and Jones also hobbled, it could be 3rd string Kight out there going against Jared Verse.