One of the notable aspects of the Seahawks’ 34-31 overtime loss at St. Louis last Sunday was how Seattle’s offense moved the ball much more efficiently after it switched to the no-huddle late in the third quarter. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson spoke at length about that during his Thursday press conference:
“I think the hurry up can definitely help the offense in the sense of having a sense of pace, and it tires out their defensive linemen and their defense in general. Sometimes it can make their calls a little bit softer in the sense of they can’t make their calls as quick as they want to and bring people in and out of the game as they want to. I do think it’s important to continue to get first downs, though. It’s important because you have the defense over there and if you go to no-huddle and get stopped then the defense is out there quickly again.”
Wilson was asked what he likes about the no-huddle:
“I just like putting pressure on the defense. Any time you can do that it’s a good thing. … Ultimately it gives us more plays, too. It’s a good thing, but at the same time you still want to be able to hand the ball off to Marshawn Lynch, you still want to hand the ball off to Fred Jackson and let them make plays, too.”
Wilson was asked how calling plays is different when running the no-huddle:
“It’s one of those things that [offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell] and I are really coordinated together mentally. I usually make the calls, but I know what he wants. That’s all the meetings, that’s all the practice, that’s all the work you put together and all the time you spend here.”
Also from Wilson:
– On the pre-snap blocking calls made by himself and center Drew Nowak last Sunday: “I think there can be more communication from everybody, starting off with me, and just get up there and really talk. I think we did a good job of that, especially in the second half. We made some great calls, guys did a phenomenal job of blocking up, and we adjusted at halftime.”
– On how he feels in the read option (he didn’t keep the ball on the read option last Sunday): “I’m already there in terms of the read game. I think sometimes people want me to take the ball a certain amount of times. I have the best running back in the league next to me. I try to hand the ball off to him every time if I can.”
– When asked about the Green Bay defense, Wilson mentioned the Packers’ active front line, naming veteran defensive end Julius Peppers first.
– When asked about the hit he received from Packers linebacker Clay Matthews in last year’s NFC Championship Game following an interception: “He got me pretty good.” He also called Matthews one of the best players in the league.
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