Seattle Seahawks Week 8 Report Card: Grading Each Unit vs. Cincinnati Bengals

For the second week in a row, the Seattle Seahawks lost a game they could have won against a team from Ohio.

For the second time this season, a late meltdown on special teams turned a close game into a lopsided final score.

Several Seattle shortcomings contributed to the loss. While reasons varied, most of them dealt with a lack of focus and mental errors that can accompany a young team.

Penalties were an issue that spread across all units. Seattle had several of them at inopportune times. Then again, when a team loses 80 yards on 11 penalties, the odds are pretty good at least a few will be especially harmful.

The Seahawks will look to build from this performance, and there are some positives on the following pages. The problem is that Seattle is now officially building for next season, and every win for the rest of this season is the step away from a high draft pick.

Sea Gals: A+

I thought it would be best to start and end with the positives. Since the Sea Gals make the first slide, there aren't many options for the last.

This is the first time the cheer squad has made my weekly report card. Their lack of mention in prior, and likely subsequent, weeks has nothing to do with the quality of their performances or their entertainment value.

However, their Nightmare Before Christmas-themed halftime performance deserves special recognition.

The current Sea Gals were joined by several former squad members for the best halftime show I have seen in person, save a certain February Sunday in Detroit.

Coaching: C-

Much was said of the coaching during and after the game. Fans were critical of several decisions made by the coaching staff, but the issues I have are a bit different.

The Bengals passing defense was ranked fifth in the NFL, but their performances had been overshadowed by playing against teams with weak passing attacks. I went into this in detail on Friday in the Bengals vs. Seahawks Game Guide.

Pete Carroll gambled that Charlie Whitehurst could lead the team to a win over the Bengals, wanting to give Tarvaris Jackson another week to heal. Fans complained, stating if Jackson was able to play he should have been given the start. How soon they forget... this was the same approach Carroll took in the final regular season game last season.

"

I was hoping for another week. As you could see, he could throw the ball well enough to play, he could play, but he could have used another week. So in my mind I knew we could play. I was going to see if Charlie could pull it together and get something going for us.

Pete Carroll on Jackson starting the game on the bench

"

The decision to go for the touchdown instead of kicking a field goal at the end of the half has also come under fire. Fans may opt to second-guess his play-calling or decisions at the end of the half, but the fan base was very vocal in its desire to attempt to get a touchdown over a field-goal opportunity.

The one decision that completely escaped reason was forgoing a field-goal opportunity or attempting to get a first down on 4th-and-4 from the Bengals 36-yard line. Instead, Carroll sent punter Jon Ryan onto the field, and the play resulted in a net of 15 yards.

Special Teams: D-

The Jekyl-and-Hyde special teams unit decided to let the monster out for Halloween. Following Seattle's solid play in recent weeks, the Bengals broke several long special-teams plays on Sunday.

The backbreaker was a 56-yard punt return for a touchdown that gave the Bengals a 27-12 lead. The first Bengals touchdown was also set up by a punt return. Jon Ryan kicked a 65-yard punt, but Adam Jones returned it 63 yards to the Seahawks 26-yard line.

Ryan averaged 53.3 yards on his punts, but the Bengals had four returns with an average of 34 yards. Ryan's other two punts were touchbacks, giving Ryan six on the season (he had just one in all of 2010). This gave Ryan a net of 24 yards per punt.

Placekicker Steven Hauschka did his part... or at least as much as the team would allow. He hit two field goals, including a 47-yard effort. He also helped pin the Bengals deep after several kickoffs.

Leon Washington was again a bright spot in the return game. He averaged almost 13 yards on three punt returns and 28.4 yards on five kickoff returns.

Defensive Line: A-

While sacks were hard to come by, Seattle's run defense was solid. They did allow three "long" runs, at least by Seahawks standards, but they appeared to be plays where the linebackers should have stepped up to make a stop.

Anthony Hargrove rebounded from a quiet week last game. He had Seattle's lone sack, a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss.

Brandon Mebane had also been quiet the last several games, but asserted himself a bit more in this game. 

Seattle needs to generate a more consistent pass rush. They were around Dalton a lot today but didn't hit him nearly as much as they should have.

Linebackers: B-

The linebacker crew has been a work in progress this season. Aaron Curry is gone, and rookie K.J. Wright is quickly growing into his starting role.

Seattle has had issues covering tight ends and running backs that come out of the backfield and into passing routes. They have shown some improvement with that this season.

The linebackers made some very good plays. Leroy Hill had a pair of tackles for loss, for example.

Seattle struggled in run support at times, though. They gave up multiple runs of over 10 yards because the linebackers were out of position.

Defensive Backs: A-

Seattle has come under fire in the first half of the season with some analysts stating they have a very poor secondary. Early in the game against the Bengals, that looked like it might be the case. 

Brandon Browner drew an early flag for unnecessary roughness. He and Richard Sherman surrendered yards in the passing game, and Earl Thomas allowed A.J. Green to get behind him for Andy Dalton to hit him in-stride for a 43-yard TD.

Yards were few and far between thereafter for the Bengals. Green had three other catches on 10 overall targets, totaling 20 yards. Andy Dalton had two touchdown passes, but still struggled against Seattle's defense, throwing for just 160 yards with a passer rating of 72.2.

