Jeremy's World

After watching the Patriots beat the Jaguars and getting some sleep, I’m more objective about the crap fest the Seahawks displayed yesterday. It’s never one thing, but I have to say that this team is significantly better if the offensive line could perform. They just aren’t the same since the Hutch debacle, Tobeck retiring and Walter Jones inching toward the back end of his prime (accelerating since he’s carrying the line). And it all starts with the o-line.

Think about it…If the line kicks ass, the offense can be balanced between run and pass keeping the opposing defense in check. We had zero running game this year which has been the conversation of many sports stories. We have Shaun Alexander who was the rushing champ, record-setting MVP two years ago. He couldn’t have fallen off that far that fast (in my opinion). It’s all about what’s in front of him…Nobody can run if they have nowhere to go. In a league where no-name backs routinely reel off 80-110 yards in a game, there is something grossly different here. I believe it’s an o-line that can’t run block.

When a line can block, the offense – especially our offense – can grind out long, clock-eating drives. The defense rests, the opposing offense stays on the sidelines, and we could score a lot of points. However, we put ourselves in 3rd and long WAY too many times as we stumble with the running game letting the defense focus solely on pass defense.

Focus on the o-line in the draft, Mr. Ruskell. The other pieces are in place. Go get Alan Faneca. Re-sign our free agents. We do these things and we go deep into the playoffs.