Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) lines up against New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots won 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Through the first two games of the season, the Seattle Seahawks are averaging eight points per game and have scored a total of one touchdown. Russell Wilson has found himself pressured on 45 percent of his drop backs. He’s also on pace to be sacked a career-high 48 times.
Despite this, Seattle still boasts a 1-1 record. Much like we have seen throughout the Pete Carroll tenure, that’s primarily due to the play of a still-elite defense.
In talkaing about how his team’s offense has performed, All Pro cornerback Richard Sherman had a interesting take recently.
“We’ve got a lot of highly paid guys on our side of the ball, a lot of guys who played the game at a high level. And there’s a certain standard that’s expected,” Sherman said, via the Tacoma News Tribune. “We expect it from ourselves. We expect that, regardless of what happens on the other side of the ball. At the end of the day, it’s really on us.”
Rightfully so. Five of the team’s seven highest-paid players reside on the defensive side of the ball. It’s not an accident. General manager John Schneider and Co. have inversted on a defense that’s led the team to two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy during his tenure.
The issue here is that Seattle’s offense line play is so poor that the team really cannot be seen as a legitimate title contender this season. And while Sherman’s point makes a ton of sense, we wonder just how long it will take before friction becomes the name of the game in Seattle’s locker room.