“Me and Julio down by the schoolyard.” — Russell Wilson’s new theme song?
Are the Seahawks just placating Russell Wilson by talking trade with Atlanta, or are they really interested in Julio Jones?
If they are seriously engaged in trade talks with the Falcons for the uber-talented but often nicked-up receiver, the question is: What’s one year of Jones worth to the Seahawks?
Continue reading What’s one year of Julio Jones worth?
The Richard Sherman-Julio Jones matchup is the one everyone will be keeping an eye on. (We hope Kris Richard learned a lesson from last time.)
Gene Steratore, who tries not to get in the way, will ref the game. He was the ref for the excellent Seahawks-Patriots game earlier this season.
Jones will be curious to find out how Steratore’s crew plans to call the game.
C.J. Prosise is unlikely to return or this game.
Will the Seahawks use Jimmy Graham in the red zone more in this game?
The Seahawks hopefully learned a big defensive lesson in their narrow win over the Falcons: Don’t get too fancy.
While Kris Richard did a great job dialing up blitzes and putting pressure on Matt Ryan, who was sacked four times and hit 13, the one part of the game plan that nearly cost the Hawks was the Richard Sherman-Julio Jones matchup.
The big problem: The Hawks moved Sherman around too much and he sometimes ended up covering a tight end or some other receiver on the wrong side of the field. Whether they intended to or not, the Hawks looked to be playing a hybrid man-zone at times in the third quarter — and it was a total failure.
They should not have moved Sherman unless it was to shadow Jones — wherever Jones lined up. But they let the Falcons dictate their coverage, and it nearly cost them the game.
Kam Chancellor and Frank Clark are game-time decisions for ATL-SEA.
The weather is expected to be a big player in the game.
The Seahawks had great things to say about Dan Quinn, their former DC who brings the Falcons to town this weekend.
Julio Jones vs. Richard Sherman is the matchup everyone wants to see.
But K.J. Wright said this “is a linebacker’s game,” and Bobby Wagner said he thinks he and Wright are up to the big challenge of stopping Atlanta RBs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
Over the offseason, the Seahawks talked about tweaking their defense to account for the short passing attacks some savvy offenses have used to beat them.
Although Miami and the Jets worked the short game with some success in the first month, they didn’t do it well enough to beat the Seahawks. But now the Hawks are about to face their first big test against a quarterback and skill players who are capable of beating them the way Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Andy Dalton and Cam Newton have in recent seasons.
Sure, Atlanta’s 300-yard man, Julio Jones, will have a fun matchup against Richard Sherman. But the Falcons the Hawks need to be most concerned about are running backs Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman.
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 