Sherman notched his first career interception in his first start, with Kam Chancellor getting his third on the season.

Offensive Line: C-

This is the third position group earning the same rating as last week. I was tempted to drop them a grade, but the performance was about what was expected.

What isn't expected but is becoming a norm is too many penalties on the unit. James Carpenter is one of the biggest offenders, drawing multiple flags yet again. A hold from time to time is expected, but it seems as though he has a false start most every game. This is a concentration issue that can't be tolerated.

Seattle struggled to open holes in the run game. They are in good company there, as the Bengals have been stout against the run all season. The line also surrendered four sacks. 

Overall pass protection was solid. The Seahawks' line looks as though it is continuing to progress, even though it isn't reflected in this week's grade.

Receivers: C-

The second offensive unit gets the same grade as last week, and again, I'm tempted to drop them a grade. It would only be fitting considering that the group of sure-handed receivers (they had the fewest drops in the NFL over the first month of the season) is suddenly dropping a lot of passes. 

However, Seattle had two receivers surpass 100 yards in the 375-receiving-yard effort. They could have gained 450 without the dropped balls that stalled drives, though.

Mike Williams was not active for the game. Pete Carroll claimed it was an issue with his hamstring, but it could be more that he is feeling hamstrung by the Seahawks. 

Williams has been visibly unhappy with the Seahawks, which has manifest itself with sloppy routes and a lack of effort. It seems as though he could be entering a death spiral: poor effort resulting in few targets leading to attitude issues that further lower performance and targets. 

There is speculation that Williams asked Carroll to trade him prior to the trade deadline. Seattle had a surplus at the receiver position, and the group gets even more crowded with Deon Butler eligible to be activated.

The tight ends also had their issues. Zach Miller lost concentration on one of his targets and dropped another pass. Cameron Morrah also had five targets, but only caught two of his passes.

Anthony McCoy was targeted just once and dropped a fairly easy swing pass. One has to wonder why McCoy was even on the active roster and if his spot on the 53-man roster is in jeopardy. 

Seattle Receiving
	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LG	TGTS
B. Obomanu	4	107	26.8	0	55	4
S. Rice	7	102	14.6	0	35	14
D. Baldwin	5	73	14.6	0	31	8
Z. Miller	3	37	12.3	0	17	5
C. Morrah	2	21	10.5	0	13	5
J. Forsett	1	13	13.0	0	13	1
G. Tate	2	11	5.5	0	9	4
M. Robinson	1	11	11.0	0	11	1
L. Washington	0	0	0.0	0	0	2
A. McCoy	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
K. Durham	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
Team	25	375	15.0	0	55	46

Running Backs: C-

I am attempting to keep in mind that the Bengals do have a solid rushing defense. Seattle was expected to struggle to open holes and get much going on the ground.

That said, it looked at times like effort was part of what was lacking. There were holes on many plays, but Marshawn Lynch simply didn't get there in time.

The controversy over Pete Carroll going for the touchdown at the end of the first half could have been avoided with a little more "Beast Mode." There was an opening on the play, but Lynch was tripped up from behind.

Lynch also had another fumble, giving the ball to the Bengals in field-goal territory. The defense was able to push Cincinnati backwards, though, forcing them to punt.

Leon Washington was the leading rusher, gaining 34 yards on two carries. 28 of those yards came on the final play of the game, though, with a defensive front worried about a deep pass.

Seattle Rushing
	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
L. Washington	2	34	17.0	0	28
M. Lynch	16	24	1.5	1	9
T. Jackson	1	2	2.0	0	2
C. Whitehurst	1	1	1.0	0	1
Team	20	61	3.1	1	28

Quarterbacks: D / A

Normally, I would average grades out for all players at a position group. Considering there is only one slot in the quarterback "group," and such a disparity at that, I opted to give separate grades.

Charilie Whitehurst started the game for Seattle. Pete Carroll used the same approach he had in place for the home win over the Rams last season: Start Whitehurst, give him a chance to lead the team to a a win and hope you can rest the starter another week to get him healthy.

Neither worked for Carroll in this game. Whitehurst's stat line was acceptable, but passes were well off target. The team just couldn't build any momentum with him under center and Carroll pulled him, feeling the offense looked too much like last week's offensive effort. The Bengals also dropped the football equivalent of a pop fly, saving Whitehurst from an interception.

Tarvaris Jackson, despite an ailing pectoral muscle, stepped in and threw the deep ball with great accuracy. Seattle has had receivers getting open on deep routes all season, but quarterbacks have struggled to get them the ball.

Jackson also hit short routes in stride, with two exceptions. One errant pass did cost Seattle the opportunity for a reception in the open field. However, there were a half-dozen balls that were dropped. This has become a significant issue for the offense over recent weeks.

This was a gutsy performance from a player that Pete Carroll called a "stud" on his post-game show. Setting a career-high in passing yards despite playing for just 2.5 quarters is impressive, particularly when one considers how much the offense struggled under Whitehurst...leaving me to wonder if "Charlie" will even finish the season on Seattle's roster.

Seattle Passing
	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	NFL RATING
T. Jackson	21/40	323	8.1	0	1	69.1
C. Whitehurst	4/7	52	7.4	0	0	80.7
Team	25/47	350	7.4	0	1