Seahawks on Grass

[Seahawkfan80]

Nice work, SoCal. This is both alarming and fascinating. FIRE THE GRASS!

What got ya curious about the affect of grassy fields?

Something about how poorly our offensive line played at Raymond James this past week reminded me of the 1st half of our divisional playoff game last year at Bank of America. In both games the Seahawks were pushed around for the first 20-25 minutes and then they seemed to get there footing. Unfortunately, the offense could not finish any drives against Tampa Bay once they adjusted to the slow field. Two very poor Russell Wilson interceptions sealed the deal.

Including that playoff game, the Seahawks are 0-3-1 in their last four on grass and they held a lead for exactly zero minutes.

In the RW Era, slow starts on grass are hard to watch. If you look at the combination of the ten games that were, Non Division + Actual Starter QB + Grass = the Seahawks have been out scored 66-7 in the first quarter. The only score came on a Percy Harvin end around against San Diego which was clearly not a touchdown. Percy stepped out of bounds at the 40 or something like that. Take away that blown call, that's an offense that has been shutout 10 out of 10 times in the 1st quarter given the criteria mentioned above.

Maybe Paul Allen should foot the bill for another practice field that is Bermuda grass, high cut and soft soil. They could practice on that during the week of away games on grass.

Just a thought...maybe he should put a practice field the other side of the cascades to simulate high tundra like Greenbay. Would that help in the overall spectrum too?

 

[Siouxhawk]

Carl Spackler can hook the Hawks up with some good Bermuda.

 

[Sports Hernia]

So grass is the Seahawk's Kryptonite?

Unless they are playing in Santa Clara where they are undefeated.

 

[chris98251]

There is grass and there is grass, Santa Clara has a climate that is warm so the sod and field is firm or faster, when you go East and you have wetter environments the field is softer and slower which negates our speed more.

 

[sutz]

There is grass and there is grass, Santa Clara has a climate that is warm so the sod and field is firm or faster, when you go East and you have wetter environments the field is softer and slower which negates our speed more.

It also depends on how much other activity is on the field. IIRC they were saying there was a recent game on the Tampa field within a few days. Doesn't help.

 

[MOSES]

Moses should be tested for it, for sure!

I'm 100% all natural, baby.... lol

 

[Anonymous]

The type of field does have some advantages and disadvantages, yes. And you have found an interesting stat, but I think it's more about the proper cleats for the conditions.

These kids have been playing football on all sorts of surfaces throughout their days leading up to the pros. Every player would prefer to play on real grass, because they get less sand and rubber pellets in their eyes. All about the type of grass, how wet it is, how compacted the soil is, etc. for footing during cuts and so forth.

I have said it here before many times. It's all about the cleats, man, the cleats. Both teams have to play on the same surface at the same time. The player that has selected the proper footwear for the field conditions is the one that can make his moves stick.