No sacks for 49ers? Thank Wilson more than Seahawks’ O-line

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, November 28, 2017

RENTON — For his latest trick, the “amazing” Russell Wilson made the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive-line issues disappear.

For the first time since 2015.

The slippery quarterback did his usual magic last weekend at San Francisco. He turned another Seattle slog into a 24-13 victory over the 49ers, who flailed like so many frustrated foes before them.

“It’s like a cat-and-mouse game,” San Francisco defensive tackle Sheldon Day said.

Day and his teammates were Tom, beaten, dazed and confused. Wilson was Jerry.

Who else did you expect to do it for the Seahawks? This season, it continues to be all Wilson or bust.

Sunday was the latest example of how absolutely vital the $87.6 million quarterback is to every aspect of Seattle’s offense and season. That includes the 20th-ranked running game that would be 32nd and dead last if not for his scrambling, his offensive line looking better than it may have been plus the unspoken synchronization he has with his receivers on all his playground plays, particularly on third downs to extend drives.

Sunday in Santa Clara again showed how Wilson mitigates issues in pass protection and renders an opposing pass rush almost futile at times. He dropped back to pass 39 times. He didn’t get sacked once. That’s the first time he’d gone through an entire game without being sacked since Dec. 13, 2015 — a span of 35 games.

Coach Pete Carroll, offensive line coach Tom Cable and the Seahawks would like to believe that was because Luke Joeckel returned Sunday from knee surgery to start next to left tackle Duane Brown for the first time.

“Yeah, they did fine. I know Tom will tell you that there’s some real specifics in there, communication-wise, that we can be better at,” Carroll said. “We could’ve identified things a little bit more clearly, but I think it was pretty much understood for the little time that they spent together.

“First time in a couple of years that they didn’t give up a sack. Russell did a nice job of avoiding some stuff.”

A “nice job”? That’s like saying Wilson is “kind of important” to these Seahawks.

On his weekly radio show with Seattle’s 710 AM on Monday, Carroll was more effusive, and accurate. He likened Wilson to Houdini. Again.

Wilson ran. He twirled. He twisted. He spun. He befuddled the poor 49ers by eluding at least six sacks to make plays, including a third-down conversion pass to Doug Baldwin in the third quarter when it was a 7-6 game. Carroll called it the play that got Seattle going to 17 unanswered points and the win.

That was against one of the NFL’s worst teams, the 1-10 49ers. Can he do it Sunday night at CenturyLink Field against what is currently the league’s best, the 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles?

The Seahawks (7-4) enter three straight games against division leaders reinforced with the belief Wilson doesn’t have to get pummeled every game, even when pass protection breaks down. As it will, again, Sunday night. The Eagles have 31 sacks this season, tied for the fifth-most in the NFL.

“Getting a lot of good time, away with the scramble, was able to make some great plays,” Wilson said. “Did things quickly, too. Were able to get some big shots down the field there in the second half, as well.

“We just kept coming up big. … It really comes down to third downs, staying on the field, making some key plays, key catches, and no mistakes.”

On Sunday, San Francisco rookie first-round draft choice Reuben Foster was spying Wilson on one third-down pass play about 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Wilson took off yet again away from pressure up the middle. Foster was directly in front of the quarterback just past the line with a prime chance to stop Wilson short of the first down. Wilson gave a jab step and head fake to the right in the open field. That left Foster grasping at nothing but gray air. Wilson ran past him for a first down.

“It’s crazy. But that’s him,” Foster said.

“He’s an amazing guy. He’s shifty and he’s quick. God gave him that athleticism, so I can’t fault him for that. That’s just a God-given talent that’s in him.”

The Seahawks ran for 90 yards on 30 carries against the league’s 31st-ranked run defense. Take away Wilson’s five scrambles and two called runs — a 2-yard touchdown on a read-option keeper after Bobby Wagner’s interception in the first quarter, and an 11-yard run around right end on a naked bootleg for a first down on another drive to a touchdown and a 21-6 lead — and Seattle got just 68 yards on 21 carries.

That was from their two running backs, Eddie Lacy and J.D. McKissic. Lacy got 35 snaps, McKissic 29 and mothballed Thomas Rawls only one, as the offense continued to move far away from Rawls.

Mike Davis returns to the backfield this weekend, when the Seahawks face the opposite rushing defense. Philadelphia is No. 1 in the NFL against the run, allowing 65 yards per game.

Davis was the surprise lead back against Atlanta two games ago days after his promotion from the practice squad. He missed the 49ers game with a strained groin. Carroll didn’t say Davis is the starter against Philadelphia.

But it may not matter. Seattle’s yards on the ground are more likely to come from the man they’ve come from all season, against opponents less formidable than Philadelphia.

Who else but Russell Wilson?

Roster moves

The Seahawks on Tuesday waived defensive tackle Garrison Smith and signed from the practice squad defensive tackle Rodney Coe.

Smith played 39 snaps, 55 percent of the defense’s plays, as a reserve at San Francisco. The Seahawks have Dion Jordan (neck) likely coming back to their offensive line this week after he missed last weekend’s game.

Coe was an undrafted rookie free agent with Dallas in 2016. He spent time on Tampa Bay’s practice squad last season before Seattle signed him in January for this offseason.

The team signed to its practice squad guard Willie Beavers and tight end Stevie Donatell. Seattle released linebacker Kyle Coleman from the practice squad.