Seattle Seahawks: The dud and stud of game 5 – Los Angeles
By Ed Stein
Dud of the Week
2nd dishonorable mention – Kick off coverage. Six returns for 128 yards. For all the planning Seattle did for this game, I’m sure Blake Countess wasn’t on the radar. When the kick coverage couldn’t cover, the Hawks needed to kick the ball through the end zone.
1st dishonorable mention – Left side of the offensive line. Wow, they blew it on the last possession. How many 12s ripped out their hair when they fell apart? First Germaine Ifedi had a false start, then two plays later D.J. Fluker committed a holding penalty. The result of those two infractions took Seattle out of field goal range and may have cost them a win.
The Dud – Seahawks defense. Yes, it’s unfair to criticize a group that is missing so many key players. I’m just calling it as I see it. The Rams gained 468 yards and scored four touchdowns. That can’t happen for a team that has trouble scoring. Seattle doesn’t put enough points on the board to overcome that.
Todd Gurley had 77 yards on 22 carries. Maybe the Seahawks held the explosive running back, but he still scored three times. That last part puts a kink into the “held” part. Receiver Robert Woods added two carries for 53 yards. It really surprised the defense when he got the ball.
Los Angeles receivers Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp were both knocked out of the game with suspected concussions. Cooks early, and then Kupps after he caught half-a-dozen passes for 90 yards and a score.
That should have limited the Rams mighty passing game, but it only put a small dent in it. Jared Goff found other pass catchers. Woods had five catches for 92 yards. Additionally, Josh Reynolds, Todd Gurley, Tyler Higbe, and Gerald Everett all had multiple receptions. Too many receivers were open and Goff did a nice job of hitting them in stride.