Preseason game number three is in the books as the regular season looms. The Seattle Seahawks had little difficulty dispatching the overmatched visiting Chicago Bears on Friday night at CenturyLink Field. It was the final tune-up for Seattle’s frontline players. Expect few of the Seahawks’ top players to get on the field in the final preseason game on Friday in Oakland. That one’s for roster depth.
Last Friday night’s game against the Bears told us what we need to know about the state of the Seahawks’ readiness for week one against the Green Bay Packers. Who’s ready? Who isn’t? Here’s what we learned:
Seahawks first team defense
Ready — Chippy. Relentless. Typical. The defense turned in a great goal line defense just before half. Surpassed by (also typical) brilliant Seahawks pass defense. Jeremy Lane plucked a Jay Cutler duck and ended Chicago’s only real scoring threat of the first half.
O’Brien Schofield
Ready — The guy Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll described as “all over the place,” was again seemingly three players in one out on the turf. His blistering 11-yard sack in the second quarter cemented his place on the roster, if he hadn’t already secured it.
Russell Wilson
Ready — Here’s Wilson’s stat sheet: 15 of 20 for 202 yards, two touchdowns by air and one running touchdown. All total: five drives, four touchdowns and one field goal. Sheesh. His rushing touchdown you could label as “reluctant.” Wilson exhibits excellent eye discipline when he scrambles and as dangerous as he is with his feet, he always looks to deliver the ball downfield when on the move.
These were not quickie drives, either. Wilson and the offense crafted sustained, long drives against the supposedly improved Chicago Bears defense. Wilson exhibited comfort and excellent decision-making throughout, and excellent adaptability in the face of pass rush pressure.
Marshawn Lynch
Ready — One drive is all it took. No sense in playing him in week four against the Los Angeles / San Antonio / Oakland Raiders.
Percy Harvin
Ready — Explosiveness, change of direction, used in so many ways — it was all on display on Friday.
Jermaine Kearse
Ready — Clutch.
Steven Hauschka
Ready — The number says it all: 59 yards. That was on top of a 55-yarder earlier in the summer. Hauschka doinked a 53-yarder when the Seahawks were leading by 31 in the third quarter. When you’re surprised that a kicker misses a 53-yard attempt, that tells you he’s as ready as they come.
Earl Thomas, punt returner
Oh so close. Caught by the punter, but still. Thomas made the Bears pay for offering a short hang-time punt. Ready.
Earl Thomas, safety
Not too shabby, either. The punisher. Ready.
Benson Mayowa
Ready — Mayowa is rounding out his game. No longer just a speed pass rusher. He snuffed out a screen pass that left the Bears in third and long and added a special teams coverage tackle.
Justin Britt, run blocker
Ready — Brit’s drive blocking and pull blocking were good as advertised … except for one 15-yard back-side clipping penalty where he rolled up on a defender. Dubious call.
Justin Britt, pass blocker
Not — still. Britt got totally overrun during a first quarter sack on Russell Wilson, which caused Wilson to drop his eyes and (try to) run. Wilson ended up getting sacked by …
Russell Okung
… Willie Young. Okung’s opponent beat him almost as quickly as Britt’s did. His opponent ended up with the sack. Okung got a little winded and had some rough moments in the run game. Coach Carroll pulled him and Max Unger after two series because they were “gassed.” He also had a procedure penalty. Not.
Mas Unger
Not — See above. Not yet in game shape.
K.J. Wright, pass defender
Not — Allowed a textbook, long, back-shoulder reception just before half. Initially ruled a touchdown but moved back to the ½ yard line upon review. Was he told to take it easy on Michael Bennett’s brother, Martellus?
NFL officiating
Not — The calls are still way too ticky-tacky. The Brandon Marshall call that negated a touchdown to Dante Rosario was quite suspect. Others were too. The question isn’t how will the officiating affect the Sept. 4 opener against the Green Bay Packers, but how much?
Ricardo Lockette, kick coverage
Not — Lockette’s lone standout moment was a dangerous, unnecessary, helmet-to-helmet hit on a defenseless punt receiver. His error in judgment cost the team 15 yards and could have maimed Darius Reynaud.
Heath Farwell
Not — Farwell suffered a groin injury in the fourth quarter of the Bears game. Farwell, while not a “name” player, is still a vital cog on special teams and is versatile enough to plug into many situations — if healthy.
12th Man
Ready — The Bears committed multiple false starts and delay-of-game penalties. I think the 12th Man is ready. What do you think?
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