Variant run game helps Seahawks offense flourish
Among the biggest surprises in the NFL this season, the Seattle Seahawks offensive line has emerged as one of the league’s best under the tutelage of seasoned line coach Mike Solari.
As one of the major facilitators behind the franchise’s quick turnaround from a dreadful 0-2 start, Solari’s unit has kept Russell Wilson clean, allowing the franchise quarterback to carve up opposing defenses. After yielding 12 sacks during Seattle’s first two games, the front line has allowed Wilson to be sacked only nine times in the five games since, and he’s responded by playing arguably the best football of his seven-year career.
But heading into an important Week 9 battle with the Chargers, if you ask head coach Pete Carroll, he’ll remind you that Seattle’s revived rushing attack has been equally as important to Wilson and will be critical to sustained success against an unforgiving upcoming schedule.
Solari’s physical, fundamentally sound line has paved the way for the Seahawks to average 161 rushing yards per game while winning four of their past five games, helping running backs Chris Carson and Mike Davis surpass the 100-yard mark four times during that span.
What’s been the biggest factor behind the Seahawks improvement running the football? Carroll pointed out the chemistry between offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Solari, which has allowed Seattle to bring fresh ideas to the offensive side of the ball.
“That’s a big part of it and it’s Brian and Mike putting the system together so that we could take advantage of all of the opportunities and matchups and looks and all kinds of things,” Carroll said. “We have more run game than we’ve had in the past. We had more choices in how we’re going about doing it. It’s just a different philosophy in how we’re doing it up front and the guys have really come along well.”
Near exclusively a zone blocking team with Tom Cable serving as assistant head coach and line coach in previous seasons, Schottenheimer and Solari have brought much-needed diversity to Seattle’s run game toolbox to keep opponents guessing.
Rather than living and dying on zone runs, the Seahawks have implemented complementary man blocking elements to play to the strengths of their personnel. Most notably, 355-pound guard D.J. Fluker and tackle Germain Ifedi have excelled using their size and attitude to bully defenders downfield, while guard J.R. Sweezy and tackle Duane Brown have used their athleticism to thrive as pulling linemen on power runs and sweeps, creating running lanes for Seattle’s talented stable of backs.
Opening up the playbook has been crucial on game day, but Carroll cited experience and continuity as essential components to the Seahawks’ success in the trenches as well.
“We’ve got a very smart group and experienced group of guys now that we’re playing with, from Duane all the way across the board,” Carroll stated. “Justin Britt is really instrumental in a lot of stuff and making those calls. Fluke (Fluker) has been through the system with Mike before so he’s been a big help and we’re in a pretty good setup right now.”
The offensive line will continue to be challenged this week at CenturyLink Field, squaring off against a talented 5-2 Chargers squad featuring standout rusher Melvin Ingram as well as dynamic rookie safety Derwin James. During the preseason, Seattle’s starting line had major problems blocking this defensive front, specifically Ifedi working against Ingram in pass protection.
The good news? This Seahawks line is light years ahead of where it was back in August when the unit struggled at the StubHub Center and the Chargers haven’t been dominant on defense, ranking 18th against the pass and 16th against the run this season. Without defensive end Joey Bosa in the lineup, who head coach Anthony Lynn said the team won’t rush back onto the field until he’s ready, they’ve also been pedestrian rushing the passer, ranking 21st overall in sacks.
Based on their performance over the past month, Carroll doesn’t believe Solari’s group has come close to reaching their potential yet and he’s excited to see how the unit responds against a well-coached Chargers defense coordinated by Gus Bradley.
“Really, we’re just kind of hitting it,” Carroll said. “I think we’ve got a chance to get a lot better as we move along through the challenges of the season.”
SERIES HISTORY: 51st regular-season meeting. Seahawks lead series, 26-24. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks each of the first eight times they met, but the tide turned in the 1980s, as Seattle won seven straight in the series from 1984 to 1987. Since the Seahawks moved to the NFC West during realignment, the two teams have split their four contests, with the Chargers winning 30-21 when they last played during the 2014 season.
