Five Most Effective Plays for Seattle Seahawks in 2008

Many people would say that a 4-12 team did not run very many effective plays, especially when their offense ranked in the bottom of the league.  However, there were several plays that yielded some success for the Seattle Seahawks in 2008.

TE seam

John Carlson really emerged last season as a threat down the middle, hauling in 55 passes and five touchdowns, a franchise record for tight ends. 

Carlson averaged 11.4 yards per reception and really exploited the middle of the field.

The most effective formation was a three-WR formation, with Carlson lining up on the strong side.  In this formation, Carlson is matched up on a linebacker as the corner, and possible safety or nickel corner are matched up against the two wide receivers.

The result leaves a fleet footed Carlson in a mismatch with an outside linebacker.  Run properly, this play resulted in big yards.  His longest reception came of the season came on this play in Dallas (33 yards).

TE release

Carlson also had lots of success on a basic tight end release route across the field.  Carlson would line up on either the left or right side, depending on the direction of the play. 

Usually ran in goal-line situations, this play was effective in garnishing one of Carlson’s five touchdowns.

In this play, the QB would normally have two backs in the backfield.  At the snap of the ball, Carlson starts by initiating contact with his blocker, then after one or two seconds releases his block.

The QB runs a play-action fake to draw up potential linebackers in coverage.  He then proceeds to bootleg to the left or right depending on the play call.

If run correctly, Carlson is left uncovered and an easy touch pass should result in a touchdown as demonstrated in the game against Green Bay where Carlson scored his first touchdown.

Halfback Counter

This was a very effective play for the Seahawks at the beginning of the season.  The play is run out of a single back, two-tight-end set.  Julius Jones ran this play very effective against the St. Louis Rams in the third game of the season.

The play involves the offensive line blocking down in the direction of the initial play.  The running back is handed the ball, stutter steps in the opposite direction of the play and then continues in the direction of the play in attempt to throw off the opposing linebackers.

The hopeful result of this is a five-yard or more play.  The play is usually considered to have failed if the running back gains three yards or less.

Jones had his best run of the season on this play against the Rams.  Jones started going left only to counter to the right, and then he bounced off two potential tacklers to run this play into the end zone with Matt Hasselbeck leading his way.

Jones finished the game with 22 carries for 140 yards and the lone touchdown.

Halfback Dive

This was another very effective running play for the Seahawks in 2008 that yielded several touchdowns by T.J. Duckett.  The play is designed to pound away at the defense in order to gain a couple of yards maximum.

The Seahawks would crowd the line with eight potential blockers including five linemen and three tight ends.  With the RB lining up behind the QB, the ball would be handed off to the RB quickly in an effort to catch a defense off-guard. 

Each lineman has a separate blocking assignment; usually it is the man lining up over their respective area, as most teams attempt to crowd the line. 

This play is only effective if the offensive line gets the initial push against the defensive line.  The result is hopefully a first down or a touchdown.

T.J. Duckett had a team high-eight rushing touchdowns on only 172 yards rushing.

Wide Receiver Crossing Route

This play may be a staple of many previous Seahawks offenses.  The Seahawks are well known for running many crossing routes with their wide outs, and 2008 was no different.

This play is usually run out of a three- or four-wide receiver set with two wide receivers to the strong side and one to the weak side.  The slot receiver or inside receiver on the strong side runs up field five or ten yards and begins to drag across the field. 

The weak side receiver runs seven or more yards up field and runs in the opposite direction of the “crossing” wide receiver.  The play is only effective if they have run different lengths they avoid running into each other.

The play attempts to “pick” off the corner or safety covering one of the receivers with the linebacker.  If the play is run effectively, one of the wide receivers should be open ten or more yards down field. 

This play could lead to high-yardage passing plays.

With the change in the offensive playbook for the Seahawks this season, these plays may not be seen in 2009.  However, they were the most effective for this offense in 2008.