Should Sherman shadow Kelvin Benjamin?

[Hasselbeck]

I know it's rare for Quinn/Carroll to have Sherman play one WR the entire game.. but I think we may see this happen tomorrow, as to call the Panthers WR corps outside of Benjamin "pedestrian" would be kind.

Even though the rookie WR has had his drops resurface over the past several weeks.. he's still a dangerous threat with his size and ability to make a spectacular catch (see Week 8 catch over Earl and Sherm)

I like Max and Simon/Lane a lot.. but I think this is the one game we should designate 25 to shut down the Panthers only threat at WR .. Jerricho Cotchery and Philly Brown aren't beating this team tomorrow. Kam/KJ should handle Olsen fine too.

Thoughts?

 

[iigakusei]

Change our game plan because of Kelvin Benjamin? I wouldn't.

 

[2_0_6]

No, I think Maxwell would do just fine with him.

 

[Sac]

No.

 

[pehawk]

Umm, hell no. You really want this guy running free in our secondary? Yeah, he may look like a prostitute in the beginning stages of methamphetamine addiction, but trust me he's not. Dude's a machine.



But in reality, yeah, they might do that a bit.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

The Hawks do what they do, they don't change schemes or game plans for anyone.

Besides, our cover 1 and cover 3 defense is predicated on both DB's taking away outside passing lanes and condensing the field so Kam, Earl and Bobby can zone the middle of the field and lay the wood to TE's and WR's trying to run shallow crossing patterns.

If we didn't change this scheme for the likes of Manning, Brees, Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Megatron, etc........we sure as hell aren't changing for a rookie WR.

 

[Hasselbeck]

If we didn't change this scheme for the likes of Manning, Brees, Rodgers, Jordy Nelson, Megatron, etc........we sure as hell aren't changing for a rookie WR.

But that's the thing.. the Packers, Saints, Broncos, etc all have multiple weapons. The Panthers have one. So of course you don't want to deviate from scheme for those teams.

You say "we don't change scheme for anyone!" but that's not entirely true.. hell in Week 8 - Sherman shadowed Benjamin. Granted Maxwell and Lane were hurt so that played a huge role.. but there is precedence here.

Back in Week 2 against the 49ers in 2013.. the 49ers had one real threat in the passing game in Anquan Boldin. And guess what happened? Sherman shadowed him all game and he was shut completely down. The defense cleaned up on Gore and Davis.. and the rest was history. Swap Gore for Stewart and Davis for Olsen here.. and it's the same looking offense.

 

[kidhawk]

I doubt they game plan this game where Sherman shadows Benjamin, because we have our entire DB core healthy right now, but there is always the possibility that it could happen if somehow Benjamin starts to kill us in a close game. I don't really see this as having a high likelihood of occurring, but I think Quinn is smart enough to make adjustments to do what is necessary in-game.

 

[DavidSeven]

Not if Maxwell is healthy.

There have been a few instances where Sherman has been tasked to shadow bigger receivers in the last two seasons. It has always been because the starting RCB has been injured. SF in 2013 (Boldin), DAL in 2014 (Dez), CAR in 2014 (Benjamin). Browner or Maxwell either missed those games or were injured early on. As far as I know, Carroll has never, ever hid his true starting RCB from a WR. He will not start for Benjamin.

 

[Seahawkfan80]

Only for one reason do I doubt this concept...Coach Pete said that they went back to fundamentals during the past couple of weeks. If they did that, the defensive scheme is what our team makes of it. Offense and defense fundamentals are what this team is built on...so doing something different will be abnormal when the meat of the team is online and available. Good idea if it was necessary but I dont think so....Go Hawks.

 

[DavidSeven]

You say "we don't change scheme for anyone!" but that's not entirely true.. hell in Week 8 - Sherman shadowed Benjamin. Granted Maxwell and Lane were hurt so that played a huge role.. but there is precedence here.

That's not a change in scheme. That's a change in personnel to suit the match-up. SEA is willing to do that. For example, they will move Maxwell to defend the slot in nickel if the slot WR is a bigger or slower player (e.g. Jordan Matthews, an SF receiver, etc.). If the slot WR is a smaller player, then Lane is likely to get more snaps.

However, as mentioned above, every example you cite involved an injury to the starting RCB (either Browner or Maxwell). I don't think there is precedent for constantly moving Sherman when the starting RCB is healthy.

 

[2_0_6]

Sherman followed Dez in the Dallas game when Maxwell went down and Burley was in.

 

[Chawks1]

Nah, don't change anything. We have Maxwell, Simon, and Lane back there with Sherman this time. Along with a healthy Kam and ET......And Benjamin is tied for second with 11 dropped passes this year. I'm sure he will have a tough time concentrating on gameday. Nothing to worry about.

 

[Mick063]

We have been through this before.

Sherman takes the right handed quarterback's right side.

Given that teams typically put their best pass blocker at left tackle the Seattle defensive scheme does the following:

1) Encourages the right handed quarterback to throw across his body to the left leading to greater inaccuracy, longer flight time, and poorer vision....all allowing Earl Thomas opportunities to make plays on the ball.

2) Isolates Cliff Avril on the typically lesser pass blocker (right offensive tackle) for the newly created "blind side" (QB looking to his left to avoid Sherman). Avril is as adept at stripping the ball as anyone.

3) Creates a comfort zone for the cornerbacks on both sides as they master a specific and smaller technique set.

4) Allows for a more reliable "robber" scheme where Kam can release his coverage to the free safety and go places underneath where the quarterback is not expecting him. When the secondary is on the same page, playing the same positions, there is more reliability in switching off of receivers "on the fly".



Forget the vanity bullpoo about the mythical "shutdown" corner crap. The LOB is a well oiled scheme that even the best passing offenses have trouble defeating. Indeed, on predictable passing downs, they are as good as any group in history. These guys are a team, not just a bunch of guys running around in the same colored jerseys (my favorite Belichick quote).

 

[RolandDeschain]

As if Benjamin has proven to be worthy of Sherman shadowing him. Pfffft.

 

[DJ_CJ]

I would be more apt to move Maxwell to the slot and let him shadow Olsen

 

[kearly]

Benjamin was an endzone drop and a Newton overthrow away from having 150+ and 2 TDs last time. He is worth respecting, but I think Maxwell could handle him, perhaps even better than Sherman could. Benjamin is not especially fast, just physical with a big catch radius. Maxwell with his physical play and long arms seems like a matchup in our favor against Benjamin.

 

[Basis4day]

Don't move Sherman.

Now will Simon move back to outside with Maxwell in the Slot or will they go with Maxwell on the outside and Lane in the slot?

 

[2_0_6]

Don't move Sherman.

Now will Simon move back to outside with Maxwell in the Slot or will they go with Maxwell on the outside and Lane in the slot?

I bet they move Max to the slot and Simon outside. Seems to be working, no need to change

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Well, I would think that ET will be helping out on wherever Benjamin is anyway.