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How to Fix the Seahawks: Part One–Offense

By Ben Renner

Oct 23, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks tackle George Fant (74) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The game ended in a 6-6 tie after overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks tackle George Fant (74) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The game ended in a 6-6 tie after overtime. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Seahawks
Nov 27, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) talks with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell during pre game warmups before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Darrell Bevell was an Inconsistent Playcaller

I mean his playcalls were inconsistently effective. Varying your playcalls, especially on first down, is a great way to keep your opponents off-balance. It’s a lesson I learned firsthand playing Madden. (Madden is also where I developed my excellent clock-management skills.) Fans have been railing against Bevell all year for his playcalling. I’ve held off on my judgement of the man all year. There’s only so much an offensive coordinator can do with a patchwork offensive line and a gimpy quarterback much of the year.

But against the Falcons in the Divisional Round, I noticed something (actually my friend pointed it out, but she’s not writing this so I’m taking credit for it): Bevell was calling predictable plays, especially on first down. Here are his playcalls for each first down in the first half last week against Atlanta, when the game was still within reach:

1st Quarter 14:48 (Opening Drive) SEA 11: Wilson scramble for 2 yards.

1st Q 13:38 SEA 22: Rawls run for 7 yards.

1st Q 12:16 SEA 39: Wilson scramble for 14 yards.

1st Q 11:36 ATL 47: Rawls run for no gain.

1st Q 9:39 ATL 26: Baldwin run for 1 yard.

1st Q 7:57 ATL 15: McKissic run for 3 yards.

2nd Q 13:57 SEA 45: Wilson scramble for 3 yards.

2nd Q 12:52 ATL 19: Wilson sacked for loss of 7 yards.

2nd Q 10:07 SEA 7: Rawls run for loss of 3 yards.

2nd Q 6:00 SEA 30: Wilson pass short to Richardson for 6 yards.

2nd Q 0:43 SEA 8: Collins run for 4 yards.

By my count, that’s one successful pass play called on first down in the first half. Some of the failure is not Bevell’s fault. Of course the players have to execute the plays called for them. Wilson also took the ball himself on a few occasions, turning what was a pass play into a run play. Assuming all of Wilson’s scrambles on first down in the first half last week were actually pass plays, that’s one pass completion for five pass plays Bevell called on first down.

Seahawks
Jan 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson (10) is not able to make the catch against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter in the NFC Divisional playoff at Georgia Dome. Atlanta won 36-20. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s not a bad run/pass ratio if you can make that assumption, actually. Of 11 total first downs the Seahawks had in the first half against Atlanta, Bevell called a pass play on five of them. Five pass playcalls, one sack, three scrambles, and one six-yard completion. We’ve been over the struggles of the offensive line already. I would imagine it’s difficult to call any plays when the line can’t hold up, but Bevell’s been dealing with this line all season, and yet he couldn’t figure out a way to be effective on first down by running or by passing against the Falcons, which contributed to the end of the Seahawks’ season.

One last note on Bevell: he had plenty of weapons in this offense, but he struggled to get them involved consistently. Tight end Jimmy Graham ended up with an impressive season catching passes, but he was lost at times in this offense yet again. The playcalls simply didn’t work to get him open enough, especially in the red zone, where the Seahawks ranked in the bottom third of the league in touchdown rate.

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