Seahawk defense eyes enemy No 1: the big play

  • Scott M. Johnson / Herald Writer
  • Thursday, November 1, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

KIRKLAND – Maybe Steve Sidwell is being greedy, but that’s one of the staples of any good defense. So don’t blame the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator for seeking improvement.

Sure, the Seahawks spent a boatload of money to bring in four new defensive starters. And, yes, the defense that ranked at the bottom of the league last season now ranks ninth in the NFL and fourth against the rush.

But Sidwell wants more.

“You can’t win if you give up long touchdown passes,” Sidwell said earlier this week. “I don’t give a (bleep) what else is happening.”

As well as the Seahawks defense has played this year – and by all accounts, it has exceeded every expectation – there still has been a knack for giving up the big play.

Inexperienced cornerbacks were the most obvious factor early in the season, but last week even veteran Willie Williams – one of the team’s best defensive players during the first five games – was exposed.

While the run defense has shaved 53 yards per game off last year’s average, and the unit has provided a much more consistent pass rush, a handful of plays have kept this defense from being one of the NFL’s elite:

  • James Thrash’s 64-yard touchdown reception in a Week 2 game against Philadelphia suddenly turned a defensive battle into an Eagles blowout.

  • Jerry Rice’s 33-yard touchdown pass for the Raiders in Week 3 had a similar effect on that game.

  • James McKnight’s 39-yard catch over Willie Williams gave Miami the lead for good during the fourth quarter of a 24-20 Dolphins victory Sunday.

  • In the same game, Miami’s Chris Chambers made two key third-down receptions to help sustain long Dolphins drives.

    Take away those five plays, and the Seahawks would rank second in the NFL in total defense. And Seattle could have one, perhaps even two, more victories to show for it.

    But what’s done is done, and big plays have been a key to Seattle’s 3-3 start this season.

    “Look at the (first) two losses; it’s not like their ground games dominated our defense,” defensive end Michael Sinclair said. “A couple big plays over the top, long throws to the receivers, that’s 14 points.”

    Cornerbacks Paul Miranda, Ken Lucas and Williams have all been exposed on long pass plays this season, but they’re not solely responsible. Safeties Marcus Robertson, Reggie Tongue and Maurice Kelly have also made their share of mistakes. Granted, they haven’t been beaten often, but there have been enough coverage errors to dramatically change the course of games.

    In the Philadelphia game, the Eagles compiled more than one-fourth of their 344 total yards on two plays. Miami needed just three plays to account for 35 percent of its offense last week.

    Three of the eight passing touchdowns scored on the Seahawks this year have come beyond the Seattle 30-yard line.

    “Sometimes they’re going to get you. They’re good, too,” Tongue said of opposing receivers. “They’re going to make plays sometimes, but you really have to keep those on a low. Too many of them can hurt you. We’re not that bad, so there have to be adjustments. A lot of them are communication. It’s more mental, definitely mental.”

    With the Washington Redskins on the schedule Sunday, the Seahawks will have to find a way to cut down on big plays. The Redskins’ two consecutive victories have as much to do with big plays as Seattle’s three losses have.

    Last week alone, Washington scored three touchdowns that went longer than 20 yards. Rookie wideout Rod Gardner is averaging more than 18 yards per catch, and already has an 85-yard touchdown to his credit. Teammate Michael Westbrook caught a 76-yarder in last week’s win over the New York Giants.

    “That’s a top priority for us,” Sidwell said. “They throw deep more than most teams, and we have to prevent it. … If you give up big plays, then you get beat.”

    Sidwell pointed toward two games last season against the Kansas City Chiefs, a team that runs a system similar to the Redskins’ (not coincidentally, offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye has been in both places). Kansas City wide receiver Derrick Alexander made a key 73-yard reception in the Chiefs’ Week 5 victory last year, then caught touchdown passes of 59 and 50 yards in a win four weeks later.

    Of course, every defense gives up some big plays. The Seahawks’ problem has been when they happen.

    Chambers’ two receptions last week were a perfect example. Both came on third down, while Chambers was working against Lucas. One long pass went for 43 yards, while another short pass into the flat ended up being a 21-yard gain.

    Seattle’s opponents have converted 44.9 percent of their third downs, which is the fourth-worst mark in the league.

    Take away a few of those, and who knows what kind of unit Sidwell will have?

    “If we can do that,” Williams said, “there’s no stopping this defense.”

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