Keep Russ Cookin ‘: Balanced offense not necessary for Russell Wilson Seahawks | Launderer report

The idea of ​​winning football games in a specific way is such an outdated concept, but some coaches still feel the need to publicly emphasize a balanced offensive attack.

The Seattle Seahawks are room A despite having Russell Wilson behind center. Head coach Pete Carroll can’t give up what he feels is necessary to replicate the franchise’s winning formula over the past decade, even if it isn’t in the best interests of the team.

Marshawn Lynch is no longer on the list. Wilson is also not a young quarterback who needs a complementary running game. Despite those two things, Carroll continues to insist to reporters about being a physical football team instead of evolving with what is available to him:

“Early [this season] when we didn’t need to run the ball a lot because we were rolling around throwing the ball, these guys were out there and we almost took that for granted. I’m disappointed about that because it’s the element of our football that makes us this style of team that we are and it makes Russ’s job different than where he has to throw the ball 40 or 50 times. He certainly can and loves to do it and we don’t mind doing it, but our football is best formed when we are balanced and attack you and can play with that. This corresponds to defense; it is suitable for special teams. This is the declaration of our way of playing. “

To quote Luke Skywalker from The Last Jedi, “Impressive. Every word in that sentence was wrong. “

OK, that’s a whole paragraph, but you get the point.

These Seahawks are not the same old Seahawks. They don’t have a game-changing running back, a strong attacking front, or reliable defense. Seattle’s identity is now completely different from the organization’s heyday, and it starts with Wilson’s play.

Instead of rehashing the old and tired argument of why a traditional, balanced offense is outdated in a happy passing league, we’ll just say the Seahawks need to watch Monday’s 23-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles for better understand who they really are. are.

To this day, legendary college football influencer and coach Mike Leach still has the best description of what a truly balanced offense should be.

“I want all positions to touch him,” he said, according to CBS Sports’ Ben Kercheval. “There’s nothing balanced around 50 percent running, 50 percent success, because it’s 50 percent stupid.”

As if that line wasn’t good enough, the Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach continued:

“Now what’s balanced is when you have five skill positions… if all five contribute to the offensive effort a bit evenly, then it’s balanced. percent of the time and then you throw it at a combination of two guys, the other 50 percent, that you’re really balanced … you probably pat yourself on the back and say that to yourself, and people have been doing it ever since decades. Well, you are delusional. ”

No names, please, but there is certainly someone delusional in this discussion, and it’s obvious. Seattle’s strengths lie in its MVP-caliber quarterback and top pair of starting receivers in the league.

Should the Seahawks include their two talented fullbacks in the game plans? Absolutely. But that only strengthens Leach’s argument. A balanced attack involves the involvement of the quarterback acting as a facilitator.

Carroll saw the potential for a backfield featuring a now healthy Chris Carson, spelled out by Carlos Hyde’s physical style.

“The best, most obvious illustration is looking at what we looked like with Carlos and watching him run and attack the line of scrimmage and chase the guys on the sidelines,” said the head coach. “… That harshness that it shows and that impact is what Chris brings. Chris is that. Overnight [in Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals], I imagined if Carlos and Chris were running, what it would look like in terms of playstyle. “

Both should be included. Carson was fifth last season with 1,230 rushing yards. He’s back from a foot injury that cost him a month, and he’ll end up being a much bigger part of the program. Hyde, meanwhile, is a proven option for veterans that continues to operate with renewed meaning after slow stops with other franchises.

Efficiency, however, is not achieved by forcing a situation.

Despite Carroll’s words about restoring the team’s identity, the Seahawks didn’t run the ball effectively against a porous Eagles defense that placed fifth-worst against the run entering the contest. Carson and Hyde combined to carry the ball 23 times from 63 yards. The latter only averaged 1.5 meters per race.

In the 3rd or 4th and short situations, Seattle only handed the ball once. Hyde was stopped for little gain near the goal line, and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer decided to call in wide receiver David Moore on the next play, which also backfired.

A running game won’t materialize just because Carson is back and Carroll wants a ground and pound attack. The Seahawks are no longer a physical football team. They present an air-it-out approach capable of creating tracks anytime.

DK Metcalf is almost impossible to cover. At least it was Monday night. The second-year wide receiver caught 10 passes for a career-high 177 yards.

“I lost all balls 50-50. I let the team down. I have to play better,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay told reporters after watching Metcalf all night.

The receiver’s talents are overwhelming for most defensive backs, even a three-time Pro Bowl honor like Slay. But a wide receiver is only as good as the person distributing the ball.

Wilson’s deep passage was spectacular. According to ESPN Statistics and Information, the Seahawks starter completed his seventh pass of at least 40 aerial yards this season, which is tied for the league lead with Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. Monday’s performance was Wilson’s sixth this season with a completion percentage over 70.

Sure, the former MVP frontman had a few hiccups in November, but he got back on track during Seattle’s two-game winning streak.

Tyler Lockett didn’t even play a big part in Monday’s result, but he’s been excellent throughout the season. Multiple offensive threats, including Wilson as a runner, make Seattle dangerous overall despite their poor secondary.

When a unit is working efficiently, it doesn’t matter whether it does so by running the ball or passing the pigskin. What matters is moving the chains and scoring points by involving all available playmakers. How a team wins shouldn’t matter as long as it wins.

So let Wilson throw it all over the yard if need be. Hand it over to Carson and Hyde as part of the process. Do whatever it takes to win a division crown and get the playoffs started.

Whatever happens along the way, Carroll and his staff shouldn’t take the ball out of their quarterback’s hands based on an outdated notion of the right way to go for wins. Let it spread the wealth and Seattle will be much better.

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.