Seattle, WA
Seahawks All-22 Review: How the Ravens ran over the Seattle defense
Entering their Week 9 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, the Seattle Seahawks had one of the best run defenses in football. But Seattle’s trip to Baltimore was a humbling one and one that brought up memories of last year’s defensive unit that struggled mightily against the run. Lamar Jackson and co. pummeled the Seattle front 7, as they amassed an eye-watering 298 yards and three touchdowns on the ground on 41 totes. Newly acquired Leonard Williams only played 41 snaps and the Ravens have the league’s best rushing attack, but such a paltry performance is extremely concerning when you factor in the Seahawks still having to play the Eagles, Titans, and 49ers two times.
Here’s a look at four plays that sum up how badly the Seahawks were beaten on the ground.
Gus Edwards 42-yard rush
You can watch every NFL game for the rest of the season and it would be difficult to find a much bigger hole than what Gus Edwards had here. Off of the snap the Baltimore offensive line doubles both Seattle defensive tackles Dre’Mont Jones and Leonard Williams and clears them out of the lane with ease. Then right guard Kevin Zeitler climbs up to the second level and takes on a linebacker to further clear the gap. Bobby Wagner steps up a bit too close to the line of scrimmage, which also results in him getting sealed. Quandre Diggs comes down to try and fill the middle but he misses an open field tackle, which leads to Devon Witherspoon getting trucked over as Edwards rumbles for 42 yards. Riq Woolen throws a shoulder but it does nothing. Had it not been for Boye Mafe’s impressive motor, Edwards likely takes it to the house.
Gus Edwards rushing touchdowns
This first play is pure bully ball by the Baltimore offensive front. Baltimore is running an inside zone to the right A-gap (between the center and right guard), the designated gap for Edwards to run through. The push from the offensive line and Patrick Ricard on Darrell Taylor is so significant that it opens up the entire right side of the offensive line for him, so he bounced it to the right B gap. Quandre Diggs was able to come up and make contact with Edwards but it was far too late.
On the second play, they were able to create some internal penetration, mainly with Dre’Mont Jones, but it was not enough to keep the patient Edwards out of the end zone.
Keaton Mitchell 40 yard touchdown
This was an outside zone designed to attack the left B gap and that is exactly where rookie Keaton Mitchell was able to hit. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley did enough to seal off Boye Mafe and John Simpson bullied Dre’Mont Jones (who struggled mightily in this one) into the second level. From there it was just a race between Keaton Mitchell and the Seattle defense and it was a race that the 4.37 40 yard sprint back was not going to lose.
The Seahawks have now allowed 579 rushing yards over the past three games, compared to the 396 allowed in their opening five games.
The Seattle Mariners are in a very tough position as we head deeper into this offseason.
First, the M’s went 85-77 last season, missing the playoffs by just one game. They are clearly a good team, but they are good team that needs to make some improvements in order to be great.
Unfortunately, those improvements may be hard to come by. Seattle has holes at second base, third base and in the bullpen, and they apparently only have $16 million or so to spend this offseason. It’s already been reported as a “likelihood” that either Justin Turner or Carlos Santana return to the roster, so that signing will eat up a significant chunk of that money.
Thus, how do the M’s go about filling those needs with what could amount to just five or six million? They will have to do something that is very uncomfortable, in one way or the other.
In order to acquire a solid offensive player, who is also affordable, the M’s could have to part with one of their young pitchers. The team has repeatedly said they don’t want to do that, but it’s one of a small handful of ways to get affordable offense. Of course, by doing that, you’d be making the pitching staff worse.
More likely, but also uncomfortable, is that the M’s try to trade Mitch Haniger. Owed more than $15 million, Haniger is coming off a season in which he hit only .208. No team will take on that salary for that kind of production, so in order to move him, the M’s would have to attach a top prospect to the deal.
Remember what they did last year, trading Jarred Kelenic in order to shed Evan White and Marco Gonzales’s contract? You could see the exact same thing, and for a team that has worked hard to build its farm system, it’s going to hurt.
But it might be the only option to open up money so the team can get the kind of players it needs to fully compete.
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Seattle Sounders FC have reached the Western Conference Final in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, completing a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over LAFC in Saturday’s elimination match at BMO Stadium.
Sounders striker Jordan Morris scored a 109th-minute winner in the second extra-time period, ending his team’s 10-game winless streak against the Black & Gold (stretching back to May 2021). Stefan Frei was also immense for the Sounders, making nine saves to repeatedly frustrate Denis Bouanga and his teammates.
Before Morris’ dramatics, Seattle clawed back into the game when Maxime Chanot failed to clear Obed Vargas’ centering pass and scored an own goal. That equalizer followed Ryan Hollingshead opening the scoring in the 50th minute, one-timing home Mateusz Bogusz’s low cross near the penalty spot.
Up next, Seattle will face the winner of Sunday’s Western Conference Semifinal between LA Galaxy and Minnesota United FC (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass; FS1, FOX Deportes). Their Conference Final is set for Nov. 30; Seattle (No. 4) will travel if LA (No. 2) advance and host if Minnesota (No. 6) complete yet another upset.
Goals
- 50′ – LAFC – Ryan Hollingshead | WATCH
- 59′ – SEA – Maxime Chanot (OG) | WATCH
- 109′ – SEA – Jordan Morris | WATCH
Seattle, WA
Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles FC LIVE STREAM (10/28/24): Watch MLS Playoffs online | Time, TV, channel for soccer game
Seattle Sounders faces Los Angeles FC in an MLS Playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 (11/23/24) at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
HOW TO WATCH: Fans can watch on Apple TV+, via a subscription to the MLS Season Pass.
Here’s what you need to know:
What: MLS game
Who: Seattle Sounders vs. Los Angeles FC
When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 (11/23/24)
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Where: BMO Stadium
TV: N/A
Live stream: Apple TV+
Here’s a recent AP story on MLS:
Seattle Sounders FC (16-9-9, fourth in the Western Conference during the regular season) vs. Los Angeles FC (19-8-7, first in the Conference during the regular season)
Los Angeles; Saturday, 10:30 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: LAFC -107, Seattle +271; over/under is 2.5 goals
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles FC looks for its 20th win of the season when it faces the Seattle Sounders.
LAFC is 18-8-6 in conference games. LAFC ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 63 goals led by Denis Bouanga with 21.
The Sounders are 12-8-10 against Western Conference teams. The Sounders are 7-1-2 when they score a pair of goals.
The teams meet Saturday for the second time this season. LAFC won the last meeting 3-0.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bouanga has scored 21 goals and added 10 assists for LAFC. Kei Kamara has two assists over the past 10 games.
Jordan Morris has 13 goals and four assists for the Sounders. Albert Rusnak has scored five goals over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: LAFC: 7-2-1, averaging 1.6 goals, 5.2 shots on goal and 6.4 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.1 goals per game.
Sounders: 5-1-4, averaging 1.5 goals, 3.8 shots on goal and 6.8 corner kicks per game while allowing 0.5 goals per game.
NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: LAFC: Lorenzo Dellavalle (injured).
Sounders: Cody Baker (injured), Jacob Castro (injured), Danny Musovski (injured), Jordan Morris (injured), Albert Rusnak (injured).
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